Merck & Co., Inc. Grabs Buyout Interest For Potentially $10 Billion Consumer Health Unit

Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) 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 (PFE.N), is considering alternatives for both its consumer and animal health businesses and has said it expects to complete the review in 2014.

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