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☆ McDonald’s is investing more in China to tap ‘tremendous opportunity’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald’s has struck a deal to ramp up its stake in its China business to just under 50% and expressed confidence in its growth prospects in the world’s second-largest economy. The deal to acquire investment firm Carlyle’s 28% holding in the burger chain’s China business, which also includes stores in Hong Kong and Macau, will see McDonald’s stake rise to 48%. Since 2017, the number of McDonald’s stores in China has doubled to 5,500 and the country has become its second-largest market. In contrast to McDonald’s, US meat and processed food maker Tyson Foods plans to sell its China poultry business, sources have said. British consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser in 2021 sold its China infant formula and child nutrition business to investment firm Primavera Capital.

Persons: McDonald’s, “, ”, Chris Kempczinski, Carlyle, Trustar, Jim Sanderson, Benckiser Organizations: Northcoast Research, Tyson Foods, Primavera Capital Locations: China, Hong Kong, Macau, CITIC, British

The company's third-quarter sales volumes were also up against a tough comparative period from last year, when the recall of a rival U.S.-based company's infant formula boosted sales of Reckitt's Enfamil products there. Reckitt said quarterly like-for-like net sales rose 3.4%, behind the 3.7% growth analysts had expected in a company-supplied poll. Rival consumer products makers who have raised prices over the past two years have said in recent weeks that sales volumes could soon see improvements. The price/mix for Reckitt's products, which include Nurofen tablets and Durex condoms, rose 7.5%. Volumes declined 4.1% compared with last year.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Reckitt, Kris Licht, Bernstein, Bruno Monteyne, Richa Naidu, Jason Neely, David Evans, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Benckiser, REUTERS, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S

Powdered drink mixes that are widely promoted as “toddler milks” for older babies and children up to age 3 are unregulated, unnecessary and “nutritionally incomplete,” the American Academy of Pediatrics warned Friday. Also, toddler drinks are different than medical formulas prescribed for specific conditions, such as heart disease or problems digesting certain foods. Fuchs and other experts point to the lack of common standards for toddler milks, which means the ingredients vary widely among brands. The group also wants requirements to ensure the products are not linked to regulated infant formula or sold next to formula. A health group petitioned the FDA in 2020 to regulate toddler milks, but the agency is still reviewing the request.

Persons: George Fuchs, Fuchs, milks, ”, Frances Fleming, Milici, “ They’re, Fleming, “ Organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Rudd Center for Food Policy, Health, University of Connecticut, University of Kentucky, Infant Nutrition Council of America, Abbott Nutrition, Perrigo, AAP, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

☆ Condom-shy India arouses interest of global contraceptive makers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Kashish Tandon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Such is the trend that the market is set to more than double to $1.7 billion by 2030, showed data from GrandView Research. By contrast, 19% of U.S. men use condoms every time they have sex, showed data from the National Center for Health Statistics. World Bank data showed that, in 2021, per capita gross domestic product crossed $2,000 - a threshold at which, in China in 2006, consumption jumped. Britain's Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT.L) has launched new products under its Durex brand and expanded its "Birds and the Bees" rural marketing campaign. SOCIAL MEDIAIndia's market leader is domestic manufacturer Mankind Pharma (MNKI.NS) with a 33% share, ahead of Reckitt Benckiser at 14%, TechSci data showed.

Persons: Kazuhiro Kamio, Okamoto, Arvind Singhal, Miah Kiat Goh, Dwight, Mankind, Ashita Aggarwal, Kashish Tandon, Sumit Khanna, Rocky Swift, Dhanya Skariachan, Christopher Cushing Organizations: GrandView Research, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Okamoto Industries, National Center for Health Statistics, Technopak Advisors, Reuters, United Nations, Benckiser, ., Mankind Pharma, Social, Jain Institute of Management & Research, HDFC Securities Institutional, View Research, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Europe, Japan, China, U.S, S.P, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Rocky, Tokyo

Reuters GraphicsReuters spoke to four shareholders that have launched activist campaigns who said that some big consumer goods companies are ripe for executive changes after failing to impress. Reuters GraphicsMany large consumer goods companies generally hold low levels of debt and are cash generative, said André Medeiros, managing director and Alvarez & Marsal's EMEA consumer and retail leader. 'ADVOCATING FOR MANAGEMENT CHANGE'Gianluca Ferrari, founding partner of investor Clearway Capital, said his firm had some consumer companies on its radar but declined to name them. He did not identify specific executives nor disclose the nature of his work with consumer companies. In October, Reuters reported that Peltz had approached former CEOs of consumer goods companies as candidates for the Unilever top job.

