LONDON, May 3 Reuters Pfizer39;s plan to sell its Haleon stake is not a surprise, the consumer health company39;s finance chief Tobias Hestler told Reuters on Wednesday.

Londonlisted Haleon was carved out as an independent company in July and comprises consumer health assets once owned by GSK and Pfizer.

Pfizer, which has a 32 stake in the maker of Sensodyne toothpaste and Panadol painkillers, told the Financial Times on Tuesday that it intends to offload that stake in a slow and methodical manner within months.

Hestler said Pfizer has long been clear about its intention to sell off the stake, suggesting that the reason the potential of the selloff has gained traction is because the selling window opens around the time that Haleon39;s results are announced.

This will happen every quarter from now until they39;re sold off…this is just what39;s expected, he said, adding If I get a courtesy call the evening before they do it then that would be nice, but they don39;t even have to do that.

Shares of the world39;s biggest standalone consumer health business were down more than 3 in early trading.

These stock 39;overhangs39; can depress share prices in the short term, but it seems unlikely anyone will not buy a pack of Advil or Tums because Pfizer are thinking of selling a noncore investment, said Steve Clayton, head of equity funds at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Haleon, which sells nonprescription drugs, vitamins and oral care products, on Wednesday reported a fall in…