UPDATE 2-GSK says on course to demerge consumer arm after report of buyout interest

(Adds GSK statement)

Oct 12 (Reuters) - UK drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline said
its plan to separate its consumer healthcare unit next year were
on track, after Bloomberg reported potential buyout interest in
the business from private equity firms such as Advent, CVC and
KKR.

The unit, a venture with Pfizer, could also attract
some of the world's biggest pharmaceutical and consumer goods
companies, the Bloomberg report, citing sources, said https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-12/glaxo-s-54-billion-consumer-arm-is-said-to-draw-buyout-interest
on Tuesday, adding the business could be valued at 40 billion
pounds ($54 billion) or more.

A GSK spokesman declined to comment on whether the company
had received takeover interest in the consumer healthcare
business.

"GSK is far advanced with its plan for the separation of
Consumer Healthcare. This has been developed according to a
clear set of guiding principles," he said, adding the company
was firmly on track for the split in mid-2022.

The London-listed company in June set out plans to turn the
consumer arm into a separately listed company to boost its
underperforming drugs business, and has also vehemently defended
those plans after activist investor Elliott made some proposals
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/activist-investor-elliotts-five-proposals-gsk-2021-07-01.

"The GSK board will fulfil its fiduciary duties to evaluate
any alternative options for Consumer Healthcare which may arise
that maximise value for all shareholders," the GSK
representative said.
(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and Ludwig Burger
in Frankfurt; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Bernadette Baum)