Persons: Danone's, Emmanuel Faber, David Samra, Samra, Alvarez, Marsal, André Medeiros, Nelson Peltz, Artisan's Samra, We're, Peltz, Heinz, Gianluca Ferrari, Ferrari, Clearway, Glanbia, Faber, Bluebell, Nicolas Ceron, Ceron, underperformance, Kraft Heinz, KHC.O, Andrew Hayes, Russell Reynolds, John Long, Korn, Long, Alan Jope departure's, Unilever's, Graeme Pitkethly, Hein Schumacher, Heinz's, Bill Johnson, Nelson, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Artisan Partners, Reuters, Danone, Evian, Unilever, Consumer Products, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Marsal's EMEA, Billionaire, Artisan, Cadbury Schweppes, Heinz, Trian, Bluebell Capital, shareholders, Bluebell, Diageo, Russell Reynolds Associates, Thomson Locations: York, H.J, Frankfurt, Western Europe, North America

☆ US FDA warns 3 baby formula makers to correct manufacturing process controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, U.S., August 29, 2020. The FDA pulled up these companies for failing to establish processes to ensure infant formula does not become contaminated during manufacturing. The recalls were meant to remove products potentially contaminated with the bacteria cronobacter sakazakii, the FDA added. "The agency... believes that the recalls were effective in removing the potentially contaminated batches of product from the market," the FDA said. Infant formula manufacturing is under greater scrutiny following the shortage of the product last year due to a shutdown of Abbott Laboratories' (ABT.N) unit in Michigan.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Benckiser, Mead Johnson, Perrigo, ByHeart, Leroy Leo, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Food and Drug Administration, FDA, REUTERS, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, ByHeart Inc, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Abbott Laboratories, Thomson Locations: White Oak , Maryland, U.S, PRGO.N, Wisconsin, Michigan, Bengaluru

The logo of Tyson Foods is seen in Davos, Switzerland, May 22, 2022. While it was not immediately clear what valuation Tyson Foods is seeking for the China poultry business, it has annual sales of about $1.1 billion, one of the people said. Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson Foods and Goldman Sachs declined to comment. Calls to Tyson Foods' China headquarters in Shanghai went unanswered. In the food industry, U.S. agricultural giant Cargill struck a deal in May to sell its China poultry business to private equity firm DCP Capital for an undisclosed price.

Persons: Arnd, Goldman Sachs, Tyson, Cargill, Hope Liuhe, Kane Wu, Abigail Summerville, Roxanne Liu, Tom Polansek, Jamie Freed Organizations: Tyson Foods, REUTERS, HONG KONG, Goldman, Capital, Reckitt, Primavera Capital Group, Industrial, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, HONG, China, Springdale , Arkansas, Shanghai, Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Nantong, Xiaogan, Hong Kong, New York, Beijing, Chicago

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) - Nestle (NESN.S) improved its full-year organic sales outlook and reported better-than-expected first-half organic sales, as the world's biggest packaged food company again raised prices to cope with higher input costs. Nestle said it is narrowing its full-year organic sales growth guidance - which does not include the impact of currency movements and acquisitions - to a range of 7%-8% from a range of 6-8%. Real internal growth - or sales volumes - fell 0.8% versus expectations of a 0.6% decline. "We're still repairing our gross margin," he added. Reckitt reported sales volumes for the second quarter were down 4.3%, Unilever's quarterly volumes were down 0.3% and Danone's second-quarter volume/mix declined 2.3%.

