GSK offloads £800m stake in healthcare spin-off Haleon

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pharmaceutical giant GSK has sold more than £800 million of shares in its spin-off healthcare group Haleon. The FTSE 100-listed group said it has offloaded 240 million shares – around a 2.6% stake – a week after Pfizer announced it planned to sell its 32% stake in the business. Russ Mould, investment director for AJ Bell, said: “They both said they would sell down their positions in time, but the ease at which GSK has placed 240 million shares in Haleon would suggest it won’t have a problem selling the remaining 10.3% stake in the business. “Essentially that is also good news for Haleon and the perceived risk to its share price from the significant overhang – there is nothing worse than two major shareholders openly saying they don’t want to keep their shares for long.” Haleon’s share price edged up by about 0.5% on Friday morning, while GSK’s was up by 2%.