ARCHIMED to Acquire Esperion Therapeutics in a $1.1 Billion Deal

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (ESPR) entered a merger agreement on May 1, 2026, to be acquired by ARCHIMED in a deal valued at $1.1 billion.

Deal Structure:

Esperion shareholders will receive $3.16 per share in cash at closing, plus one non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR) that will entitle the holder to participate in two contingent milestone payments of up to $100 million in the aggregate.

The milestone payments include:

• A contingent milestone payment based on annual U.S. net sales of certain products containing bempedoic acid (including NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET) in 2027 equal to (i) $40 million in the aggregate if such annual net sales are greater than $350 million or (ii) an amount between $0 and $40 million in the aggregate, determined by linear interpolation, if such annual net sales exceed $300 million but are less than $350 million; and
• A contingent milestone payment based on annual U.S. net sales of certain products containing bumetanide (including ENBUMYST) equal to $60 million in the aggregate if such annual net sales equal or exceed $160 million in any single calendar year through December 31, 2030.

The cash consideration of $3.16 per share represents a premium of 58% from the stock’s last close.

Company Profile:

Esperion is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets oral therapies to lower LDL cholesterol, including NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET. It focuses on cardiometabolic diseases and is advancing additional drug candidates in liver and kidney conditions.

ARCHIMED is a healthcare-focused investment firm that invests in sectors such as biopharma, medtech, diagnostics, and healthcare IT, managing about €9 billion in assets. It partners with companies to expand operations, pursue acquisitions, and develop new products.

Deal Details and Timeline:

The merger is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.

Debt financing for the deal will be provided by funds managed by Pharmakon Advisors.

Centerview Partners will act as financial advisor, and Goodwin Procter will provide legal advice to Esperion. Meanwhile, Moelis & Co will advise on financial matters, and Sidley Austin will serve as legal counsel to ARCHIMED.

ARCHIMED is paying 1.61 times the sales for Esperion.

Deal Metrics:

For a more comprehensive understanding of this M&A transaction, please refer to the Deal Metrics page:

Deal Metrics for the acquisition of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (ESPR) by ARCHIMED

This page provides information, including:

– A spread history chart of the merger from announcement to completion or failure.
– A timeline of events as the merger progresses, including HSR period expiration, regulatory approvals, shareholder votes, and more.
– News and SEC filings.
– A history of deal updates.
– And much more.

Disclaimer: Please conduct your own due diligence prior to buying or selling any securities mentioned in this article. We cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the content or data provided in this article.

Editor’s Note: Baranjot Kaur contributed to this article