Consumer goods giant Unilever on Monday indicated that it would continue to chase the consumer healthcare business of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc, despite the latter rejecting its “unsolicited” proposals last week.

“Consumer health is a highly complementary category for Unilever, with good potential for synergies and a number of routes to build scale...GSK Consumer would be a strong strategic fit,’’ Unilever said without elaborating on whether it would sweeten the offer.

Last Saturday, GSK had confirmed that it had received three unsolicited, conditional and non-binding proposals from Unilever plc to acquire its consumer healthcare business. It disclosed that the latest proposal was for a total acquisition value of £50 billion comprising £41.7 billion in cash and £8.3 billion in Unilever shares.

The target is a joint venture between GSK and Pfizer, with GSK holding a majority controlling interest of 68 per cent and Pfizer the rest.

GSK said it rejected all three proposals as they “fundamentally undervalued the consumer healthcare business and its future prospects”. The business has brands like Sensodyne toothpaste and over-the-counter brands such as Otrivin, Theraflu apart from VMC (vitamin, mineral & supplements) products like Centrum.