US infant nutrition firm Mead Johnson and French food group Danone, the owner of Aptamil baby formula, is reportedly set to table a joint bid for the baby food business of pharma giant Pfizer.
Reuters said yesterday (23 February) that Pfizer had given Mead Johnson and Danone permission to make a joint offer for its infant nutrition division.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Citing sources, the two companies will compete with Nestle in the next round of the auction for the business, which takes place on 5 March.
Speaking to just-food, a spokesperson for Mead Johnson declined to comment on what he called “marketplace speculation or rumours”.
Officials at Danone and Nestle could not be reached for immediate comment.
Reuters‘ claims followed a Bloomberg report earlier this week that said Danone was weighing up a bid with Mead Johnson.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataPfizer announced last July that it was considering the “strategic alternatives” for the unit, which included a sale, spin-off “or other transaction”.
Its infant nutrition business generated revenues of around $1.9bn in 2010. It sells products including infant formulas and growing-up milks in over 60 countries. It operates from five plants in Ireland, China, Singapore, the Philippines and Mexico.
