Bayer to buy Roche
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Bayer's proposed acquisition of Roche Consumer Health will create third largest OTC marketer worldwide, boosting Bayer HealthCare from its sixth-place spot to a position trailing only Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline. Bayer/Roche combination is expected to have annual worldwide sales of $2.99 bil. Bayer's commitment to grow its consumer health business is reflected in the $2.96 bil. price tag it agreed to pay for Roche, representing twice the unit's annual sales. Under the deal, Bayer will acquire Roche's 50% share of the joint marketing venture for Aleve, which the firms have shared, as well as a number of other analgesic, dermatological, gastrointestinal and nutritional brands that will complement its own portfolio. Roche's leading consumer brands include Supradyn multivitamins, topical ointment Bepanthen, antacid Rennie and vitamin C supplement Redoxon. Company also manufactures Parsol UV filters...