Colgate-Palmolive Weighs $1 Billion-Plus Sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick — Sources

Key Facts

Colgate-Palmolive is exploring a sale of several mass-market personal-care brands, including Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick, according to people familiar with the process who spoke to Reuters. The company has not announced an agreement.

The sources said Colgate-Palmolive is working with Goldman Sachs and that the brands under review could fetch more than $1 billion. Colgate-Palmolive and Goldman Sachs declined to comment, leaving the valuation, timing and terms of any transaction uncertain.

Company filings identify Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick as personal-care brands spanning liquid and bar soap, shower products and deodorants. The report concerns a limited group of brands, not the sale of the entire personal-care business.

Personal care generated 17% of Colgate-Palmolive's net sales in 2025. That figure provides a measure of the unit's scale, but it does not disclose the three brands' individual revenue or profitability, which were not provided by the inspected sources.

In Q2 2026, group net sales rose 4.9% and organic sales increased 2.4%. North American organic sales, however, fell 3.0%, with the company reporting weakness in personal care, particularly bar soap and body wash.

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) shares closed at $87.90 on September 10, 2026 after reaching an intraday high of $88.82. The next decisive development would be a formal announcement identifying the buyer, included brands, price and terms; until then, this remains a source-based exploratory process rather than a completed deal.