Prepared Foods September 19, 2005 eNewsletter

Novartis AG is again putting its Health Food & Slimming (HF&S) and Sports Nutrition (SN) operations up for sale, after aborting an initial attempt in 2002 due to a lack of attractive offers, French business weekly Challenges reports.

The operations were subsequently reorganized into a stand-alone unit called Nutrition and Sante, and Credit Agricole Private Equity is currently considering buying the unit which is valued at 250 million to 300 million euros ($300 million to $360 million), according to the pre-released article.

A Novartis spokesman contacted by Agence France-Presse said he would not comment on “market speculation,” but said Novartis does not consider Nutrition and Sante a core operation.

The business comprises, among others, the brands Gerble, Isostar, Cereal and Gerlinea.