Essity to acquire Edgewell's feminine care brands for $340 million

Swedish hygiene products maker Essity AB has agreed to acquire Edgewell Personal Care’s North American feminine care business for $340 million, a move aimed at expanding its presence in the U.S. market.

The deal includes the brands Carefree, Stayfree, and o.b. in North America, global rights for the Playtex brand, and a production facility in Dover, Delaware, the company said Wednesday.

The acquisition supports Essity’s strategy to focus on high-margin categories and is one of the first major strategic moves by Chief Executive Ulrika Kolsrud, who took over in June and recently launched a corporate overhaul to boost growth.

“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,” Kolsrud said in a statement.

The business being acquired generated net sales of $261 million and an operating profit of $17 million for the 12 months ending June 30, 2025, according to Essity.

The transaction, which includes about 500 employees, is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.