Persons: Nestle, Mark Schneider, Schneider, Jean, Philippe Bertschy, Reckitt, Richa Naidu, Kim Coghill, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Nestle, Unilever, Thomson Locations: Swiss, Ukraine

☆ Reckitt's sales volume dip takes shine off like-for-like sales beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 26 (Reuters) - Reckitt Benckiser's (RKT.L) sales volume fell in the second quarter as the Dettol and Lysol cleaning products maker increased its price mix to tame soaring raw material costs, sending its shares down more than 2%. Reckitt said on Wednesday sales volume for the second quarter was down 7.3% and its price mix rose 5.5% on a like-for-like basis to combat higher expenses. Rival Unilever (ULVR.L) on Tuesday also smashed underlying sales growth forecasts after again raising prices to offset higher costs. Reckitt on Wednesday raised its dividend to 76.6 pence for the first half, from 73 pence in the year-ago period. Reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Reckitt, Chandini, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Jane Merriman Organizations: Rival Unilever, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Bengaluru

LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - Consumer companies and economists have said sentiment in China is slower than expected, but that's not stopping them from buying more condoms, Durex maker Reckitt said on Wednesday. British consumer goods giant Unilever (ULVR.L) said on Tuesday that China's declining property market and exports had sent its consumer sentiment to a historic low, having earlier this year forecast a Chinese "consumption boom". Globally, the portfolio grew by high-single digits, and in China Reckitt saw "the benefit of re-opening post COVID-related lockdowns." Reckitt has a new Taicang, China-based production facility, according to its website, set to "produce our thinnest Durex polyurethane condoms ever" for that market. "The site will produce the thinnest Durex PU condoms in history and will be committed to the continuous improvement of new technologies for PU condoms."

Persons: Reckitt, China Reckitt, Nicandro Durante, Richa Naidu, David Evans Organizations: Consumer, Unilever, Thomson Locations: China

☆ Causeway Capital CEO Sarah Ketterer shares her top stock picks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCauseway Capital CEO Sarah Ketterer shares her top stock picksSarah Ketterer, Causeway Capital Management CEO and portfolio manager, joins 'Squawk Box' to share her top stock picks including Rolls Royce, Samsung, Reckitt Benckiser, where she sees investment opportunities around the world, and more.

Persons: Sarah Ketterer, Rolls, Reckitt Organizations: Email Causeway, Causeway Capital Management, Rolls Royce, Samsung

☆ 'Good value, low risk, high quality': BofA names top Europe stocks to beat a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bank of America has named multiple European "top stocks" it says are of "good value, low risk" and "high quality." All of them turned up on "recession screens" for July, in a market BofA described as a being in a recession style cycle. The euro zone entered recession in the first quarter of the year, according to economic data released last month. Energy companies the bank named include Shell , German company EON and Italian firm Enel . During recession cycles, investors have benefited from being overweight on value stocks rather than growth stocks, as well as on stocks with strong balance sheets and lower risk, BofA added, citing research based on a testing period between 1992 and 2003.

Persons: EON, Reckitt, BofA, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: of America, Roche, Novartis, Sanofi, GSK, Volvo, Benz, Ferrari . Energy, Shell, Unilever, Lysol, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Auto Locations: Howden

Consumer goods makers say the price hikes are necessary, and that they have taken a hit to margins over the past two years. Some companies such as Clorox (CLX.N) have even begun to ease off the hikes to protect sales volumes as input costs fall. "In the U.S. in particular, these pressures are more acute than in Europe," Janus Henderson portfolio manager Luke Newman told Reuters. U.S. consumer strength has begun weakening, "and that's bad news for the consumer companies," Barclays analyst Iain Simpson said. Still, cost inflation has chipped away at margins, which have broadly fallen 2-4 percentage points over the past two years for the consumer goods industry.

