Reckitt, which also makes Durex condoms and Nurofen painkillers, had seen its sales growth damaged by a boycott in South Korea and the weak performance of a new Scholl product.

Discovery Communications and Scripps Networks Interactive are discussing a merger that they hope could help them fend off competition from streaming services, The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the talks.

As with other big Chinese deal markers, however, its ambitions have been fueled by debt and masked by opaque ownership structures, creating uncertainty over its corporate governance, strategic motivations and financial health.

HNA has regularly funneled business to a small group of relatives and associates of its senior executives, according to a review of corporate records by The New York Times .