Davis Polk is advising Warner Chilcott plc in connection with its approximately $8.5 billion acquisition by Actavis, Inc. in a stock-for-stock transaction. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2013.

Warner Chilcott is a specialty pharmaceutical company currently focused on the women’s healthcare, gastroenterology, urology and dermatology segments of the branded pharmaceuticals market, primarily in North America. Actavis is a global integrated specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing generic, brand and bio-similar products.

The Davis Polk corporate team includes partners Michael Davis and H. Oliver Smith and associates James E. Elworth, Lee Hochbaum and Ashley M. Bryant. Partner Edmond T. FitzGerald and associate Gillian Emmett Moldowan are providing executive compensation advice. Partner Michael Mollerus is providing tax advice. Partner Michael Kaplan is providing capital markets advice. Partner Joel M. Cohen is providing antitrust and competition advice. All members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York office.