2008-05-28

Bundeskartellamt ends lawsuit against Bayer Vital

Leverkusen, May 28, 2008 – The German Bundeskartellamt (BKartA) has ended its lawsuit against Bayer Vital GmbH and imposed a fine. The BKartA believes that it has evidence to show that employees of Bayer Vital GmbH influenced the retail prices of non-prescription (OTC) drug products in pharmacies in violation of antitrust law.

Bayer Vital does not share the legal position of the Bundeskartellamt. However, in order to avoid a protracted legal conflict and the associated negative repercussions on its business activities, Bayer Vital GmbH has decided to accept a fine of EUR 10.34 million.

Bayer Vital respects the law as a matter of principle. Bayer Vital has therefore reviewed the marketing measures for its OTC medicines in pharmacies in their entirety and made changes where this was appropriate and necessary. Bayer Vital cooperated with the Bundeskartellamt throughout the whole process.

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Contact
Alsfasser, Hartmut