Brussels, 13/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has authorised the German firm Gehe, one of Europe's leading pharmaceutical wholesalers, to acquire majority control of Austria's number one wholesaler, Herba Chemosan Apotheker. Gehe is buying the 31.5% share from Sanacorp by means of a public takeover bid. Gehe has subsidiaries in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, France, Portugal and Great Britain. Herba is essentially active on the Austrian pharmaceuticals wholesale market but is also developing activities in wholesale hardware, logistics and distribution for pharmaceutical makers. Its capital was owned by Austrian pharmacists prior to the takeover.
According to its press release, the Commission decided not to oppose the merger because: i) pharmaceuticals markets are essentially national; ii) pharmacists can change wholesale suppliers easily and quickly; iii) doctors have more influence over the market than wholesalers; and iv) medicine prices are regulated.