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A giant deal involving Atlanta-based animal health company Merial has gotten a final green light from U.S. regulators.

In the deal, announced last June, Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired Sanofi’s animal care subsidiary, Merial, valued at $13.53 billion, and Sanofi took over Boehringer Ingelheim’s consumer health care business unit, valued at $7.98 billion, as well as cash compensation of $5.54 billion.

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The FTC's Feb. 24 order requires that Boehringer Ingelheim divest the canine, feline… more

The Federal Trade Commission on Feb. 24 approved a final order okaying the deal. The FTC had alleged that as originally structured, it would harm competition in the U.S. markets for various vaccines for pets and certain parasite control products for cattle and sheep. The FTC also charged the deal could lead to higher prices and reduced service in these markets, and could increase the likelihood of coordinated interaction between competitors.

The FTC's final order requires that Boehringer Ingelheim divest the canine, feline and rabies vaccines identified in the complaint to Eli Lilly and Co. and its Elanco Animal Health division, and the parasite control products to Bayer AG.

Merial's North American headquarters are located in Duluth, Ga. The company has 1,750 U.S. employees.

Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle