Consumer healthcare sector: UL acquires Schmidt's NaturalsThe time for SNYR's acquisition by a big player will come because SNYR's insider ownership is 55%, so insiders' interests are aligned with shareholders. There is at least one acquisition in the consumer healthcare sector every week. There is at least one major player who acquires a small player. It's Unilever this week that acquires Schmidt's Naturals, a brand for deodorant, soap and toothpaste:
Unilever lands Schmidt’s Naturals
Unilever (UN, UL) announces that it struck an agreement to pick up the Schmidt’s Naturals business.
Oregon-based Schmidt’s Naturals started as a deodorant brand and has extended its offering to bar soap and toothpaste.
"Schmidt’s Naturals is a strong, innovative brand in the fast-growing natural category, and nicely complements our existing portfolio of US deodorants which includes leading brands Degree, Axe and Dove,” says Unilever President Kees Kruythoff,
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Unilever (UN) today announced an agreement to acquire Schmidt’s Naturals, a personal care company based in Portland, Oregon.
Founded in 2010 by Jaime Schmidt, Schmidt’s Naturals started as a deodorant brand and has extended its offering to bar soap and toothpaste. Schmidt’s natural deodorants include award-winning formulas derived from plants and minerals. Its most popular variants include Charcoal + Magnesium, Rose + Vanilla, Lavender + Sage, as well as fragrance-free offerings.
“Schmidt’s Naturals is a strong, innovative brand in the fast-growing natural category, and nicely complements our existing portfolio of US deodorants which includes leading brands Degree, Axe and Dove,” said Kees Kruythoff, President, Unilever North America. “The brand’s focus on transparency and mission to make natural products accessible to everyone aligns closely with Unilever values and represents an exciting category expansion for our family of brands.”
Alan Jope, President, Unilever Personal Care, added: “Schmidt’s Naturals is a great strategic fit for our Personal Care business, allowing us to reach new consumers who prefer natural options. We look forward to utilizing our Personal Care leadership to extend Schmidt’s Naturals into new sales channels and geographies.”
Co-founders Jaime Schmidt and Michael Cammarata will continue to be involved with the brand.
“Today is a momentous day in the history of Schmidt's Naturals as we announce our joining of the Unilever family of brands,” said Jaime Schmidt, Founder, Schmidt’s Naturals. “Thanks to our community, what started humbly in my kitchen and local farmers’ markets has grown into homes worldwide. I am proud to say that as a result of our partnership with Unilever, we are better positioned than ever in our mission to make natural products accessible to all. Moreover, Unilever’s substantive actions towards creating a more sustainable and equitable future for diverse peoples across the planet further fuels the enthusiasm behind our alliance.”
Michael Cammarata, Co-founder and CEO, Schmidt’s Naturals: “As long as I can remember, I’ve had one dream—to build and be part of a meaningful company that would help change the world and empower people everywhere to live their best lives. Today, Schmidt’s Naturals and Unilever are coming together to bring natural products to the world in new and innovative ways. Through our partnership, we look forward to Unilever taking Schmidt’s Naturals to new heights and cementing the brand’s mission.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Subject to any applicable governmental authorizations, the transaction is expected to close no later than the first quarter 2018.
About Unilever North America:
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home Care, Personal Care and Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Country Crock, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Fruttare, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, PG Tips, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise, Pukka, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington’s, St. Ives, Suave, Tazo, T2, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TIGI, TRESemm and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.
Unilever employs more than 9,000 people across North America – generating more than $10 billion in sales in 2016.