Colgate or Reckitt Benckiser could be acquired by Unilever - report (translated)
Dutch-British consumer goods company Unilever [AMS:UNA] could acquire smaller rivals Colgate-Palmolive [NYSE:CL] or Reckitt Benckiser [LON:RB], unnamed analysts told Dutch daily Het Financiële Dagblad.
Acquisitions would be a way to become unattractive for hostile takeovers, the analysts suggested. Unilever is looking to adapt to such a strategy in order to fend off the next takeover attempt from Kraft Heinz [NASDAQ: KHC]. Heinz offered to buy the company last month, but the deal was ultimately called off.
However, the analysts added that Colgate and Reckitt Benckiser were very efficient companies and that there would little margin for profit.
Unilever is also expected to look out for smaller acquisitions, the report added. Perfume, hair dye and sun screen are buys that would be interesting for the company because these products are not yet in its portfolio, it added.