SharkNinja Operating LLC, the privately held U.S. manufacturer of Ninja blenders and Shark vacuum cleaners, is exploring a sale that it hopes will value it at more than $1.5 billion including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
A sale would be a key test of the company’s brand, which it has developed through advertising on several television shopping networks. Private equity firms are among those that have expressed interest in SharkNinja, according to the sources.
SharkNinja has hired investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) to run an auction, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the sale process is confidential.
“SharkNinja is not up for sale, but given the enormous success they have in the housewares industry, they are looking for a strategic partner that can bring their expertise, know-how as well as investment to help with the company’s global expansion. Mark Rosenzweig and Mark Barrocas, who own majority of the company, have no intention to leave the company,” SharkNinja said in a statement.
Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
SharkNinja was originally known as Euro-Pro. It was renamed SharkNinja in 2015 by Rosenzweig, the third generation of his family to lead such a business. Rosenzweig founded the company in Montreal in 1995 with help from his parents.
It has sought to build upon its brands over the last decade, extending its Shark vacuum business and its Ninja kitchen appliance business to include one-pot cookers as well as blenders.
SharkNinja also makes a drip coffee maker called “Ninja Coffee Bar,” which is promoted by actress Sofia Vergara.
SharkNinja sells its products in stores and online in the United States and around the world.
SharkNinja’s competitors include privately owned Dyson Ltd, a British company known for its namesake vacuum cleaners.
Source: Reuters.com