The Competition Tribunal has approved a merger that will see Pharmacare Ltd, trading as Aspen Pharmacare (Aspen), acquire the promotion, sales, marketing and distribution rights to 17 branded pharmaceutical products held by Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd (Ingelheim SA). The approval is subject to employment-related conditions.

 

The acquiring group (Aspen Holdings, Aspen and their subsidiaries) manufactures, sells and distributes generic and branded pharmaceutical drugs in South Africa. It has a global network of manufacturing and packaging facilities, with local operations in Gqeberha, Cape Town and East London.

 

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceutical products. While it has no manufacturing facilities in South Africa, it supplies the local market through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ingelheim SA. It has research and development facilities as well as manufacturing facilities around the world.