P&G eyes up Warner otc

Procter & Gamble is understood to be planning a bid for over-the-counter (otc) pharmaceuticals company Warner Lambert, whose brands include Benylin, Calpol, Sudafed and Actifed.

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Procter & Gamble is understood to be planning a bid for over-the-counter (otc) pharmaceuticals company Warner Lambert, whose brands include Benylin, Calpol, Sudafed and Actifed.

On Monday, Glaxo Wellcome sold most of its stake in Warner Wellcome’s non-prescription business, which it inherited when it bought Wellcome last year.

Sources close to P&G say the company intends to bid for Warner Lambert, capitalised at $14.86bn (9.9bn), and use it to launch global otc products.

Last week P&G’s chief executive and chairman, John Pepper, said: “We’re building our healthcare business by focusing on the largest global opportunities.”

Analysts say buying Warner Lambert would be a good move for P&G because it would give it access to a wide range of products.

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