Spark Therapeutics (ONCE) announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement for Roche (RHHBY) to fully acquire Spark Therapeutics at a price of $114.50 per share in an all-cash transaction.

This corresponds to a total equity value of approximately $4.8B on a fully diluted basis, inclusive of approximately $500M of projected net cash expected at close. The per share price represents a premium of 122% to Spark's closing price on Feb. 22, 2019. The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of both Spark and Roche. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Roche will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Spark's common stock, and Spark will file a recommendation statement containing the unanimous recommendation of the Spark board that Spark shareholders tender their shares to Roche.

Spark Therapeutics will continue its operations in Philadelphia as an independent company within the Roche Group. The closing of the transaction is expected to take place in Q2 of 2019.