Competition
Commission of India clears Novartis-GlaxoSmithKline pharma deal
Fair trade regulator CCI
has approved a multi-billion dollar deal between global pharma giants
GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Novartis, as it did not find the transaction to be
anti-competitive in India.
The multi-layered deal
involves UK-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) acquiring the Swiss major's vaccine
business, while the latter would purchase GSK's cancer drugs portfolio.
In
a order dated December 12 and made public today, the Competition Commission of India
(CCI) said it is of theopinion that the "the proposed
combination is not likely to have appreciable adverse effect on competition in
India".
The three-part deal involves acquisition of GSK's portfolio of oncology products by Novartis for $16 billion.
The deal also involves purchase of the global human vaccines business of Novartis (excluding its influenza vaccines business) by GSK for an estimated amount of $7.1 billion.
The three-part deal involves acquisition of GSK's portfolio of oncology products by Novartis for $16 billion.
The deal also involves purchase of the global human vaccines business of Novartis (excluding its influenza vaccines business) by GSK for an estimated amount of $7.1 billion.
Besides, both the drung
majors have entered into a agreement to form consumer healthcare joint venture
in which GSK will own 63.5 per cent stake and Novartis would own the remaining
36.5 per cent holding.
GSK would contribute its
global consumer health care business to the joint venture. However this would
not include its consumer healthcare business in India.
Moreover,
Novartis will transfer its over-the-counter consumer healthcare business to the
JV except for its products that are managed by and reported for financial
purposes within Novartis' pharmaceutical division, Alcon division and Sandoz
division.
With regard to the vaccine deal, the CCI said that "the negligible presence" of GSK and Novartis and "the presence of significant competitors, the vaccines transaction is not likely to result in appreciable adverse effect on competition in the market in India".
The regulator also observed that the presence of significant competitors in consumer healthcare segment does not cause concerns in relation to the proposed JV.
For the cancer drug portfolio, CCI observed that "there are no overlaps between the pipeline oncology products of the parties".
In India, GSK has been active through its various subsidiaries like Biddle Sawyer, GSK Asia, GSK Consumer Healthcare and GSK Pharmaceuticals.
On the other hand, Novartis is present in India through four entities -- Novartis India, Novartis Healthcare, Sandoz Private Ltd and Chiron-Behring Vaccine Private Ltd.
The deal between the drug majors was entered into in April this year, following which they had approached CCI for its approval.
With regard to the vaccine deal, the CCI said that "the negligible presence" of GSK and Novartis and "the presence of significant competitors, the vaccines transaction is not likely to result in appreciable adverse effect on competition in the market in India".
The regulator also observed that the presence of significant competitors in consumer healthcare segment does not cause concerns in relation to the proposed JV.
For the cancer drug portfolio, CCI observed that "there are no overlaps between the pipeline oncology products of the parties".
In India, GSK has been active through its various subsidiaries like Biddle Sawyer, GSK Asia, GSK Consumer Healthcare and GSK Pharmaceuticals.
On the other hand, Novartis is present in India through four entities -- Novartis India, Novartis Healthcare, Sandoz Private Ltd and Chiron-Behring Vaccine Private Ltd.
The deal between the drug majors was entered into in April this year, following which they had approached CCI for its approval.
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