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

© Scoop Media