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L’oréal stands in solidarity with India’s fight against Covid
Mumbai: To address the acute shortage of oxygen being faced by India in combating the Covid2019 pandemic, L’Oréal has lent its financial support to the French government’s initiative to provide oxygen generators, liquid oxygen containers and specialised respirators to the country. In addition, the global cosmetic brand is working with a network of NGOs across India, including GiveIndia, United Way Mumbai, Hemkunt Foundation, ActionAid Association, the Akshay Patra Foundation etc to supply critical oxygen equipment, medical supplies, food, education and hygiene kits across the country.
L’Oréal will provide oxygen concentrators and cylinders to hospitals in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and distribute over 100,000 units of sanitisers to government hospitals, police forces, municipal corporations, and those on the frontline of the pandemic across the country. The company said it will also give care packages to approximately 2000 nurses who have become the primary caregiver and family to many.
With schools closed indefinitely, underprivileged children have not had access to education or food provided by schools. To aid their requirements, L’Oréal has partnered the Akshay Patra Foundation to provide 4,000 food and education kits for children. As women have been amongst the most severely impacted by the pandemic, L’Oréal is working with Action Aid India to provide livelihood training and infrastructure support, there by empowering them to restart their livelihoods.
L’Oréal India managing director Amit Jain said, “We are deeply concerned with the severity of the second wave of the pandemic and committed to working closely with the government and our NGO partners to support the country’s collective efforts to fight the crisis.”
L’Oréal employees will also be contributing toward Covid relief to an NGO of their choice via the fundraising platform GiveIndia.
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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.
