Mergers & Acquisitions 2007 Wrap-Up

It's the end of the year, which means much more exciting things than eggnog. (Thankgod.) That's right, it's time for the infamous Lists of 2007. And I'm not talking the dumbest celebrity feuds, although that's always fun, right?

No, it's a little less juicy than that; it's the Merger and Acquisition Highlights of 2007. With major movements in the industry like the Clorox takeover of Burt's Bees for $925 million (that's a whole lot of lip balm), Colgate-Palmolive's acquisition of Tom's of Maine, all following the 2006 purchase of French organic brand Sanoflore by L’Oréal, who also bought out the Body Shop. Big gun Clarins invested heavily in Kibio, and dampened rumors of selling themselves (short?) to an even bigger player.

The question is, are they copping out, or buying in? Are large corporations just finding it easier (and more profitable) to acquire fast-growing niche brands that cover this sector and “ride the tailwind” of the green movement than to completely reformulate their own product lines? I think, probably. Well, to use an entirely inappropriate and irrelevant cliché, it's not over til the fat lady sings.