---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-25-097318"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001657312"
company_name: "Verona Pharma plc"
filed_at: "2025-10-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T04:27:16.806739+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 1.0
calibrated_materiality_score: 1.0
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Merck completes acquisition of Verona Pharma for $107 per ADS

## Summary
- Consideration: $13.375 per ordinary share ($107 per ADS) paid in cash.
- Nasdaq trading suspended Oct 7; company to file Form 25 for delisting and deregistration.
- All 10 directors resigned; Benjamin Lucas (PEO) and Ebru Can Temucin (PFO) appointed.
- Verona Pharma becomes an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Merck.
- High Court sanctioned Scheme of Arrangement on Oct 6; transaction closed Oct 7.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-25-097318
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001657312
- company_name: Verona Pharma plc
- filed_at: 2025-10-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 1.0
- calibrated_materiality_score: 1.0
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.01, 3.01, 3.03, 5.01, 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657312/000110465925097318/0001104659-25-097318-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657312/000110465925097318/tm2528100d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-097318
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-097318.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-097318.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: e4e131c24a20cfcba25452497e622c94e9c8adcb
  claim: Verona Pharma plc underwent a change of control involving Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC for $13.375 per share in cash (closed 2025-10-07).
  evidence_excerpt: ordinary shares, nominal value £0.05 per share, of the Company (each a “ Company Share ”); · holders of Company Shares became entitled to receive, for each such share, $13.375 in cash, without interest (the “ Consideration ”); and · because each American Depositary Share of the Company (each a “ Company ADS ”) represented a beneficial interest in eight
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657312/000110465925097318/0001104659-25-097318-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.