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P&G acquires Merck’s Consumer Health business

Photo source: Reuters
Photo source: Reuters
Photo source: Reuters

Procter & Gamble (P&G) has acquired the Consumer Health business of pharmaceutical multinational Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany.

The FMCG giant said the acquisition will see the introduction of new OTC products to relieve muscle, joint and back pain, colds and headaches, including products for supporting physical activity and mobility.

It also expands P&G’s health care commercial and supply capabilities, technical mastery and consumer health care leadership.

Former Merck consumer health president and CEO, Uta Kemmerich-Keil, will join P&G as head of the Personal Healthcare International unit. He will oversee the newly combined consumer (or OTC) health care businesses in Europe, Latin America and Asia/IMEA (India, Middle East and Africa).

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new era for P&G Personal Health Care, as we now move forward to realise the great potential of our combined businesses,” said Tom Finn, president, P&G Global Personal Health Care.

“In bringing Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Consumer Health into P&G, we have created a new health care organization that is well-positioned to enable consumers to live longer, healthier and more vibrant lives as well as drive further sales and profit growth for P&G. We are pleased to welcome the strong leadership of Kemmerich-Keil into the P&G family, along with the thousands of talented people of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Consumer Health who are transferring to P&G.”

“P&G’s global scale and strategic interest in the health and well-being of consumers provide an excellent basis for growth and expansion, and we wish our colleagues all the best for the future,” said Belén Garijo, member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Healthcare. “This transaction marks a further step in our company’s strategic focus on science and technology.”

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