Press Release: Mergers: European Commission clears Unilever’s proposed acquisition of Sara Lee Household and Body Care business, subject to conditions

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the planned acquisition by the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever of the body and laundry care businesses of Sara Lee Corp of the US, subject to conditions. The Commission's in-depth investigation, confirmed competition concerns in a number of deodorants markets. To remedy these concerns, the merging parties offered to divest Sara Lee's Sanex brand and related business in Europe. In light of these commitments, the Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. The Commission's decision is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments.