Acquisition of AstraZeneca Ti

RNS Number : 6004I

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

20 November 2008

 



Issued: Thursday 20th November 2008, London UK - LSE announcement

GSK to strengthen OTC analgesic business with acquisition of Alvedon

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to acquire a number of leading over-the-counter (OTC) medicines predominantly sold in Sweden, including Alvedon. This acquisition reinforces GSK's ongoing efforts to invest in and expand its consumer healthcare business as part of the company's strategy to globalise and diversify.

John Clarke, President of GSK Consumer Healthcare, said, "This agreement reflects our growth strategy of building global brand franchises through acquisitions as well as organic growth. Specifically, this will strengthen our regional position in analgesic medicines, one of the largest categories in the global over-the-counter market. We expect Alvedon will benefit from the investments we are making in our global Panadol analgesics brand franchise around innovation and marketing. We will continue to seek similar opportunities."

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will acquire AZ Tika, a company wholly owned by AstraZeneca, for approximately £146 million (Swedish Krona SEK 1,770 million) in cash. AZ Tika's portfolio of products have strong margins and include market-leading brands such as Alvedon, the leading analgesic treatment in Sweden, Minifom, for GI disorders, and Nezeril and Nasin, which are decongestant brands. The brands are sold in the Nordic region, with the majority of sales concentrated in Sweden. In 2007, the product portfolio recorded net sales of approximately £27 million (SEK 335 million). 

GSK will realise sales and cost synergies through the addition of the AZ Tika brands into its existing portfolio. The sale and purchase agreement is subject to clearance from the Swedish Competition Authority. 

GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com

Simon Bicknell

Company Secretary

20 November 2008

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK' s operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the 'Business Review' in the company' s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2007.

Enquiries:
UK Media enquiries:	Philip Thomson	[phone]
	Claire Brough	[phone]
	Alice Hunt	[phone]
	Gwenan White	[phone]
US Media enquiries:	Nancy Pekarek	[phone]
	Mary Anne Rhyne	[phone]
	Sarah Alspach	[phone]
European Analyst/Investor enquiries:	David Mawdsley	[phone]
	Sally Ferguson	[phone]
	Gary Davies	[phone]
US Analyst/ Investor enquiries:	Tom Curry	[phone]

Registered in England & Wales: No. 3888792

Registered Office: 980 Great West Road Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9GS

 

END

 

 

ACQILFVSLVLIFIT