Vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic in takeover talks, shares rally

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Danish biotech Bavarian Nordic said on Thursday it is in discussions with a consortium of Nordic Capital and Permira regarding a potential takeover offer from the two private equity groups, sending its share price up 24%.

"As these discussions are continuing, there can be no certainty as to whether any offer for Bavarian Nordic A/S by Nordic Capital and Permira will be made, or the timing or the terms of such offer," the vaccine maker said in a statement.

Bavarian Nordic, which specialises in vaccines for mpox, smallpox and other infectious diseases, has a market capitalisation of close to $3.0 billion following Thursday's share price rally, a Reuters calculation showed.

The company did not disclose how much the private equity groups might offer for its shares.

Bavarian is a key supplier to governments globally, including the United States, where it contributes to public health preparedness programmes.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen, editing by Terje Solsvik, Kirsten Donovan)