Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears Sanofi-Aventis’ proposed acquisition of Zentiva, subject to conditions

The European Commission approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Czech generic pharmaceuticals firm Zentiva by Sanofi-Aventis Europe of France, a producer of originator medicines. To remedy the Commission's competition concerns in different therapeutic areas on a number of national markets, Sanofi-Aventis committed to divest fifteen drugs in the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Estonia. In the light of these commitments, the Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not cause competition concerns in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.