Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), Novartis AG (NOVN.S) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (4502.T) are in talks with the controlling bloc of Brazilian drugmaker Hypermarcas SA (HYPE3.SA) for a buyout, two people with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

Families owning investment vehicles Igarapava Participações SA and Maiorem SA de CV, which hold a combined 34 percent of Hypermarcas, hired the investment banking units of Banco Bradesco SA (BBDC4.SA) and Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) to advise on a sale, said the sources, who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

None of the potential bidders have yet delivered binding proposals, one of the people said. The purchase of the stakes that the family of Brazilian billionaire João Alves Queiroz Filho — who controls Igarapava — and the Mexican investors in Maiorem would automatically trigger a buyout of minority shareholders.

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