Essity acquires Edgewell’s feminine care business in North
America for $340M
11/13/2025
Hygiene and health company Essity has entered into an agreement
to acquire Edgewell Personal Care’s feminine care business,
including the brands Carefree, Stayfree and o.b. in North America
and Playtex globally. The purchase price for the assets amounts
to $340 million (approximately SEK 3.2bn) on a cash and debt-free
basis. The acquisition supports Essity’s strategy to focus on
high margin categories and to grow market positions in the United
States, the world’s largest hygiene market, the company said.
Essity will acquire Edgewell’s feminine care business, which
offers liners, pads and tampons, through an asset deal. The
acquisition includes the brands Carefree, Stayfree, and o.b. in
the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, global feminine care
rights for the Playtex brand, as well as a production facility in
Dover, Del.
“I’m looking forward to further grow these well-known brands,
using our established recipe for success within Feminine Care.
With this acquisition we are building a stronger personal care
business in North America, in line with our strategy to focus on
high yielding categories in attractive geographies,” said Ulrika
Kolsrud, president and CEO of Essity.
The total purchase price of $340 million on a cash and debt free
basis, represents an EBITDA multiple per June 30, 2025, of
approximately 12.1x on a pro-forma IFRS basis, and 8.3x including
estimated run-rate synergies on a pro-forma basis. For the 12
months ending on June 30, 2025, the business reported net sales
of $261 million (approximately SEK 2.5bn) with a segment
operating profit of $17 million (approximately SEK 160m). The
business has approximately 500 employees. Approximately 450 are
based at the production facility in Dover, Del.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and
is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.
Essity is a fast-growing player in the feminine care category,
with several strong regional brands such as Libresse, Bodyform,
Nana, Saba, Libra and Nosotras offering a broad product portfolio
of pads, liners, tampons, intimate soaps, intimate wipes,
leakproof apparel and menstrual cups.
The M&A market for healthcare companies continues to build on STRATEGIC opportunities and a fragmented market. Consolidations along with unprecedented demand are driving scale across the continuum of care. The strategic corporate buyers and private equity investors remain committed to acquiring strong businesses that are well prepared for a transaction. Across the continuum of care, these buyers and investors are looking for well established, profitable businesses and offering prime valuations and options for management.
Do you know the current market value of your business? We do! We are here to help you plan, prepare, explore and succeed in executing your strategic options.
Contact Paragon Ventures for more information.
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