Pfizer Nutrition Business Could Fit Nestle
July 29 2011 - 6:31AM
Dow Jones News
Nestle SA (NESN.VX) is rumored to be among the potential buyers
for Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) nutrition business after the U.S.
pharmaceutical company said it was exploring strategic options for
the unit.
Nestle, along with Danone SA (BN.FR), Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
and Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. (MJN) are among the companies to
have been linked with the Pfizer unit, which analysts value at $7.8
billion to $10.4 billion.
A purchase by Nestle would help it improve margins at its own
nutrition business, which generated sales of 10.8 billion Swiss
francs ($13.49 billion) in 2010, said Bank Vontobel analyst
Jean-Philippe Bertschy.
Currently the business has margins of around 19% but it wants to
increase them further in the next two or three years.
The Pfizer business, which generated sales of $1.8 billion in
2010 and had a profit margin of 20% to 25%, could also bolster the
position of Nestle's infant nutrition business in Asia, Bertschy
added.
The Pfizer business has an 11% share of the Chinese
market--bigger than Nestle--and 16% in Hong Kong.
"A purchase by Nestle would help Nestle secure its No. 1
position," said Bertschy. "Thanks to synergies, Nestle might be
able to get margins in excess of 20%."
Nestle was also more able to afford the cost than its rivals, he
added.
"We might have some antitrust concerns, but I don't think this
will be a major concern. I think Nestle would be prepared to sell
some businesses in some countries."
Nestle spokeswoman Melanie Kohli said, "As a matter of principle
we do not comment on market rumors."
-By John Revill, Dow Jones Newswires; +41 43 443 8042 ;
john.revill@dowjones.com
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