Asters Advises a Leading Pharmaceutical Company in Its Further Global Expansion

Asters has advised Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world, on the issues of Ukrainian merger control law, including obtaining merger clearance from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMC) in connection with its acquisition of another global specialty pharmaceutical company Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., headquartered in Israel, is among the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company develops, manufactures and markets generic and innovative pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Over 80 percent of Teva's sales are in North America and Western Europe.

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., with its headquarters in the U.S., operates through its principal subsidiaries in more than 30 countries worldwide and is engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The combination of the two companies will enhance Teva's market share and leadership position in the U.S. and key global markets and further strengthen Teva's portfolio and pipeline. The acquisition is expected to be closed by late 2008.

The filing with the AMC was handled by associates Tetyana Vovk and Iryna Tertytsia under the supervision of partner Igor Svechkar.