Nestle stands to gain the most with Horlicks acquisition, say experts

Nestle, said experts, is also keen to expand its nutrition business in the country in line with its global strategy

Two contenders — Nestle and Unilever — have emerged contenders for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer’s Horlicks brand, which is on the block as part of a strategic review at the firm. 

While Unilever is looking to widen its food and beverage footprint in India with the deal, it is Nestle, say industry experts, which stands to gain the most with the acquisition, pegged at Rs 210-220 billion.

The review includes an assessment of the parent’s 72.5 per cent shareholding in GSK Consumer and will see the latter offload other consumer nutrition products in its portfolio, including Viva, Maltova, and Boost. 

GSK