Reckitt Benckiser has been touted as a possible takeover target for US consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble.

Shares in Reckitt - the maker of Dettol, Vanish, Cillit Bang and Nurofen - rose sharply yesterday amid speculation the company could be the subject of a £35bn bid.

The company last week announced a shake-up of its senior management, as it comes to terms with the exit of long-serving chief executive Bart Becht.

P&G was recently linked with a move for rival manufacturing giant Unilever, although any deal between the two would be fraught with regulatory difficulties.

Reckitt has also previously been linked with a move for Colgate Palmolive. The US toothpaste maker recently de-listed from the London Stock Exchange.

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Management shake-up for post-Becht Reckitt (1 July 2011)
Colgate maker to exit London stock market (1 June 2011)
Reckitt Benckiser shares tumble as Becht says ‘it’s time to retire’ (16 April 2011)