MAM
Pepsi slashes prices of 300 ml bottles
NEW DELHI: Come summer and the soft drinks market in India is all geared for another round of price war. But this time, unlike in the past, Pepsi has fired the first salvo.
Heralding the cut-throat summer competition in soft drinks, Pepsi said on Tuesday, 15 April 2003, that it has slashed prices of its 300 ml returnable glass bottles to Rs 6 in the city and this price cut may be extended to other markets to make its brands more affordable, according to a PTI report..
However, the only other soft drinks company, Coca-Cola, appears to have been caught on the wrong foot, with its 300 ml pack still priced at Rs 8.
India is the only market where Pepsi gives some stiff competition to Coca-Cola. In most global markets Coca -Cola is way ahead of Pepsi.
Coca-Cola India vice-president (external) Sunil Gupta was quoted in the PTI report as saying, “We’re making no fresh comments on our pricing strategy. Right now, our 300 ml pack continues to be priced at Rs 8.”
The fresh price war, triggered by Pepsi, follows an earlier onslaught when both the companies reduced prices by about 20 per cent across the board just before the Union Budget for 2003-04 provided them excise duty relief.
A Pepsi spokesperson said, “In a high-consumption market such as Delhi going into the summer, aggressive price points devolving from the 300-ml segment will work much better. Our price strategy for this market, therefore, works off this thinking. As a consequence to this, 200-ml bottles are also priced at Rs 5. The new price points are 300 ml at Rs 6, and 200 ml at Rs 5.”
Brands
Sun Pharma to acquire Organon in $11.75 billion deal at $14 per share
Acquisition to create $12.4 billion pharma giant with global scale and biosimilars push
MUMBAI: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Organon & Co. in an all-cash deal valued at $11.75 billion, marking one of the largest cross-border pharma acquisitions by an Indian firm.
Under the terms of the agreement, Organon shareholders will receive $14.00 per share in cash, with Sun Pharma set to acquire 100 per cent of the company’s outstanding shares. The transaction, approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.
The deal significantly expands Sun Pharma’s global footprint and strengthens its position across women’s health, biosimilars, and branded generics. The combined entity is projected to generate revenues of around $12.4 billion, placing it among the top 25 pharmaceutical companies globally.
Organon, which was spun off from Merck in 2021, brings a portfolio of over 70 products spanning women’s health and general medicines, with operations across more than 140 countries. Its established presence in key markets such as the US, Europe, and China complements Sun Pharma’s existing strengths and growth ambitions.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited executive chairman Dilip Shanghvi said, “This transaction represents a significant opportunity for Sun Pharma to build on its vision of reaching people and touching lives. Organon’s portfolio, capabilities and global reach are highly complementary to our own.”
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited managing director Kirti Ganorkar added, “This transaction is a logical next step in strengthening Sun Pharma’s global business. Together, we will become a partner of choice for acquiring and launching new products.”
From Organon’s side, Organon & Co. executive chair Carrie Cox noted, “This all-cash transaction offers compelling and immediate value to Organon stockholders, while positioning the business for continued growth under Sun Pharma.”
Strategically, the acquisition gives Sun Pharma entry into the global biosimilars space as a top 10 player and strengthens its innovative medicines portfolio, which is expected to contribute around 27 per cent of combined revenues. The deal is also expected to nearly double EBITDA and cash flow, supporting long-term deleveraging and investment capacity.
Sun Pharma plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of internal accruals and committed financing from global banks, while maintaining focus on disciplined integration and operational continuity post-merger.
If completed as planned, the deal signals a clear shift in India’s pharmaceutical ambitions, from scale at home to leadership on the global stage, with Sun Pharma positioning itself as a more diversified and innovation-led healthcare powerhouse.
