Reckitt Benckiser cleared to acquire Boots
Media Release
Issued 30 November 2005/074
Reckitt Benckiser cleared to acquire Boots Healthcare International
The Commerce Commission has cleared Reckitt Benckiser plc to acquire the shares, manufacturing assets and intellectual property of Boots Healthcare International (BHI).
Commission Chair Paula Rebstock said that the Commission was satisfied that the proposed acquisition would not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in the New Zealand markets for the wholesale distribution of analgesics, cold preparations, throat preparations and antiseptics.
Reckitt Benckiser plc is an international manufacturer
and distributor of consumer healthcare and personal care
products. In New Zealand, Reckitt Benckiser distributes a
range of analgesics, cold and throat preparations and
antiseptics including the brands Disprin, Lemsip and
Dettol.
BHI is the consumer healthcare business of the
Boots group of companies. Boots is an international
manufacturer, distributor and retailer of consumer health
and beauty products. In New Zealand, BHI distributes a
number of products including a range of analgesics, cold and
throat preparations and antiseptics under the brands
Nurofen, Strepsils and Savlon.
A public version of the written decision will shortly be available on the Commission’s website, www.comcom.govt.nz under Public Registers.
ENDS
Commission media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz