Global acquisition brings together health brands

5 January 2004

Deal successfully closed and Roche Consumer Health business now integrated

Global acquisition brings together leading health brands

Division ranks among the top three global OTC players – Berocca®, Elevit®, Bepanthen®, and Redoxon® and are now in the Bayer family of brands

Auckland – Some of New Zealand’s leading health care brands will be combined under one company following Bayer’s closure of its global acquisition of Roche Consumer Health. From January onwards, the Roche Consumer Health business will become part of the Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care Division, turning Bayer into a leading global over-the-counter (OTC) consumer health organisation.

In New Zealand, Bayer’s Consumer Care Division will nearly double its brand portfolio with the addition of market leading products such as Berocca®, Elevit® and Bepanthen®. The new products will compliment Bayer’s existing trusted brands such as Aspirin®, Canesten® and Pluravit®, and produce combined New Zealand sales of more than $10.5 million.

Bayer HealthCare’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand Derrill Palidwar said the acquisition meant significant growth for Bayer’s consumer care business in New Zealand.

“We have created eight new consumer care positions in New Zealand as a result of the acquisition, including the establishment of a national consumer care sales team.

MORE… “OTC products are a fast developing part of the health care market, one which is characterised by increasing consumer interest in overall health and self-medication. This is a good opportunity for our products.”

Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care is now present in more than 120 countries and the acquisition has made the division a leader in Europe, has extended its top position in Latin America and has reinforced the company’s business in US and Asia-Pacific. Key Bayer consumer care brands in New Zealand are Aspirin®, Canesten®, Alka Seltzer®, Am-O-Lin® baby care products and the Pluravit® vitamin range.

Main Roche brands in New Zealand that are becoming part of the Bayer range are vitamins Berocca®, Supradyn®, Redoxon® and Elevit®, as well as brands Aspro®, Naprogesic®, Cepacol®, Bepanthen® and Ungvita®.

Bayer AG is a German based company with three core business areas – HealthCare, CropScience and MaterialScience. In New Zealand it operates through Bayer New Zealand Ltd, based on Auckland’s North Shore.

For more information: www.bayer.co.nz

ENDS

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