Reckitt Benckiser, the British FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) company, has succeeded in acquiring India’s Paras Pharmaceuticals for INR32.6 B (US$725 M), despite a higher bid from the Indian FMCG company Emami. Reckitt will purchase the privately held company from its current shareholders, which include Paras’ founder Girish Patel, who with his family owns a 30% stake, and the emerging markets-focused private equity investor Actis. Other big pharma companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-aventis, Novartis and Johnson & Johnson, were also in the race to acquire the Indian OTC and personal care company.