In order to expand in Europe, Watson Pharmaceuticals has acquired Specifar, one of the top 5 branded generics developers in Greece, for €400 M (US$563 M). The acquisition of Specifar will provide Watson with drug development expertise, a strong commercial presence in the €6 B (approximately US$8 B) Greek pharmaceutical market and will increase the company’s footprint in key European markets by giving it access to a portfolio of approved generics. Specifar’s former owners could also receive up to an additional €40 M (US$56 M), based on the future profits of a generic version of esomeprazole during its first 5 years of sales.