Helen of Troy Limited

Helen of Troy Confirms Rejection of Unsolicited, Non-Binding Proposal from Spectrum Brands and Oaktree Capital Management

Helen of Troy's board unanimously rejected an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Empower Brands — owned by Spectrum Brands and Oaktree Capital — to acquire the company for $37.00 per share in cash. The Board determined the proposal substantially undervalues the company, noting HELE stock has gained 67.5% fiscal year-to-date versus 10.0% for the S&P 500, and that Empower refused a customary NDA to conduct diligence. Management pointed to its three-phase strategic roadmap under new CEO G. Scott Uzzell, targeting mid-to-high-teens Adjusted EPS growth, ~75% free cash flow conversion by year five, and ~$10 FCF per share, while debt has fallen $244 million to $673 million over 18 months. The Board says it remains open to opportunities consistent with its fiduciary duties, leaving the door open to a higher bid or further pursuit by the consortium.

•4d ago

Empower Brands Announces Proposal to Acquire Helen of Troy Ltd. for $37.00 Per Share in Cash

Empower Brands — a venture jointly owned by Spectrum Brands (SPB) and Oaktree Capital — publicly proposed to acquire 100% of Helen of Troy for $37.00 per share in cash, an implied enterprise value of roughly $1.6 billion. The offer represents a 31% premium to HELE's 30-day volume-weighted share price, a 28% premium to the October 30 close, and a 16% premium to the 52-week high, with no financing contingency. An Empower affiliate already owns approximately 4.5% of HELE shares. The release discloses a months-long engagement history: an initial $34.00 proposal on August 19 was rejected on September 3, and HELE dismissed the raised $37.00 offer as inadequate on October 20. Empower criticizes HELE's standalone plan, citing an 87% five-year share-price decline, a 12.2% FY2026 organic sales drop, and $886 million of FY26 impairments. Empower says it can complete due diligence and sign a merger agreement in roughly 45 days and is pressing HELE's board to engage, setting up a potential hostile or negotiated transaction.

•4d ago

Helen of Troy Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2027 Results

Helen of Troy reported Q2 FY27 net sales of $440.9 million, up 2.1% year-over-year, with GAAP diluted EPS of $0.19 and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.79 versus $0.59 a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA rose 36.5% to $49.4 million on an 11.2% margin, and gross margin expanded 800 basis points to 52.2%, helped by tariff refunds and lower trade/promotional spend; Home & Outdoor grew 9.2% while Beauty & Wellness declined 4.5%. Management raised FY27 guidance for adjusted diluted EPS to $3.60-$4.15, adjusted EBITDA to $203-$210 million, and free cash flow to $120-$140 million, while narrowing the sales outlook to $1.768-$1.822 billion. Results include $26.9 million of gross pre-tax tariff refunds (net benefit ~$4.0 million, ~$0.12 EPS), and the company flagged $4.0 million of divestiture litigation costs tied to an indemnification dispute with HRB Brands.

•1mo ago

PUR® PLUS™ Becomes the First and Only Pitcher, Dispenser, and Faucet Mount Water Filter Certified to Reduce Lead, Microplastics, and Total PFAS*

PUR, the Helen of Troy-owned water filtration brand, announced that PUR PLUS filters are now certified to reduce Total PFAS, making PUR PLUS the first and only pitcher, dispenser, and faucet-mount filter certified against lead, microplastics, and Total PFAS combined. The new IAPMO R&T certifications to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53 and 401 cover the PUR PLUS Pitcher & Dispenser Filter (99.75% Total PFAS, 99.8% microplastics, 99.9% lead reduction) and the Faucet Mount Filter with Mineral Core technology (99.92% Total PFAS, 99.65% microplastics, 99.70% lead reduction). PUR cited its August 2026 survey of 434 U.S. adults showing 79% would be extremely or very concerned to find lead in tap water and 74% said the same about PFAS, framing the certification as aligned with top consumer concerns. The products are available now at Walmart, Target, and Amazon; the release contains no financial figures or quantified sales impact for Helen of Troy.

•1mo ago

OXO Brings Its Thoughtful Design Philosophy to Pet Care

OXO, a brand of Helen of Troy Limited, has launched a new collection of pet feeding and food storage solutions, marking its entry into the pet care category. The new product line, available immediately at major retailers including Amazon, features items like nonslip bowls, slow feeders, and airtight containers designed to improve everyday routines for pet owners. Management highlighted that the expansion leverages OXO's existing design philosophy to address consumer frustrations in the fast-growing pet market.

•3mo ago

Helen of Troy Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2027 Results

Helen of Troy reported Q1 fiscal 2027 net sales of $402.1 million, up 8.2% year-over-year, and raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to a range of $1.759 billion to $1.831 billion. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.51, significantly boosted by a one-time gain on the sale of a distribution facility, while adjusted diluted EPS fell to $0.17 from $0.41 in the prior year due to tariff impacts and higher tax expenses. Management highlighted growth across both the Home & Outdoor and Beauty & Wellness segments, noting progress on its strategic roadmap despite ongoing pressure from input costs and a competitive promotional landscape.

•4mo ago