Persons: Janus Henderson, Luke Newman, Newman, Richard Marwood, Robert Klaber, Parnassus, Iain Simpson, Alvarez, Marsal, David Chavern, Stephanie Niven, Niven, Irene Jensen, Jensen, Thomas Joekel, Richa Naidu, Jessica DiNapoli, Matt Scuffham, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Consumer, Reuters, Royal London Asset Management, Investments, Biden, Barclays, Procter, Gamble, Consumer Brands Association, Sustainable Equity Fund, Norges Bank Investment Management, Unilever, Reckitt, Investment, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Europe, San Francisco, United States

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - Reckitt's (RKT.L) Lysol disinfectant brand said on Tuesday that it would start selling in the U.S. an "air sanitizing spray" that kills 99.9% of airborne viruses and bacteria. The spray, which Reckitt said helps reduce the spread of airborne pathogens such as cold, Influenza and Coronavirus, has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reckitt, Clorox (CLX.N) and other disinfectant makers benefited from a boom in sales of surface cleaners and wipes. At the time, there were no products suited to sanitizing air, though some anxious consumers took to spraying surface cleaners into their surroundings. The formula contains active molecules that are hygroscopic in nature, which allows the molecules to attach to microorganisms suspended in the air.

Persons: Reckitt, We'd, Chris Jones, Richa Naidu, Louise Heavens Organizations: U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Thomson Locations: U.S

An internal Union Investment document seen by Reuters shows that the firm received just 30 responses to its outreach. Although consumer goods manufacturers are particularly exposed, other sectors that import goods associated with deforestation, including commodities houses and industrials companies, will also face scrutiny. Consumer goods makers are counting on technology such as satellites and artificial intelligence to help eradicate deforestation from their supply chains. Several large consumer goods companies say they are close to meeting their ambitious zero-deforestation goals. "The EU rules make deforestation a financial risk as well as an environmental risk."

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, Henrik Pontzen, Pontzen, Janus Henderson, Jonathan Toub, haven't, Snorre Gjerde, Christophe Hansen, Magdi Batato, Kit Kat, Nestlé, David Croft, Reckitt's, Arild Skedsmo, Richa Naidu, Kate Abnett, Matt Scuffham, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, EU, Germany's, Investment, Unilever, ESG, Union Investment, Nestle, Pepsico, Danone, L'Oreal, KLP, Aviva, Fidelity International, Reckitt, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Uruara, Para State, Brazil, NBIM, Nescafe, London, Brussels

☆ Indivior opioid settlement makes purer M&A case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Indivior (INDV.L) is one step closer to becoming a takeover target. Litigation risks have weighed down Indivior in the years following the company’s spinoff from Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) in 2014. The group still has lawsuits to settle over the same charges with insurers and patients. With its litigation risks easing, Indivior could soon lure larger cash rich pharmaceutical companies keen to access a market that is sadly showing no signs of decline. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Reckitt, Roche, Indivior, Aimee Donnellan, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Suboxone, AstraZeneca, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Twitter, Toyota, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Deutsche Bank shrugs off basket-case mantle
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Some alighted on Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), the erstwhile whipping boy of European banking. True, the bank’s total deposits fell by 29 billion euros, or roughly 5%, between Dec. 31 and March 31. In Banco Santander’s (SAN.MC) European business, customer deposits also fell roughly 5% over the same period. Meanwhile, three-quarters of corporate banking deposits either have a fixed term or are used as part of the customers’ operations, making them stickier. Deutsche, previously the basket-case of European banking, was always a likely target for investors hunting for the next weak link.

☆ Stubborn Germans leave EU budget reform in a fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, April 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The European Commission’s efforts to appease fiscal hardliners have not yet opened doors for a badly needed reform of the bloc’s fiscal rules. Specifically, Germany does not like a proposal to allow the Commission new flexibility to negotiate budget targets with European Union countries. Although current debt rules have never been enforced – because required cuts would be too punitive to work – Berlin likes their semblance of objectivity. But in the absence of a new system, it will have to go through the motions for 2024, and possibly beyond. Even though that’s less stringent than the current system, France already says it’s too rigid, and Italy wants more exceptions for green investment.

