Bayer to acquire consumer-care business of Merck & Co.

摘要

Bayer announced today that it has agreed to acquire the consumer- care business of pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. (Whitehouse Station, NJ), for $14.2 billion in cash. Bayer, at the end of April, had declined to comment on a Reuters report about the possible acqui- sition. The acquisition will give Bayer the global number-two posi- tion in OTC products following recently announced consolidations in this highly attractive and growing health-care segment and will signifcantly enhance Bayer’s business across multiple therapeutic categories and geographies, Bayer says. Merck's consumer-care business includes leading brands such as Claritin, Coppertone, and Dr. Scholl’s. Pro forma sales of the combined businesses in 2013 amounted to $7.4 billion, with Merck’s business contributing about $2.2 billion, Bayer says. The transaction is subject to approval from the relevant antitrust authorities, with closing expected in the second half of 2014, Bayer says.