Dive Brief:
- Danone is considering a sale of its 20% stake in Japan's Yakult, according to Bloomberg News. Such a deal could yield as much as $2 billion for the French company.
- Danone is said to be looking to raise cash in order to fund acquisitions. One possible target is U.S.-based Mead Johnson Nutrition, a maker of infant formula.
- Danone has held a position in Yakult, which makes fermented probiotic drinks, for a decade.
Dive Insight:
News of Danone's possible divestment comes six months after Yakult announced its first major investment here in the States - a new 76,800 square-foot facility in California.
Apparently that plant isn't enough to convince Danone to stick with Yakult. But still, why would anyone want to sell a piece of what is arguably the coolest company in the business? Yakult owns a professional baseball team.