Kim Howells accepts undertakings from IMS

United Kingdom

On 29th October 1999, Kim Howells, Competition and Consumer Affairs Minister, announced that he had accepted undertakings from IMS Health Inc (IMS) in relation to their acquisition of Pharmaceutical Marketing Services Inc (PMSI). His decision is in accordance with the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading. Dr Howells referred the case to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in September 1998. Following an adverse MMC report in February 1999, IMS was required to give undertakings designed to encourage competition (which has been lost because of the merger) in the market for specialised data services. Under the terms of the undertakings, IMS will sell its Source Dispenser Business, which it acquired under the merger, and it will licence and supply pharmaceutical data to third parties. (DTI Press Release P/99/876)