SC Johnson Reaches Agreement To Acquire Sara Lee's Global Shoe Care Business

RACINE, Wis., Dec. 31, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- SC Johnson is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to acquire Sara Lee's global shoe care business, including the beloved Kiwi® brand that has been caring for families' shoes around the world for more than 100 years.

The deal adds the Kiwi® brand to SC Johnson's robust portfolio of household brands including Pledge®, Glade®, Mr. Muscle®, Windex® and Ziploc®. Like many SC Johnson brands, Kiwi® is the leader in its category.

The deal also includes Sara Lee's Bama International, which sells shoe accessories in specialty channels in Europe and Canada, and Kiwi Kleen®, a line of household cleaning products sold mainly in Asia Pacific using the Kiwi® branding.

"We're thrilled that the addition of Kiwi® to SC Johnson will enable us to offer families around the world yet another long-respected leading household brand," said SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson.

SC Johnson expects the deal to be finalized by mid 2011 after the customary regulatory clearances and is currently working on transition plans for the business.

As a private company, SC Johnson does not disclose details regarding financial or business transactions.

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 124-year old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

SOURCE SC Johnson