Merck KGaA Down-Plays Further Deals After Consumer Health Sell-Off

19 Apr 2018

• By John Davis

The sale of the Merck KGaA consumer health business to Procter & Gamble could eventually give the German multinational greater flexibility in business development activities, but reducing net debt has first claim on the funds.

Merck KGAA could use some of the €3.4bn ($4.2bn) it will receive from the all-cash sale of its global consumer health business to strengthen its remaining business sectors, in healthcare, life sciences and performance materials, but the primary use of net proceeds from the sale of the consumer health business to Procter & Gamble Co., announced on Apr. 19, will be to speed up the deleveraging process, the German multinational said.

Stefan Oschmann, CEO of

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