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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Combe Inc. has completed the sale of its cough and cold, skin care and foot care businesses to Reckitt Benckiser Inc. and Blistex Inc.
Combe said Monday that Reckitt Benckiser has purchased the Cepacol, Lanacane, Scalpicin, LiceMD and Hemoal brands, which had comprised its cough/cold and skin care businesses. Blistex, meanwhile, has bought Combe’s Odor-Eaters foot care brand. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
"We are very proud of our divested businesses and are excited about the future of these brands. More importantly, these divestitures enable us to increase our companywide focus on our largest global brands," Christopher Combe, chairman and chief executive officer of Combe Inc., said in a statement. "Our retained brands have strong growth opportunities around the world supported by positive demographic shifts, our leadership positions in these categories, and a pipeline of innovative and potentially game-changing new products."
Combe Inc.’s portfolio of health care and personal care brands includes Just For Men hair color products; Vagisil feminine care products; Sea-Bond denture products; and Brylcreem, Aqua Velva and Lectric Shave men’s grooming products.
Oak Brook, Ill.-based Blistex said Monday that the purchase of Odor-Eaters gives it entry to the foot care segment and complements its existing portfolio, which includes Blistex lip care line, Stridex acne treatments, and Kank-A oral analgesics, Glysomed skin moisturizers and Dentyl Active oral rinses.
"We believe this brand will be a strong complement to our existing product portfolio, both domestically and internationally," stated Michael Donnantuono, president and chief operating officer of Blistex. "This acquisition allows us to further leverage the strengths of our people and systems, and to apply our experience in brand-building and product innovation to a new set of opportunities. We also feel very positive about Odor-Eaters’ fit with our focus on high-quality and well-differentiated products."
