Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears planned acquisition of Solvay Pharma by Abbott, subject to conditions

The European Commission approved on 11 February 2010 under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Solvay Pharma of Belgium by Abbott Laboratories of the USA. The decision is conditional upon the divestment of the Cystic Fibrosis testing business of Solvay Pharma's subsidiary Innogenetics in the European Economic Area (EEA). The Commission had concerns that the parties' high combined market shares in the field of Cystic Fibrosis testing could have harmed competition on the markets. In the light of the commitments, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.