The Belgian SOLVAY group (turnover of EUR 7.87 bn in 2004 of which 24% was earned from its pharmaceuticals division - workforce of 30,139) has acquired FOURNIER PHARMA for an estimated EUR 1.3 bn in cash (turnover of EUR 596 million in 2004 with 3,340 employees) and which is the fourth largest independent laboratory in France. This acquisition will allow SOLVAY to increase its turnover by a third in the pharmaceuticals business by adding around 3,000 employees to the 7,500 already working in...