☆ Kirin investors find vitamin deal hard to swallow
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The $15 billion Japanese company is best known as a brewer, but sources more than half its top line from other businesses. Kirin, led by CEO Yoshinori Isozaki, also reckons the deal will be accretive to earnings per share in the first year. Yet investors immediately wiped some $450 million off the purchaser’s market value on Thursday, almost double the premium it agreed to pay Blackmores’ shareholders. Blackmores may yet show Kirin has adopted a better dealmaking regimen, but investors aren’t holding their breath. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Eli Lilly races rising obesity expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The race is on between Mounjaro’s growth and investors’ burgeoning hopes. The drug made by Eli Lilly (LLY.N), which was approved in May to treat diabetes, reaped an astonishing $569 million of revenue in the first quarter less than a year after it was approved for sale. The results encouraged Lilly to raise its annual profit guidance by 3.5%. The pharmaceutical firm also unveiled alongside its earnings release on Thursday that the drug had its second successful large clinical trial against obesity. With another successful trial under Lilly’s belt, Mounjaro is likely to receive an official green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in obesity, and more insurers will subsidize the cost.

Cost inflation rose during the COVID-19 pandemic and was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which sent energy prices to record highs last year. Energy costs have since dropped, however, while global prices for some commodities are rising more slowly. Companies like Nestle (NESN.S), Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) and Danone (DANO.PA) continued to raise prices sharply in the first quarter even though input costs are easing. First quarter price/mix, a basket of variables the company uses to help determine what prices to charge, rose 12.4% while sales volumes declined 4.5%. Similarly, Nestle increased its prices by 9.8% during the quarter and sales volumes - which the company calls real internal growth - fell only 0.5%.

☆ Reckitt names Kris Licht as CEO, beats sales estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) - Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) has named company insider Kris Licht as CEO designate to succeed Nicandro Durante, taking the helm by the end of the year after a transition period. Licht, who has served as president of Reckitt's health business and as chief customer officer since July 2020, will be appointed to the board as an executive director from June 1. Durante, a former BAT (BATS.L) chief executive, will stay with Reckitt until December "to ensure a smooth transition". The company, which makes Durex condoms and Lysol cleaning products, also reported like-for-like net revenue up 7.9% in the first quarter, beating analyst expectations of a 3.6% rise in consensus forecast provided by the company. Reckitt, which also makes Nurofen tablets, cold remedy Lemsip and Dettol hygiene products, now expects like-for-like net revenue growth of 3-5% for the year after beating sales expectations for several quarters in a row, helped by price increases.

☆ Sanction hit tars BAT’s US listing hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - British American Tobacco (BATS.L) could have trouble getting more American love. The $635 million settlement plus interest may be less of a financial spoil for the $82 billion giant. Still, investors including Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners, had hoped BAT could move its listing to the United States to close a yawning valuation gap. The reputational stain from its fine, however, raises the risk that if it were to move stateside, U.S. investors may still apply a discount. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Teck swats dealmaking ball back into its own court
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Canadian miner Teck Resources (TECKb.TO) on Wednesday tore up Plan A, which was a scheduled shareholder vote on splitting the company. Boss Jonathan Price and controlling shareholder Norman Keevil also are rejecting Plan B, an even more intricate, all-share $24 billion takeover bid from Glencore (GLEN.L). If Teck doesn’t come up with a persuasive third option, and soon, it is likely to face increased pressure to sell. Teck vowed to come back with a “simpler and more direct” separation proposal. Keevil’s blocking stake is an obvious impediment, but if Plan C doesn’t fly, Plan B will look more compelling.

☆ Reckitt CEO switch may boost odds of a takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Reckitt Benckiser’s (RKT.L) decision to appoint an insider as CEO may help to entice prospective buyers, like U.S. giant Procter & Gamble (PG.N). Reckitt has been a perennial takeover target, as previous bosses struggled to deliver consistently strong revenue growth. It is still paying down a hefty debt pile following an ill-advised $17 billion takeover of baby food maker Mead Johnson in 2017. Net revenue grew by nearly 8% year-on-year in the first quarter – after excluding acquisitions, disposals and currency fluctuations. Reckitt’s shares trade at 17 times forecast 2023 earnings, compared with P&G’s multiple of nearly 25 times.

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