Merck & Co Inc has received approaches from large consumer companies interested in buying its consumer healthcare business, best known for Coppertone sunscreen and Claritin allergy medicine, according to people familiar with the matter. Merck's consumer healthcare business, which also includes Dr. Scholl's foot care and other consumer products, could be worth as much as $8 billion to $10 billion in a sale, or roughly four to five times the unit's annual revenue, some of the people said.Merck, the No. 2 U.S. drugmaker after Pfizer Inc, is considering alternatives for both its consumer and animal health businesses and has said it expects to complete the review in 2014.Among a range of options it has considered for the consumer unit, Merck discussed a potential asset swap with Novartis AG , under which Merck would give up its consumer assets in return for the Swiss drugmaker's animal health and other units, Reuters and others previously reported.The probability of carrying out such a deal, however, is currently seen as low due to the complexity of valuing different businesses, prompting Merck to explore an outright sale of its consumer unit as well, people familiar with the matter said.
Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck) is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products, which it markets directly and through its joint ventures. Shares of MRK fell by 0.5% or $-0.27/share to $53.24. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $40.83 and as high as $54.10. On average, 12620700 shares of MRK exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 7280383.
Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions. The Company is a multinational group of companies specializing in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of a range of healthcare products led by pharmaceuticals. Shares of NVS fell by 0.61% or $-0.49/share to $79.45. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $66.65 and as high as $82.02. On average, 1367310 shares of NVS exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1409196.
Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) is a research-based, global biopharmaceutical company. Shares of PFE fell by 0.79% or $-0.245/share to $30.58. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $26.79 and as high as $32.50. On average, 24622800 shares of PFE exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 18827248.
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