Piramal Enterprises acquires five OTC Brands

The consumer products division of Piramal Enterprises Ltd has acquired trademark rights for five over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for India from Organon India Pvt. Ltd and MSD BV, Indian subsidiaries of US based pharmaceutical leader Merck and Co, for a consideration of Rs.92 crore.

The acquisition includes the brands Naturolax, Lactobacil and Farizym, which Piramal Enterprises intends to continue in the OTC business in the gastro-intestinal segment. The Indian OTC Market is approximately Rs. 15,000 crore in size and grew 13-14% in 2014. Last month, Piramal Enterprises had acquired 100% stake in Little India, the country’s oldest baby care products brand, for an undisclosed amount.

Piramal Enterprises consumer division owns popular brands such as Lacto Calamine Lotion, Caladryl, antacid brand Polycrol and headache drug Saridon. The company entered the OTC market with the acquisition of Saridon from Roche Holding AG and Lacto Calamine from Duphar Interfran Ltd in the early 1990s. They were followed up by joint venture with Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. and Boots Plc. to get their OTC range to India.

Piramal entry into pharmaceuticals came around 1988 when the company acquired Nicholas Laboratories Ltd. for Rs. 1.6 crore at a time when most multinational drug makers were exiting India. 

Piramal Enterprises acquires Baby Care Brand Little

Piramal Enterprises has entered the baby care segment by acquiring a 100% stake in Little India, the country oldest baby care products brand, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition will add eight categories to Piramal Enterprises consumer product division which sells Lacto Calamine Lotion and Headache drug Saridon.

Little baby care range includes feeding, grooming, bath, bedtime, clothing, travel, and playtime accessories. After Johnson and Johnson there are not many serious players in baby care market in India as the sector is too fragmented. However, people will be ready to pay a premium as long as the products from emerging companies are significantly differentiated.

Piramal Enterprises entered the over-the-counter (OTC) market with the acquisition of Saridon from Roche Holding AG and Lacto Calamine from Duphar Interfran Ltd in the early 1990s. They were followed by joint ventures with Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. and Boosts Plc. to get their OTC range to India in 1990s itself. It was only in 2007 that Piramal decided to establish its own consumer products division.

The Little Brand is available at chemists, cosmetics and kids stores, modern trade and e-commerce formats. Piramal entry into Pharmaceuticals came around 1988 when he acquired Nicholas Laboratories Ltd for Rs. 1.6 Crore at a time when most multinational drug makers were exiting India.