CCI approves acquisition of 100 per cent shares in GlaxoSmithKline Asia by parent group companies

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday said it has approved the acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline Asia Private Limited (GSKAPL) shareholding by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Overseas Limited and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare UK Trading Limited. 

GSKAPL is a consumer healthcare company that is engaged in the marketing and distribution of oral healthcare products under various brand names such as Sensodyne, Parodontax, Polident, and over-the-counter medicines products under the brand names such as Crocin, ENO.

The Proposed Combination involves the collective acquisition of 100 per cent shares of the company. Prior to the proposed combination, GSKAPL will acquire the trademarks pertaining to "Iodex" and "Ostocalcium" brands in India alongwith the legal, economic, commercial, and marketing rights of such brands and other associated assets (GSK Consumer Brands) from GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, the CCI said in a statement. 

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Overseas Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (No.2) Limited ("GSK CH HoldCo"). It is a part of the overall GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) group and its principal activity is to act as an investment holding company for GSK CH HoldCo and its subsidiaries. 

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare UK Trading Limited is a part of the overall GSK group and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK CH HoldCo. It is engaged in the distribution and sale of consumer healthcare products, manufacturing, marketing, providing management services to the consumer healthcare group and providing research and development services to other consumer healthcare companies within the GSK group.