Eye acqusitions in US, Europe; to list in 3-5 yrs: Intas Pharma

Ahmadabad-based Intas Pharma has entered into a deal to buy Teva’s European assets for USD 764 million in an all cash deal. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Binish Chudgar, Managing Director of Intas said that Teva’s assets are a perfect fit for Intas’s business.The company is looking at more acquisitions in US and Europe to strengthen its three main areas of operations - oral solid tablet, oncology, and differentiated patent products, Chudgar said. Intas also plans to list the company in next 3-5 years and could also look at a dual listing in Indian and overseas. Below is the verbatim transcript of Binish Chudgar's interview to Nisha Poddar on CNBC-TV18.Q: What is the company’s future strategy?A: It is a perfect match for Accord-Intas; that is why we have picked it up. We are evaluating more opportunities in US and Europe at the moment apart from this.Q: Which are the areas that you are looking at for more acquisitions? A: If you look by business, our Accord-Intas business is divided into three parts. Oral solid tablet capsules, the present which have acquired fits well in that, second pillar is hospital business oncology where we are doing very strong and with that we have got a global footprint. We are marketing in 22 European markets – US, Canada, Australia, that side of the market and third is our differentiated patented products in which we have got biosimilars. So, these are the different activities in which we are on product output on which we are working. So, we will be looking for assets which are specific to this area. Q: How soon before you make it to the IPO market, what is the plan internally right now and is it in India that you are planning to list or somewhere overseas because a large part of your operations lie overseas as well?A: That is a very well equation so we keep the options open. I said a three to five year horizon because we have to give exit to our private equity. We had enough rounds with private equity and so as business is more outside we are headquartering in India so we may go for a dual listing or listing in India. We have not debated right now so I will not be able to confirm where we get listed but yes options are available with the current Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy. They are also allowing foreign listing. So, at appropriate time we will come to you on this matter.