Danaher Said to Be Interested in Life Sciences Firm Catalent (3)

Life sciences company Danaher Corp. has expressed takeover interest in contract manufacturer Catalent Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.

Catalent’s shares rose almost 20% to $67 in New York trading Monday for their biggest-ever one-day jump, pushing up the company’s market value to $12 billion.

The overtures by Danaher in recent months valued Catalent at a significant premium, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. It’s unclear how Catalent will proceed or whether it’s receptive to a takeover offer, the people said. A deal isn’t imminent, they added.

“As a ...