The Commission has begun an inquiry into the 21-billion-ecu merger between Swiss pharmaceutical companies Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy

Date: 11/04/1996

The venture will create the world's second largest drugs company, to be renamed Novartis. Even though it will only account for 4.4&percent; of world market share, the Commission is entitled to investigate the effects of the merger in national product markets. It must decide after a month whether to extend and deepen the inquiry or clear the merger.