Vitamin Case Settlement Haunts Eisai Fiscal Year

Vitamin Case Settlement Haunts Eisai Fiscal Year

TOKYO--Eisai Co. reported that its consolidated net profit dove 29 percent to 11.3billion Japanese yen in its fiscal year ended March 31, due mainly to expenses related tothe settlement of the major vitamin price-fixing case that surfaced in the past year.Eisai joined Roche of Switzerland, BASF of Germany, Rhone-Poulenc of France, and others insettling the case against them for more than $1.1 billion. Though Eisai's share of thissettlement adversely affected the company's bottom line, Eisai management reported thatsales increased in key product areas, and sales are expected to grow 12 percent to 340billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 2001.