Colgate-Palmolive: How would a sale impact the industry?

Published: 23-May-2017

From 2011-2016, Colgate-Palmolive accounted for a 3.6% slice of the global beauty and personal care industry, with brands including Colgate, Sanex and Tom's of Maine. So what impact could a sale have and what companies might be interested?

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Colgate-Palmolive is the fourth largest company in the beauty and personal care industry, with brands including major household names such as Colgate, Sanex and Palmolive.

Rumours about a potential sale of the company have been circulating for some time, further intensified by a report by the New York Post last week.

In the coverage, the publication said a source revealed that Colgate-Palmolive’s CEO Ian Cook recently signaled in an investor meeting that he would consider selling the company, valuing it at more than $88bn.

Who is circling?

This figure makes the landmark Coty-P&G deal which took place in 2015 look like small fry; Coty bought 43 of P&G's brands for $12.5bn.

But with rumours of a sale still active, Cosmetics Business asked Euromonitor to share its opinion on how a takeover could impact the industry at large – and who the most promising suitors might be...

Nicholas Micallef

Nicholas Micallef

Nicholas Micallef, Euromonitor analyst, said: "It [Colgate-Palmolive] requires an acquirer with a larger enough market capitalisation. Should the likes of P&G or Unilever make a move, L’Oréal’s position at the helm of the industry would be short-lived, following the P&G multi-brand divestment to Coty.

"Nevertheless, L’Oréal may have little interest in such a move, as it does not

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