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Russia: Competition watchdog clears pharmaceutical merger

By  |  December 7, 2014

Russia’s antitrust authority has granted approval for Pharmacy Chain 36.6 to acquire the Russian operations of Finnish peer Oriola-KD, according to reports.

Pharmacy Chain 36.6 is set to purchase the retail and wholesale drug chain for about $123 million after Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service found the deal would not harm competition. Experts say the merger could benefit the Russian market, which as taken hits in recent months due to Western sanctions for its political action in Ukraine.

Oriola-KD was hit with an impairment charge last June, say reports, for weaker growth prospects within Russia.

Full content: The Moscow Times

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