Kimberly-Clark to acquire Tylenol owner Kenvue in $48.7 billion deal

Core Viewpoint - Kimberly Clark is set to acquire Ken View for over $40 billion, with a significant equity component in the deal, potentially lowering the cash value of the transaction [1][5]. Company Overview - Ken View has faced organizational challenges, including the removal of its CEO and ongoing struggles since its spin-off from Johnson & Johnson, despite having a strong brand portfolio that includes Tylenol and Listerine [2][4]. - Kimberly Clark has been interested in acquiring Ken View for an extended period, previously attempting a reverse Mars trust deal to separate it from J&J before the spin-off [8]. Financial Aspects - The proposed acquisition includes $2.1 billion in cost synergies, with $1.9 billion primarily from cost reductions, and additional revenue synergies anticipated [4][5]. - The deal structure involves a cash component of $3.50 per share and a stock component, with Ken View shareholders expected to own 46% of the combined entity [5][7]. - The acquisition is priced at a 50% premium, but the overall valuation is impacted by Kimberly Clark's declining share price, leading to a deal multiple of approximately 14.5 times, below the typical median of 18 times for similar transactions [6][10]. Market Implications - The merger aims to create a competitive portfolio that could rival Procter & Gamble, with hopes of achieving a market multiple closer to that of P&G or Colgate in the future [3][7]. - The acquisition is expected to be accretive over time, allowing for potential upside as synergies are realized and Ken View's business is reorganized [4][7].