companies such as KKR , Nestle , PepsiCo and Danone are among the companies reported to be in early - stage talks to acquire smart 's ( GSK ) 72 % stake in its Indian consumer products division . The $ 4bn deal for a majority slice of GSK Consumer Healthcare in 2012 is thought to be the biggest in the sector in India 's history . Formal , non - binding bids are expected to be submitted in June , after which a shortlist of contenders will go through a second round of negotiations , according to a source . GSK aims to leverage the funds raised from the sale to buy out Novartis from a joint venture .
Heavyweights such as KKR, Nestle, PepsiCo and Danone are among the companies rumoured to be in early-stage talks to acquire GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) 72% stake in its Indian consumer products division. The $4bn deal for a majority slice of GSK Consumer Healthcare in India is thought to be the biggest in the sector in India's history. Formal, non-binding bids are expected to be submitted in June, after which a shortlist of contenders will go through a second round of negotiations, according to a source. GSK aims to use the funds raised from the sale to buy out Novartis from a joint venture.