P&G won't counter Unilever bid for Alberto-Culver, chief says

Procter & Gamble Co., the world's largest consumer-products company, will not counter a bid by Unilever NV for Alberto-Culver Co., Robert McDonald, the company's chief executive officer, said today in an interview.

A bid for Melrose Park-based Alberto-Culver could present "antitrust issues," McDonald said today in an interview in Urlati, Romania.

Global economic growth is picking up, but is "uneven" and "not quite fast yet to replace the employment lost during the crisis," he said.

Procter & Gamble is interested in acquiring Beiersdorf AG but that company "must make the first step," McDonald said. A contract and price for Beiersdorf "must be right," he said. "It's a terrific global brand. But the company has to come to us."

Procter & Gamble sees second-half earnings "better" than in the first six months of the year, he said.