Shionogi & Co., the maker of the Crestor anticholesterol pill, has agreed to buy Sciele Pharma Inc. of the U.S. for $1.4 billion, adding research, development and sales staff.

Shareholders of Atlanta-based Sciele Pharma will receive $31 a share, Osaka-based Shionogi said Monday. The company will also pay $325 million related to a convertible bond.

"The acquisition of Sciele will improve our sales network and build up our presence in the U.S.," Shionogi said in a statement.