The Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany — Germany's Bayer has agreed to buy Merck & Co.'s non-prescription medicine and consumer care business for $14.2 billion, gaining products such as Claritin allergy pills, Coppertone sun lotion and Dr. Scholl's footcare products.
Bayer said the deal would make it the leader in over-the-counter products in North and Latin America. Bayer already has a major non-prescription division whose brands include Aleve pain reliever, Alka-Seltzer and One-A-Day vitamins. Bayer also makes prescription drugs, industrial materials and farm chemicals.
Marijn Dekkers, Bayer's CEO. . .