SLOUGH, ENGLAND — The Reckitt Benckiser Group P.L.C. has commenced a tender offer of $42 per outstanding share, equal to approximately $1.4 billion, to acquire Schiff Nutrition, Salt Lake City, Utah, the maker of the Tiger’s Milk nutrition bar and other vitamins and supplements. On Oct. 30, Bayer HealthCare L.L.C., Morristown, N.J., entered an agreement to acquire Schiff Nutrition for $34 per share in cash, equal to approximately $1.2 billion. Reckitt Benckiser’s offer is 23.5% higher than the offer proposed by Bayer Healthcare.

“For Reckitt Benckiser, this acquisition would provide a powerful entryway into the large and rapidly growing $30 billion global VMS (vitamin, mineral, supplement) market,” said Rakesh Kapoor, chief executive officer for Reckitt Benckiser. “This market would be the largest consumer health care sector in which we operate. It is an ideal addition to Reckitt Benckiser’s new strategic focus in global health and hygiene, and would give us immediate scale in VMS in the USA. It also plays well to our consumer marketing, innovation and go to market capabilities.”