March 28 (Reuters) - Scrub Daddy, the kitchen sponge
maker that gained popularity after securing an investment on
U.S. TV show "Shark Tank," is exploring options that include a
sale of the company, according to people familiar with the
matter.
Scrub Daddy, which is backed by entrepreneur Lori Greiner,
has hired JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ) to advise on whether and how
its investors, that include its founder and chief executive
Aaron Krause, should cash out, the sources said.
The Pennsauken, New Jersey-based company generated more than
$220 million of revenue last year, and could be worth several
hundreds millions of dollars in a potential divestment of the
entire company or stake sale, the sources said.
There is no certainty that Scrub Daddy will agree to any
deal, the sources added, requesting anonymity to discuss
confidential deliberations. Krause did not comment on the sale
process when reached by email, while a JPMorgan ( JPM ) spokeswoman
declined to comment.
Krause founded Scrub Daddy in 2012 as a line of patented,
texture-changing sponges. Later that year, he pitched his
company on "Shark Tank" and received a $200,000 investment from
Greiner for 20% of the company. The company's sales took off
after that episode and appearances on the shopping network QVC,
where Greiner appears.
Scrub Daddy now sells around 160 products, and it announced
a partnership with Unilever Plc ( UL ) last year to develop
co-branded products and grow internationally.
The company sells its products through its website, on
Amazon.com, and at retailers including Target ( TGT ) and
Walmart ( WMT ).