Brown Gibbons Lang & Company Announces Sale of Zooth, Inc.
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (“BGL”) is pleased to announce that it has recently completed the sale of Zooth, Inc. (“Zooth” or the “Company”) to The Gillette Company (NYSE: G), a global consumer products leader. Based in Wichita Falls, Texas, Zooth is a leading designer and distributor of licensed, children’s sculpted manual toothbrushes, sculpted battery powered toothbrushes, and toothpaste. The Company commands leading market share positions in all of its markets and is internationally recognized as one of the most innovative companies in the oral care industry.
Zooth’s shareholders, including its founder, majority owner, and Chief Executive Officer realized that in order to achieve significant growth outside of the United States, the Company required a substantial global distribution network. As such, the shareholders decided to sell the Company to a firm better positioned to invest in Zooth’s growth, and in particular expand its international distribution. “We are enthusiastic about the outcome of this transaction,” said BGL Vice President, Bill Watkins. “Not only did our advisory team generate a premium valuation for the shareholders, but we helped the company partner with one of the leading global consumer products companies which can leverage Zooth internationally and substantially grow the company.”
BGL was engaged by Zooth to develop a transaction strategy designed to sell the Company at a premium valuation, in a timely fashion, with minimal disruption to the business, and maintain the highest level of confidentiality throughout the process. The Company’s unique intangible assets, such as its expertise in identifying and garnering exceptional licensed properties and manufacturing all products in China via outsourced relationships, required thoughtful analysis of potential acquirers and a well-crafted marketing strategy.
In executing this assignment, BGL was able to combine its extensive knowledge of the consumer products industry to formulate and execute a targeted, yet competitive, transaction strategy. Andrew Petryk, BGL Managing Director and Principal commented, “BGL’s ability to access large, global strategic acquirers in a sale process for middle-market businesses satisfied the shareholders desire to leverage Zooth products internationally, while simultaneously resulting in a strong valuation.”
About The Gillette Company
Headquartered in Boston, The Gillette Company is the world leader in a variety of consumer products, including grooming, a category that includes blades, razors and shaving preparations and alkaline batteries (i.e., Duracell). In addition, the company’s Oral-B brand holds the global leadership positions in manual and power toothbrushes. For more information, please visit www.gillette.com.