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After Disrupting Shaving Industry, Harry's is Absorbed by It

Harry's has bedeviled brands like Schick and Gillette for years using innovative subscription plans and sleek packaging.

In this Oct. 11, 2018 file photo razors from Harry's shaving and body care brand Flamingo are displayed in New York. Edgewell Personal Care is acquiring upstart razor maker Harry’s in a cash-and-stock deal for $1.37 billion. Edgewell and other larger personal care companies have been steadily losing market share to smaller, direct-to-consumer companies like Harry’s, known for its brightly-colored disposable razors.
In this Oct. 11, 2018 file photo razors from Harry's shaving and body care brand Flamingo are displayed in New York. Edgewell Personal Care is acquiring upstart razor maker Harry’s in a cash-and-stock deal for $1.37 billion. Edgewell and other larger personal care companies have been steadily losing market share to smaller, direct-to-consumer companies like Harry’s, known for its brightly-colored disposable razors.
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File

NEW YORK (AP) — Harry's, the upstart shaving company, is being acquired by the owner of Schick razors for $1.37 billion.

Harry's has bedeviled brands like Schick and Gillette for years using innovative subscription plans and sleek packaging.

Under the agreement announced Thursday, investors in Harry's Inc. will take a stake of about 11% of Edgewell Personal Care Co., which manages Schick and other brands. Edgewell gets the Harry's brand and access to the company's prized direct-to-consumer marketing base.

The Harry's brand steps on to a much larger stage, a global one, and will be marketed through Edgewell's enormous distribution channels.

The company has a footprint in 50 markets. Outside of the U.S., Edgewell has operations in Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan and Australia.

Edgewell also owns the brands Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic and Wet Ones wipes.

Harry's, based in New York, has captured about 2% of the $2.8 billion men's shaving industry since its founding in 2013, according to Euromonitor market research firm.

Harry's founders, Andy Katz-Mayfield and Jeff Raider, will become co-presidents of Edgewell's U.S. operations when the deal closes, probably in early 2020.

About 79% of the deal is cash, and the remainder stock.

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