Nestle agrees to sell insurance unit for US$1.55b

[GENEVA] Nestle said Monday that it had agreed to sell its Gerber Life Insurance unit for US$1.55 billion, in the company's latest bid to redouble its focus on food and beverage.

The Switzerland-based food giant said the deal with Western & Southern Financial Group does not affect the iconic Gerber baby food unit, which Nestle will continue to control.

"This move is part of the ongoing evolution of our portfolio. It will allow us to invest further in our core food and beverage business and in consumer healthcare," Nestle's chief executive Mark Schneider said in a statement.

Nestle has made a series of moves in recent months to more tightly focus its operations, with health food products and coffee emerging as key priorities.

The company announced in February that it was exploring options to sale the Gerber insurance business.

Nestle said it expects the deal to close later this year, or early in 2019.

AFP