Watson Pharmaceuticals obtains FTC approval to acquire Arrow Group

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI) today announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted a proposed consent order for public comment relating to Watson's pending acquisition of privately held Arrow Group and has granted early termination of the Hart Scott Rodino waiting period, thereby permitting the parties to close the transaction.

The parties have now obtained all regulatory approvals required to close the transaction. Accordingly, the parties expect to consummate the acquisition of Arrow by Watson today.

Under the terms of a consent order with the FTC, Watson and Arrow have agreed to the following conditions to complete the transaction:

• Watson will sell to Impax Laboratories, Inc. its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Cabergoline, the generic equivalent to Dostinex®.
• Cobalt Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will sell to Impax Laboratories, Inc. its pending ANDA for Dronabinol, a generic equivalent to Marinol®.
• Resolution Chemicals Ltd. (Resolution), the subsidiary of the Arrow Group that manufactures Dronabinol active pharmaceutical ingredient, and that will supply finished Dronabinol product to Impax Laboratories upon approval, will be sold to existing management of Resolution Holdings and divested from the Arrow Group immediately prior to the closing. Resolution has entered into an agreement with Impax Laboratories to supply finished Dronabinol product.