GlaxoSmithKline (LON:GSK) announced the acquisition of Novartis’ 36.5 percent stake in their joint venture, the Consumer Healthcare Business.
GSK will pay £9.2 billion for the stake in the business, which manufactures Sensodyne toothpaste, Panadol headache tablets and Nicotinell patches. The Consumer Healthcare Business was formed in 2015 as part of the three-part transaction between GSK and Novartis, and lat year reported sales of £7.8 billion.
In order to finance the deal GSK said it was initiating a strategic review of Horlicks and may sell that and its other nutrition products. Previously the company was in the running for Pfizer’s consumer healthcare unit, but dropped its bid last week.
The company said in a statement that: “GSK is initiating a strategic review of Horlicks and its other consumer healthcare nutrition products to support funding of the transaction, and to drive increased focus on over-the-counter and oral health categories. Combined sales of these products were approximately £550 million in 2017.”
Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer at GSK, commented: “The proposed transaction addresses one of our key capital allocation priorities and will allow GSK shareholders to capture the full value of one of the world’s leading Consumer Healthcare businesses. For the Group, the transaction is expected to benefit adjusted earnings and cash flows, helping us accelerate efforts to improve performance. Most importantly it also removes uncertainty and allows us to plan use of our capital for other priorities, especially pharmaceuticals R&D.”
Shares in GSK are currently up 5.11 percent at 1,354.00 (1008GMT).
