Purell maker GOJO Industries explores options including a sale, sources say

Group 1 - GOJO Industries, the maker of Purell hand sanitizer, is exploring options for a full sale or minority stake, with a potential valuation close to $2 billion [1][2] - The company is in discussions with private equity firms and is working with investment bank Harris Williams, although these talks are at an early stage and no deal is guaranteed [2][3] - GOJO's spokesperson highlighted the company's strong performance and opportunities to expand the Purell brand and market solutions [2] Group 2 - The Lippman-Kanfer family, which owns GOJO, attempted to sell the company in 2023 but did not receive bids that met their price expectations, with Georgia-Pacific being the closest suitor [3] - Instead of pursuing a sale, GOJO took on $500 million in new debt from Silver Point Finance to repay existing debt and fund operations [4] - Sales of hand sanitizer surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company's financials have since normalized [4] Group 3 - GOJO was founded in 1946 and is known for inventing the first one-step, rinse-off hand cleaner, as well as Purell, which was launched in the consumer market in 1997 [5] - The company sells a range of products, including soaps, wipes, and surface disinfecting sprays, primarily through business-to-business channels, serving schools, hospitals, and stadiums globally [6]