Danone sells remaining stake in probiotic milk beverage maker Yakult Honsha

French food company Danone has sold its remaining stake of 6.61% in Yakult Honsha, the maker of Japanese sweetened probiotic milk beverage Yakult, for JPY 58 billion (€470 million).

Danone took up the sale to strengthen its balance sheet.

Its collaboration with Yakult began through a 10-year partnership alliance that was signed in 2004. In 2018, Danone sold most of its 21.29% stake in Yakult Honsha.

Yakult is prepared through the fermentation of milk with the bacteria strain Lactobacillus paracasei Shirota. The probiotic milk beverage, which is promoted for maintaining a healthy intestine, was introduced in 1935.