MERGER GETS OK'D
By Adnews Staff
Industry Canada has approved the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, allowing the two companies to operate as Novartis Pharma Canada beginning Jan. 1. The operations of Novartis in Canada will be carried out by eight independent sector companies: Novartis Pharma Canada, Novartis Consumer Health Canada, Ciba Vision Canada, Novartis Nutrition Canada, Gerber Canada, Novartis Animal Health Canada, Novartis Crop Protection Canada and Novartis Seeds Canada. Novartis is still reviewing how advertising will be done for the newly merged company and will make a decision in the new year, spokesperson Richard Gareau told Adnews this week. Advertising for Ciba-Geigy is done by SMW Advertising, National Pharmacom, Durnan Communications and BCP Direct, all of Toronto, as well as the Adculture Group of Milton, Ont. Pantello & Lally Macfarland of Montreal, Marketing Communications of London, Ont. and DDB Canada of Toronto do advertising for Sandoz. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approved the deal this week. The European Union OK'd the deal last July