Kimberly-Clark Acquires Kenvue in $48.7 Billion Deal

Breaking News: Kimberly-Clark to Acquire Kenvue in $48.7 Billion Deal Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies diapers and Kleenex, will acquire Kenvue, the owner of Tylenol, in a deal valued at $48.7 billion. The companies announced the agreement on Monday, with Kimberly-Clark agreeing to pay $21.01 per share for Kenvue in a cash-and-stock deal. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending approval from Kenvue and Kimberly-Clark shareholders, regulators, and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The deal was announced after a tumultuous period for Kenvue, which faced pressure following claims by former President Donald Trump that Tylenol may be a potential cause of autism. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, the controversy had a significant impact on Kenvue's stock price, which rose 18% in premarket trading on Monday to around $17 per share. In contrast, Kimberly-Clark's stock price stumbled 14.8% to nearly $102 per share. The acquisition is a significant development in the consumer health industry, with the combined company expected to have a market value of over $100 billion. The deal is also a major expansion for Kimberly-Clark, which will gain control of Kenvue's portfolio of consumer health brands, including Tylenol, Advil, and Theraflu. Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue expect the deal to generate significant cost savings and synergies, with the companies estimating that the acquisition will result in annual cost savings of $1.5 billion by 2028. The companies also expect the deal to drive growth in the consumer health industry, with the combined company expected to have a leading position in the market. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, with the companies expecting the deal to close in the second half of 2026. In the meantime, the companies will continue to operate independently, with Kenvue's management team remaining in place until the deal is completed.