{
  "id": 6778876,
  "title": "Colgate gets soapy as it weighs $1B brand sell-off",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/colgate-gets-soapy-as-it-weighs-1b-brand-sell-off",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-11T14:18:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/colgate-palmolive-gets-soapy-weighs-1-billion-plus-personal-care-brand-divestment/articleshow/134072669.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colgate-Palmolive is considering selling off select mass-market personal care brands, including Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick, according to sources briefed on the matter. The company is collaborating with investment bank Goldman Sachs to navigate the process, which could potentially generate over $1 billion in revenue, sources added. The personal care division of Colgate comprises deodorants, bar and liquid soaps, shower gels, and skin care products. Currently, Colgate intends to divest a limited number of brands within this unit, which collectively could amount to more than $1 billion in value.\n\nIn recent times, numerous consumer conglomerates have been reevaluating and narrowing down their portfolios to better adapt to the challenges posed by tariffs, financially strained consumers, and soaring expenses for energy and other inputs that are affecting their profits. Selling portions of their broader portfolios allows these companies to concentrate their resources on their core brands. This year alone, Unilever has agreed to sell its food business to McCormick for $45 billion and spun off its Magnum ice cream unit last year after selling more than 20 beauty and personal care brands to Yellow Wood Partners in 2024. Additionally, Nestle recently agreed to sell its vitamins business to Yellow Wood for approximately $1 billion following the divestiture of a stake in its waters and premium beverages business to another buyout firm, Platinum Equity.\n\nColgate, with a market capitalization of around $70 billion, has seen its stock increase by approximately 11% year-to-date, according to data from LSEG. In its latest quarterly earnings, net sales rose by 4.9%. However, organic sales in the North American market experienced a decline of 3%. Colgate's CEO, Noel Wallace, addressed this during the Barclays consumer conference, stating that the company is encountering fierce competition in North America and is committed to a long-term turnaround strategy.\n\nThe entire personal care unit of Colgate, encompassing both mass and prestige brands, contributed to 17% of net sales in 2025, which translates to approximately $3.5 billion in net sales. Colgate's largest segment is oral care, encompassing its popular Colgate toothpaste brand, accounting for nearly half of its net sales. The other segments include home care and pet nutrition.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}