P&G selling pet care unit in Europe to Spectrum Brands
by The Associated Press
Sale of P&G's remaining pet care business comes five months after selling majority of unit to candy bar maker Mars
NEW YORK—The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) is selling its Iams and Eukanuba brands in Europe to Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., shedding the remaining parts of its pet care business.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The transaction includes 42 markets in Europe.
P&G said that exiting the pet care business will help it focus on its core businesses.
Its brands include Tide detergent and Pampers diapers.
Spectrum is a consumer products company whose pet group brands include Tetra, Furminator and Dingo.
In April, Cincinnati-based P&G said that it was selling 80 per cent of its global pet care business—including North America and Latin America—to Mars Inc.
Europe was not included in that transaction, except for Russia and Turkey.
Mars later agreed to buy an additional 10 per cent of P&G’s pet care business in additional markets such as Japan, Australia and South Africa.
The portion of the pet care business that Spectrum is buying has about US$200 million in annual sales.
Spectrum said in a statement that the acquisition will give its United Pet Group unit access to the growing European dog and cat food market.
Its board has approved the transaction.
Spectrum, based in Middleton, Wis., also has brands including Rayovac, Black & Decker and Farberware.
P&G’s deal with Spectrum is targeted to close next year.
