Mead Johnson Nutrition, the Glenview-based maker of Enfamil infant formula, might be acquired by the British firm Reckitt Benckiser for about $16.7 billion.
Reckitt Benckiser issued a statement overnight saying it was advanced negotiations to acquire Mead Johnson, which issued its own release confirming the discussions. Reckitt Benckiser’s brands include Lysol disinfectant, Woolite detergent and Durex condoms.
That Mead Johnson is on the brink of a merger will come as no surprise to food industry analysts who have long pegged the global baby food maker as a takeover target. But Reckitt Benckiser is a dark horse that few, if any, saw coming.
In just the past few weeks, rumors surfaced of Nestle buying Mead Johnson, though some analysts considered companies like Danone and even Kraft Heinz to be possible suitors.
It’s unclear what would become of the 200 or so workers at Mead Johnson’s Glenview headquarters if the deal goes through.
Mead Johnson is the third-largest supplier of baby food globally, behind Nestle and Danone, respectively, according to Euromonitor data.
More to come.
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