Prime Therapeutics to stay in Eagan

Prime Therapeutics is likely to keep its headquarters in Eagan after several local cities reportedly fought to court the pharmacy benefits manager.

Prime is exploring a new location in Eagan, where it currently has offices close to Interstate 494 and Pilot Knob Road. Company executives expect to begin talks with the city of Eagan in early January.

"The facility would be large enough to consolidate our current Eagan, Mendota Heights and Edina locations and allow for some growth," Brian Holmes, Prime's assistant vice president of real estate and facilities, said in a statement.

Prime declined to give an exact new location or timeline for the move, but a spokeswoman for developer United Properties said they were in discussions with Prime on a space. No deal has been signed.

Even with the new office, Prime still expects to keep its Bloomington location in the Normandale Lake Office Park.

Prime employs more than 2,000 people in the Twin Cities, with many already working in Eagan. Last year, the company announced it would grow its Minnesota workforce by 375 jobs over three years.

Prime made headlines recently when there were reports that regional promoter Greater MSP instigated a bidding war between local governments for Prime's new offices.

Greater MSP has disputed the reports, but they were cited by the Minneapolis City Council members, who instigated a vote to cut most of the city's funding for the economic group next year.

The city of Eagan is not currently offering tax incentives for Prime to go to the new site.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495

Twitter: @nicolenorfleet