By Clinical Informatics News Staff

May 3, 2016 | IMS Health Holdings, Inc. and Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc. announced today that their respective boards of directors approved a definitive merger agreement, in which the companies will be combined in an all-stock merger of equals transaction. The merged company will be named Quintiles IMS Holdings, Inc.

The new entity expects to maintain dual headquarters in Danbury, CT, and Research Triangle Park, NC. Ari Bousbib, chairman and chief executive officer of IMS Health, will become chairman and chief executive officer of the merged organization. Tom Pike, chief executive officer of Quintiles, will become vice chairman. The company’s Board of Directors will be comprised of six directors appointed by the Quintiles Board of Directors and six directors appointed by the IMS Health Board of Directors. The lead director will be Dennis Gillings, CBE, Ph.D.

Based on the closing of IMS Health and Quintiles common stock prices on May 2, 2016, the equity market capitalization of the joined companies is more than $17.6 billion and the enterprise value is more than $23 billion.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, IMS Health shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.384 shares of Quintiles common stock for each share of IMS Health common stock. Upon completion of the merger, IMS Health shareholders will own approximately 51.4 percent of the shares of the combined company on a fully diluted basis and Quintiles shareholders will own approximately 48.6 percent of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

In a statement, Quintiles Chief Executive Officer, Tom Pike, said, “This combination addresses life-science companies’ most pressing needs: to transform the clinical development of innovative medicines, demonstrate the value of these medicines in the real world, and drive commercial success. We are bringing together two best-in-class leaders. I’m confident that together we will make our clients even more successful.”

In the same statement, Ari Bousbib, chairman and chief executive officer of IMS Health, said, “Together our solutions will enable differentiation in the CRO market, advance Real-World Evidence capabilities, and deliver comprehensive commercial solutions for our clients. This powerful combination brings together leading technology and analytics with deep scientific expertise delivered on a global scale by our 50,000 immensely talented professionals in more than 100 markets. Our combined business will accelerate growth, yield greater operating efficiencies and provide more flexibility for future expansion.”