Aspen Pharmacare, a generic drug company based in Johannesburg, plans to acquire drug assets and a plant from Merck in a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion. The transaction would include an API business in the Netherlands and a portfolio of 11 Merck drug brands, expanding Aspen’s presence in Europe, Latin America and Asia. According to a statement by Aspen, the deal is subject to the approval of various competition authorities and the South African Reserve Bank.   The company also an...