SC Johnson agrees to buy Sara Lee's global shoe care business

SC Johnson on December 31 announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Sara Lee's global shoe care business, including the Kiwi brand that has been an industry leader 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.