Investments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Investments [Abstract]

Investments Disclosure

10.       Investments

	December 31,	December 31,
	2011	2010
	$’M	$’M
	____________	____________
Investments in private companies	12.8	5.9
Available-for-sale securities	7.4	83.9
Equity method investments	9.7	11.8
	____________	____________
	29.9	101.6
	____________	____________

Disposal of Vertex

In the year to December 31, 2011 the Company disposed of 1.8 million shares in Vertex (representing substantially all of the Company's holding in Vertex) for a cash consideration of $94.7 million, realizing a gain of $23.5 million which has been included in Other income, net in 2011. The Company obtained its holding in Vertex on disposal of its investment in Virochem Pharma Inc (see below).

Disposal of Virochem Pharma Inc (“Virochem”)

On March 12, 2009 the Company completed the disposal of its investment in Virochem to Vertex in a cash and stock transaction. The disposal was part of a transaction entered into by all the shareholders of Virochem with Vertex. The carrying amount of the Company's investment in Virochem on March 12, 2009 was $14.8 million. In 2009 Shire received consideration of $19.2 million in cash and 2 million Vertex shares (valued at $50.8 million) from the disposal, recognizing a gain of $55.2 million in other (expense)/income, net in the year to December 31, 2009.

In the year to December 31, 2010 the Company received further consideration of $2.0 million in cash and 0.2 million Vertex shares (valued at $9.1 million) which had been held in escrow until certain substantive conditions expired in March 2010. The Company recognized an additional gain on disposal of $11.1 million in other (expense)/income, net in the year to December 31, 2010.