IP/06/7

Brussels, 6 January 2006

Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of BHI by Benckiser

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Boots Healthcare International (“BHI”) of the UK by Reckitt Benckiser plc (“Reckitt Benckiser” )also of the UK. The Commission has carefully investigated the markets where the parties´ activities overlap and considers that the operation will not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

Reckitt Benckiser is an international group based in the United Kingdom, mainly active worldwide in household products, such as fabric care, dishwashing and homecare products. In the health and personal care sector, Reckitt Benckiser´s best known brands include (cold and flu remedies), (disinfectant), Gaviscon (indigestion treatment) and (depilatories). BHI is a UK consumer healthcare business largely manufacturing and selling over the counter (“OTC”) medicines on a worldwide basis. Before the transaction, BHI was part of the Boots Group PLC. BHI´s most successful brands comprise Nurofen (analgesics), Strepsils (medicated throat confectionery) and (anti-acne treatment). The activities of the parties only overlap in a small number of OTC medicines markets, as Reckitt Benckiser’s activities in the field of OTC medicines are limited to a small range of products. The transaction will only lead to a small number of overlaps in the following markets: non-narcotics and pyretics in the UK and Ireland, throat preparations in the UK, antiseptics and disinfectants in Belgium and the Netherlands, cold and flu preparations in the UK and Ireland, laxatives in the UK and intimate hygiene products in France. For six of these markets the Commission concluded that the combined market shares of the parties and the small overlaps would not be sufficient to significantly impede effective competition. On the remaining three markets, antiseptics and disinfectants in the Netherlands and cold preparations in Ireland and the UK, although the combined entity will become a leading player there are other important competitors present with strong brands, such as Viatris in antiseptics and disinfectants in the Netherlands and GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer in cold preparations in the UK and Ireland. The Commission’s market investigation did not identify any competition concerns arising from the transaction.