Consumer Corner

Clorox to Buy GOJO Industries, Maker of Purell, in $2.25B Deal

Clorox Company has announced its acquisition of GOJO Industries, known for Purell®, for $2.25 billion. This move strengthens Clorox’s health and hygiene division, expanding its market presence. The deal is expected to yield tax benefits, operational synergies, and capitalizes on Purell’s brand trust while maintaining GOJO’s operations in Ohio.

Published

3 months ago

March 9, 2026

Dolores Raphael, Daily News Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. (Jan. 22, 2026) — The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire GOJO Industries, the Ohio-based skin health and hygiene company best known for Purell®, in a deal valued at $2.25 billion in cash. Clorox said the transaction includes anticipated tax benefits of about $330 million, putting the net purchase price at roughly $1.92 billion.

Various Purell hand sanitizers and soap — Clorox Announces Acquisition of GOJO Industries, Makers of Purell®

The move expands Clorox’s health and hygiene footprint beyond surface disinfection and cleaning into skin hygiene, adding one of the most recognizable brands in hand sanitizer to its portfolio of household and professional products.

Why Clorox wants GOJO (and Purell)

Clorox framed the acquisition as a strategic fit that strengthens its Health and Wellness segment and supports its broader IGNITE strategy, which is aimed at delivering more consistent and profitable growth.

GOJO brings scale and stability: the company, founded in 1946 by Goldie and Jerry Lippman, has grown to nearly $800 million in annual sales and has delivered mid-single-digit growth, including a three-year CAGR of 5%, according to Clorox.

A key part of GOJO’s business is its entrenched presence in the professional channel. Clorox said more than 80% of GOJO revenue comes through a broad network of B2B distributors, supported by an installed base of roughly 20 million soap and sanitizer dispensers—a setup that drives recurring demand for refills and ongoing usage in workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, and other institutions.

Purell, meanwhile, is positioned as the headline asset: Clorox said the brand holds the #1 share in hand sanitizer across both B2B and retail channels.

Executive perspective: “Virtually synonymous with skin hygiene”

Clorox Chair and CEO Linda Rendle emphasized Purell’s brand trust and GOJO’s innovation track record, calling the deal “a compelling acquisition” that scales what Clorox describes as its fastest-growing and most profitable segment.

“GOJO’s deep commitment to innovation and delivering superior value in skin hygiene has built Purell into one of the most trusted names in homes, healthcare facilities, schools and businesses around the world,” Rendle said, adding that the brand is “virtually synonymous with skin hygiene.”

GOJO President and CEO Carey Jaros described the announcement as “a momentous day,” pointing to shared mission alignment and the opportunity to accelerate Purell’s retail growth with Clorox’s consumer brand-building and distribution strength. She also noted GOJO will remain based in Ohio, preserving the company’s Northeast Ohio roots and legacy.

What Clorox says changes (and what doesn’t)

Clorox laid out several expected benefits:

Portfolio expansion in health and hygiene, with a stronger presence across both consumer and institutional channels
Exposure to “attractive category tailwinds,” where brand trust matters
A push to accelerate Purell’s retail growth using Clorox’s retailer relationships, marketing, and distribution
A stronger combined B2B platform, pairing GOJO’s commercial, manufacturing, R&D, and regulatory capabilities with Clorox’s scale
Continued GOJO operations in Ohio, with integration designed to benefit customers across channels

Financial expectations: synergies, accretion, and debt financing

Clorox said the deal is expected to add a recurring revenue stream and stable earnings base, and to support its long-term 3% to 5% sales growth target.

The company also expects at least $50 million in run-rate cost synergies and said the acquisition should be:

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Neutral to adjusted EBITDA margin in year one, but accretive after synergies are realized
Neutral to adjusted EPS in year one, and accretive in year two

Clorox plans to fund the purchase primarily through debt financing. The transaction is expected to close before the end of Clorox’s fiscal year 2026, pending regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

What it could mean for consumers

For everyday shoppers, the most visible impact may be how aggressively Purell expands across retail shelves and product formats. Clorox is signaling it wants to apply its playbook—brand-building, consumer-led innovation, and distribution scale—to grow Purell beyond its already-dominant position.

At the same time, GOJO’s dispenser footprint and B2B relationships give Clorox a deeper, stickier presence in professional environments—places where hygiene purchasing is often recurring, contract-driven, and less volatile than consumer demand.

What’s next

Clorox said it will host a live webcast to discuss the transaction with Rendle and CFO Luc Bellet, and noted an additional analyst Q&A webcast is scheduled for Feb. 3 tied to its second-quarter financial results.

Daily News

Clorox to Buy GOJO Industries, Maker of Purell, in $2.25B Deal

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