Press Release: Commission approves planned acquisition of Roche Consumer Health by Bayer subject to conditions

The European Commission on 19 November 2004 authorised, under the Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of the worldwide Roche non-prescription pharmaceuticals business by Bayer in a deal which created the largest European OTC ('over the counter') consumer health company. Bayer's and Roche's product portfolios were largely complementary and overlapped significantly only in a small number of product markets, particularly non-narcotic analgesics (such as Aspirin) and certain antifungal treatments. The clearance was subject to a number of conditions intended to safeguard competition and hence the interests of European consumers on a few markets where the transaction raised competition concerns. The conditions consisted in the sale or licence of three pharmaceutical products.

Bayer: Company news, 19.11.04 http://www.news.bayer.com/News/News.nsf/id/2004-0702

---