# C_2014436EN.01001101.xml

| 5.12.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 436/11 |
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5.12.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 436/11

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.7275 — Novartis/GlaxoSmithKline oncology business)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/C 436/08)

| 1. | On 28 November 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Novartis AG (‘Novartis’, Switzerland) acquires the business relating to a portfolio of oncology products excluding manufacturing (the ‘Target’) from GlaxoSmithKline plc. (‘GSK’, United Kingdom), by way of purchase of assets. |
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1.

On 28 November 2014, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Novartis AG (‘Novartis’, Switzerland) acquires the business relating to a portfolio of oncology products excluding manufacturing (the ‘Target’) from GlaxoSmithKline plc. (‘GSK’, United Kingdom), by way of purchase of assets.

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| 2. | The proposed concentration forms part of a three-part inter-conditional transaction whereby GSK has agreed to acquire sole control over Novartis' vaccine business (excluding the influenza business) and GSK and Novartis have agreed to combine their consumer health businesses into a new venture. These parts of the overall transaction have been notified on 28 November 2014 as case M.7276. |
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2.

The proposed concentration forms part of a three-part inter-conditional transaction whereby GSK has agreed to acquire sole control over Novartis' vaccine business (excluding the influenza business) and GSK and Novartis have agreed to combine their consumer health businesses into a new venture. These parts of the overall transaction have been notified on 28 November 2014 as case M.7276.

| 3. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | Novartis is a Swiss healthcare company, active in five broad areas of healthcare: pharmaceuticals, eye care, generics, Over-the-Counter (‘OTC’) and vaccine products, |
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3.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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Novartis is a Swiss healthcare company, active in five broad areas of healthcare: pharmaceuticals, eye care, generics, Over-the-Counter (‘OTC’) and vaccine products,

| — | the Target is active globally in the research, development, and marketing of oncology products for various indications. |
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the Target is active globally in the research, development, and marketing of oncology products for various indications.

| 4. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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4.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

| 5. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7275 — Novartis/GlaxoSmithKline oncology business, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

5.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7275 — Novartis/GlaxoSmithKline oncology business, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

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