MAM
Boost partners Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team for Indian GP
MUMBAI: Boost, GlaxoSmithKline‘s malt based-health food drink in India, said it has partnered Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team for the upcoming 2012 Formula 1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix.
According to GSK, the association makes it the first by Indian consumer brand to partner with this team and which is on the back of a long-term strategic partnership that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has formed with McLaren Group globally.
The partnership is supported by a consumer contest being run by Boost and a national TV campaign that goes live soon, the company said.
As part of this association, the Boost brand logo will run on Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button‘s race cars during the Grand Prix, with the chocolate flavoured health drink available for the team throughout the race weekend.
Speaking on the association, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Marketing Head Jayant Singh said, “It is an exciting partnership for the brand as Boost is the first Indian consumer brand to partner with the team, through which Boost‘s consumers will have a chance to view the race through the team‘s eyes. We would like to wish best of luck to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for the upcoming 2012 Formula 1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix race.”
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “Our strategic partnership with GSK is a fast-moving and dynamic one. As such, we are looking forward to running Boost – one of India‘s leading consumer brands – on our cars for the Indian Grand Prix. The Buddh International circuit is one of the most exciting new venues in Formula 1 and India is a fantastic, growing market for grand prix racing. Indeed, this partnership is perfectly timed and hopefully augurs well for great success on the track this weekend.”
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.
