05.06.2009

According to Wall Street Journal, Bayer AG, a Germany-based company engaged in the healthcare, nutrition, and high-tech materials business, is contemplated to be one of the potential bidders to acquire Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, a Netherlands-based engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of animal health products, from Merck & Co., Inc. The transaction would range between $6,000 million to $8,000 million.
Merck & Co is a pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets human and animal healthcare products. Merck has recently entered into a definitive merger agreement with Schering-Plough Corporation. Merck intends to sell either 50% stake in Merial or Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health in order to avoid any concerns from antitrust regulators that an acquisition of Schering-Plough would make it too dominant in the animal healthcare business.
Reportedly, Novartis AG, Sanofi-Aventis SA, Eli Lilly & Co., and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH are also considered as potential acquirers.