Kimberly-Clark Plans Asset Sales to Win EU Approval for $40B Kenvue Deal
Kimberly-Clark's Bid for Kenvue and Regulatory Hurdles
By Foo Yun Chee
Overview of the $40 Billion Acquisition
BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Kimberly-Clark is readying concessions to address EU antitrust concerns about its bid for Tylenol maker Kenvue that could help it win approval for the $40 billion deal after a preliminary review, people familiar with the matter said.
Expansion of Kimberly-Clark's Brand Portfolio
The maker of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers announced the deal in November last year that would add Kenvue's vast portfolio of brands from Listerine mouth wash to skincare brands Aveeno and Neutrogena to Kimberly-Clark's range of products.
EU Antitrust Review Process
The European Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, is set to formally inform Kimberly-Clark of its concerns this week, the people said.
Potential Concessions and Timeline
This would determine whether the company submits concessions during the regulator's preliminary review which ends on September 29 to secure the EU green light, or waits until it opens a full-scale four-month long investigation after the end of that preliminary assessment.
Statements from Involved Parties
The Commission declined to comment. Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
International Approvals and Market Context
Conditional Approvals in Other Markets
The deal was cleared in Australia last week on condition Kimberly-Clark divests Kenvue's Carefree and Stayfree period care brands in the country. It secured conditional approval in South Africa last month.
Consumer Goods Market Environment
The deal comes amid a challenging consumer goods environment, with shoppers looking for value and companies responding by investing in smaller pack sizes and cutting underperforming units.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Louise Heavens and Jan Harvey)
