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Reckitt Benckiser to buy OTC unit
London: Household products company Reckitt Benckiser has acquired Boots Group's over-the-counter drugs unit, Boots Healthcare International, for 1.93 billion pounds ($3.42 billion) in an all cash deal.

Reckitt Benckiser has acquired the unit that makes Nurofen, the world's second-most popular Ibuprofen brand; Strepsils, the world's sore throat medication; and the Clearasil anti-acne drug.

The three brands are leading brands in their segments and have substantial further growth potential according to Reckitt Benckiser.

The division had an operating profit of £88 million on revenue of £523 million in the year ending March 2005.

Reckitt Benckiser's portfolio of household products includes Lysol cleaning spray and Calgon detergent, while its OTC drugs portfolio includes Gaviscon and Veet.
The company sees £75 million in cost synergies and £130 million in net working capital synergies by 2008.

Boots is known for its U.K. pharmacy chain
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China's gap between haves and have nots at critical level
Guangzhou: Deepening poverty in China's countryside, against the backdrop of fast growing cities, has sparked social unrest in some areas in the country.

The leadership in Beijing is concerned there could be a wider backlash, threatening a decade of strong economic growth and the Communist Party's grip on power, analysts say.

Analysts say that the Communist Party feels that the regime may not survive if it doesn't address the growing wealth gap, and more importantly, the perception that the government only cares about economic growth and the urban rich.
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