Who Bought Burt's Bees
The company Burt's Bees was acquired by the Clorox Company in a deal announced in November 2007. The acquisition was completed in early 2008, with Clorox purchasing Burt's Bees for approximately $925 million in an all-cash transaction. This move made Burt's Bees a wholly owned subsidiary of Clorox, a multinational manufacturer of household and consumer products based in Oakland, California. The acquisition is documented in Clorox's SEC filings and business reports available at SEC EDGAR.
Before the Clorox acquisition, Burt's Bees was a privately held company founded in 1984 by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby in Maine. The brand grew from a small beeswax candle maker into a major natural personal care company. In 2007, Burt's Bees had annual sales exceeding $150 million and was available in over 19,000 retail locations across the United States. The company's rapid growth attracted attention from several consumer goods conglomerates before Clorox secured the deal.
Current Ownership and Corporate Structure
Today, Burt's Bees operates as a brand under the Clorox Company, which is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CLX. Clorox is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 index, with a market capitalization exceeding $10 billion as of the most recent financial reports. Burt's Bees remains one of Clorox's flagship personal care brands, alongside other household and cleaning products. The brand continues to be headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, maintaining its original operational base.
Under Clorox's ownership, Burt's Bees has expanded its product line and global distribution significantly. The brand now offers over 200 products spanning skincare, lip care, hair care, and personal hygiene categories. Burt's Bees products are sold in more than 35 countries worldwide through major retailers, drugstores, and online platforms. Clorox's annual reports, which include Burt's Bees performance data, are accessible at Clorox's official investor relations page.
Acquisition Details and Financial Impact
The Clorox acquisition of Burt's Bees was valued at approximately $925 million, representing a significant premium over the company's then-current revenue and market position. The deal was structured as an all-cash transaction, with Clorox financing the purchase through a combination of existing cash reserves and debt. At the time of the acquisition, Burt's Bees was considered one of the most successful natural personal care brands in the United States, with a loyal customer base and strong retail presence.
Since the acquisition, Burt's Bees has contributed consistently to Clorox's overall revenue growth and portfolio diversification. The brand's focus on natural ingredients and sustainable practices aligns with Clorox's broader corporate strategy of offering environmentally responsible products. Financial analysts and investors can track Burt's Bees' performance as part of Clorox's quarterly earnings reports, which are filed with the SEC and available at SEC EDGAR company search. The acquisition is frequently cited in business case studies as a successful example of a large consumer goods company acquiring a high-growth niche brand.