Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Janssen Animal Health by pharmaceutical group Eli Lilly

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Janssen Animal Health by Eli Lilly.

The Commission's investigation showed that whilst the combined market shares of the merging parties would be relatively high in certain areas customers (feed companies, pre-mixers and poultry producers) would continue to benefit from a sufficient choice of suppliers. Moreover, the transaction only marginally increases Eli Lilly's market shares through the addition of Janssen Animal Health's products to its portfolio.

The Commission examined the competitive effects of the proposed acquisition in a number of markets, in particular as regards the control of coccidiosis (an intestinal disease) in poultry, where the combined market will be significant. It concluded, however, that the merged entity would be sufficiently constrained by a number of credible competitors.

The Commission, therefore, concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.