In a blockbuster move echoing through the corridors of global commerce, Kimberly-Clark Corp. has struck a $3.4 billion deal to sell a majority stake in its international tissue empire to Brazil’s paper titan Suzano, marking a seismic shift in the consumer products landscape.
A Joint Venture Born of Giants
Two heavyweight contenders—Kimberly-Clark, a household name in hygiene, and Suzano, a pulp and paper juggernaut—are joining forces in a strategic partnership that rewires the tissue industry’s global circuitry. The deal, unveiled Thursday, hands 51% ownership to Suzano, while Kimberly-Clark retains a 49% stake, birthing a new company that will oversee the International Family Care and Professional business (IFP).
Like titans merging to reshape the terrain, this venture is poised to encompass more than 40 regional brands, 22 manufacturing facilities, and a workforce 9,000 strong—stretching across 70+ countries. The five global flagships—Scott, Kleenex, Viva, WypAll, and Kimberly-Clark Professional—will remain Kimberly-Clark trademarks but will be licensed to the new joint entity.
