Content about Economy of Germany

NEW YORK — Bayer Healthcare last week reported it has discontinued certain advertising claims made in broadcast advertising for Alka-Seltzer Plus Severe Sinus Congestion and Cough, a sinus medication, following a challenge made by Procter & Gamble to the National Advertising Division, an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation.

The express and implied claims at issue included: 

HAMBURG, Germany — Skin care brand Beiersdorf announced on Thursday that it has “continued last year’s positive trend in the first quarter of 2013.”

Organic group sales rose by 5.4%, and nominal sales increased by 2.9%, from €1,533 million to €1,577 million. The key driver for this positive performance was the double-digit sales growth recorded in emerging markets, the company stated. Consolidated profit after tax rose to €155 million.
 

WASHINGTON — The former president of Bayer HealthCare's Worldwide Consumer Care Division has won a lifetime-achievement award from a trade group focused on the OTC industry.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association announced that it gave its Ivan D. Combe Lifetime Achievement Award to Gary Balkema at its annual executive conference in Naples, Fla.

SLOUGH, England — Reckitt Benckiser successfully wrapped up its pursuit of Schiff Nutrition on Friday with the signing of a definitive merger agreement in a deal valued at $1.4 billion. Bayer officially relinquished its proposed acquisition on the same day. 

SLOUGH, England — The battle for Schiff Nutrition is on. Reckitt Benckiser on Friday commenced its previously announced tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Schiff Nutrition — a provider of branded vitamins, nutrition supplements and nutrition bars in the United States and elsewhere — for $42 per share in cash, or approximately $1.4 billion.

PITTSBURGH — Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through donations totaling $150,000 from the Bayer USA Foundation. 

The American Red Cross and Save the Children will each receive $75,000. 

“When millions of people are affected by devastation in the form of natural disasters, it is important to be able to provide assistance to families and communities in a time of great need,” stated Tracy Spagnol, chairperson of the Bayer USA Foundation.

WILTON, Conn. — Beiersdorf, the U.S. subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG — a global skin care company based in Hamburg, Germany — has announced the appointment of Bill Graham as president and general manager of Beiersdorf North America.

Graham previously served as president and general manager of Beiersdorf. His new role includes leadership of both the United States and Canadian business units.
 
Graham was promoted to the position of general manager of Beiersdorf in August 2011, after joining the company as VP sales in 2007.

WAYNE, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals are seeking approval for a new drug to treat tumors of the gut, the companies said.

Bayer and Onyx announced the submission to the Food and Drug Administration of an application seeking approval for regorafenib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GIST. Bayer developed the drug and formed a partnership with Onyx in 2011, whereby Onyx will receive a royalty on future global net sales of the drug in cancer-related indications. Both companies will promote the drug in the United States.

NEW YORK — Beiersdorf's Nivea skin care brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary and is bringing the party to New York with a free, five-day pop-up experience in Grand Central Terminal, as part of the yearlong celebration.

The Nivea 100 Year House, located in the West Wing of Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall, will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, July 25, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26 through Friday, July 29.

HAMBURG, Germany — Beiersdorf's Nivea brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a global campaign that launches May 15 called "100 Years Skincare for Life."

Nivea's marketing budget for 2011 is around 1 billion Euros (about $1.5 billion), and roughly 70% of that is being invested in the new campaign. Nivea hopes that the investment will strengthen the brand and stabilize its position as the No. 1 skin care brand.

HAMBURG, Germany — Beiersdorf is celebrating Nivea's 100th year and, as part of the celebration, is launching its biggest digital campaign to date. The brand has tapped music icon Rihanna to help serve as the voice of the festivities.

Starting in May, Nivea will be kicking off a variety of multimarket digital and on-site activations, including its sponsorship of Rihanna's upcoming LOUD tour in the United States and Europe.

The men’s grooming segment continues to be an attractive category for manufacturers, and there is evidence that the wobbly economy has helped bolster the segment at mass.

Valued at $19.7 billion worldwide in 2009, male-specific grooming products will mushroom to $28 billion by 2014, stated consumer market research publisher Packaged Facts in its “Men’s Grooming Products: A Global Analysis” report published in November 2009.