03/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: Procter&Gamble/Teva. On 30 September, the European Commission cleared the acquisition of significant parts of the “over-the-counter” (OTC) business of pharmaceutical company Teva of Israel by the US company Procter & Gamble (P&G). The Commission's examination of the proposed transaction concentrated on laxatives in the Netherlands and antitussives in Austria, where, in some market segments, the merged entity will have high market shares. It concluded that in both areas the combined entity would continue to face sufficient competitive constraints exerted by other companies in the sector and that, consequently there would be no competition concerns. (FG/transl.rt)