Actavis

History

The company was founded in the spring of 1983, when, with funding from friends and family, colleagues Allen Chao, Ph.D. and David Hsia, Ph.D., began a small drug development enterprise. Just two months later, the founders established an initial product development and analytical laboratory with six employees (including both founders) in a leased space in Libertyville, Illinois.

By late fall of the same year, the company moved to Southern California into an initial 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) leased facility in Corona, and the development and manufacturing of generic pharmaceuticals began. The Corona site became the corporate headquarters for the rapidly expanding U.S. company.

The 1990s

Throughout its history, Actavis has expanded both organically and as the result of strategic acquisitions. In 1993, Actavis, then Watson, announced its initial public offering (IPO) of shares of common stock. The company was initially listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol WATS. The company moved to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1997, and began trading under the symbol WPI.

2000 to 2009

In 2000, the company acquired Schein Pharmaceutical, Inc., an acquisition that more than doubled the company’s size. In that same year, the group reported revenues in excess of $1 billion. In the fall of 2006, it acquired Andrx Corporation, a Fort Lauderdale, FL–based pharmaceutical company, making it the third largest specialty pharmaceutical company based on total prescriptions dispensed. In 2007, Dr. Allen Chao retired as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and was succeeded by Paul M. Bisaro. The company’s international presence began with the acquisition of the Arrow Group in 2009, providing the company with commercial presence in more than 20 international markets. As a result of the Arrow acquisition, the company also acquired the biopharmaceutical development organization Eden Biodesign in Liverpool, UK.

2011 to 2014

In 2011, the company moved its corporate headquarters from Corona, California to Parsippany, New Jersey. The new LEED-certified corporate headquarters at the Morris Corporate Center in Parsippany was formally dedicated on June 9, 2011.

Actavis Acquisition and Watson Name Change

In November 2012, Watson acquired the Switzerland-based, global generics company Actavis Group for EUR4.25 billion, creating the world’s third largest generics company, with a leading position in key established commercial markets including the U.S., UK, Nordics, Canada, Australia, and emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia. Following the acquisition, Watson adopted Actavis' name for its global operations.

Warner Chilcott plc Acquisition

On October 1, 2013 Actavis acquired Irish pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott plc (previously known as Galen) in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $8.5 billion. The combination created a company with approximately $10 billion in anticipated combined annual 2013 revenue, and the third-largest U.S. specialty pharmaceutical company with approximately $3 billion in annual revenue focused on the core therapeutic categories of women’s health, urology, gastroenterology and dermatology. In association with the merger the company relocated its corporate headquarters to Ireland while maintaining its operational headquarters in Parsippany, taking advantage of the lower (17% vs. 35% in the United States) Irish corporate tax rate. This deal inspired a series of similar moves by other drug companies and led to new Treasury Department regulations limiting the ability of companies to perform such inversions, although Actavis was exempt from these regulations as its move abroad had already been completed. CEO Paul Bisaro stated that in making the inversion, they were trying to "level the playing field" given the high corporate tax rate in the United States.

Forest Laboratories Acquisition

On July 1, 2014 Actavis announced that it had completed its acquisition of Forest Laboratories (who previously acquired, Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc and Aptalis Pharma) in a cash and equity transaction valued at approximately $25 billion. Following the acquisition, the company restructured its executive leadership, with Paul Bisaro being named Executive Chairman, and Brent Saunders being appointed CEO and President of the combined organization.

Allergan, inc Acquisition and Actavis, plc Name Change

In November 2014 Actavis, plc announced its intention to acquire Allergan, inc, the manufacturer of Botox Completion of the deal would increase its market capitalization to $147 billion. On March 17, 2015, Actavis, plc completed the acquisition of Allergan, inc in a cash and equity transaction valued at approximately $70.5 billion. The combination created a $23 billion diversified global pharmaceutical company with commercial reach across 100 countries. In June 2015, Actavis, plc officially changed its name to Allergan, plc.

United Kingdom price fixing controversy

In December 2016 the company was accused of breaking competition law by “charging excessive and unfair prices” by the Competition and Markets Authority. It was alleged that the company had increased the price of hydrocortisone tablets by more than 12,000% over the course of eight years. It sold about 943,000 packets of the tablets to the NHS in 2015. 10mg hydrocortisone tablets which were sold for 79p in April 2008 were £88 per pack by March 2016. 20mg hydrocortisone tablets in March 2008 were sold for £1.07 but £102.74 in 2016. From 2008 to 2015 NHS expenditured on the drug rose from £522,000 to £70 million.

Global headquarters

The company's global headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland and administrative headquarters are located in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA.

Manufacturing facilities

The company has 40 manufacturing facilities in five continents providing the company with a core leadership position in modified release products, solid oral dosages, transdermals, semi-solids, liquids and injectables. The company’s manufacturing facilities are located in Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Northern-Ireland, Italy, Malta, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Serbia, Thailand, UK and USA.

Research and development facilities

Actavis, plc has 27 global R&D facilities focusing on the development of modified release products, solid oral dosages, transdermals, semi-solids, liquids and injectables around the world. The company’s R&D facilities are located in Belgium, Bulgaria, China, France, Iceland, Italy, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Northern Ireland, Romania, UK and USA.