Unilever is reportedly in talks to buy Jessica Alba's Honest Co. brand, which offers nontoxic home and baby products, for more than $1 billion.
The actress co-founded the company following a desire to create “a trustworthy lifestyle brand that touched everything in your home that was nontoxic and affordable and convenient to get,” Alba said in 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Unilever has been around since the 1880s, finding success as the maker of Dove soaps and Axe body sprays, and they’re now discussing the Honest Co. deal that’s said to be valued at more than $1 billion, but less than the company's $1.7 billion valuation, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The deal-making stage is premature right now, as Honest Co. has yet to rule out the possibility of going for an initial public offering instead.
Since being founded in 2011, the WSJ cites FactSet data that Honest Co. "has raised more than $200 million from outside investors," some of which may have to be paid back double in the event of a sale.
Alba’s company generates around $300 million annually. Although some of their items are sold at popular retail stores like Target and Whole Foods, the bulk are purchased directly from the Honest Co. website.
Acquiring Honest Co. would give Unilever a niche in the fast-growing market for natural or "green" cleaning products and the diaper business. This also would also be the company’s second recent purchase of a California e-commerce consumer products company since it bought Dollar Shave Club, a growing startup that ships disposable razors for a flat monthly fee, in August for $1 billion.
In 2008, Unilever sold its North American laundry detergent business to a private-equity firm for more than $1 billion and has recently experienced massive growth in U.S. hair- and skin-care products, the WSJ noted.
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