Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. filed a Form 8-K on November 12, 2026, disclosing that Empower Brands Holdings Group, LLC issued an open letter and a corporate investor presentation to Helen of Troy Limited shareholders in connection with Empower Brands' proposal to acquire all of the outstanding common equity of Helen of Troy.

Key Highlights

  • Open letter and presentation released: Empower Brands issued both an open letter to Helen of Troy shareholders and a supporting corporate investor presentation on November 12, 2026.
  • Acquisition proposal scope: The proposal targets all of the outstanding common equity of Helen of Troy Limited.
  • Joint ownership structure: Empower Brands is described in the filing as the Home and Personal Care business jointly owned by Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.
  • Existing share stake: An affiliate of Empower Brands directly beneficially owns 1,049,356 common shares, par value $0.10 per share, of Helen of Troy as of the filing date.
  • Soliciting material designation: The filing is checked as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).
  • No books-and-records access: According to the filing, "neither the Company nor Empower Brands have had any access to the books and records of Helen of Troy" as of the date of the report.

Spectrum Brands and Oaktree's Empower Brands Advances Helen of Troy Bid

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPB), a Delaware-incorporated consumer products company headquartered at 3001 Deming Way, Middleton, Wisconsin, filed this 8-K to inform investors that Empower Brands Holdings Group, LLC confirmed the release of an open letter addressed directly to Helen of Troy Limited shareholders. The letter accompanies Empower Brands' previously announced proposal to acquire all outstanding common equity of Helen of Troy. Empower Brands is described in the filing as the Home and Personal Care business jointly operated by Spectrum Brands and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

The filing attaches two exhibits: a press release dated November 12, 2026 (Exhibit 99.1) and a corporate investor presentation dated November 12, 2026 (Exhibit 99.2), both incorporated by reference. As of the filing date, an affiliate of Empower Brands directly beneficially owns 1,049,356 common shares of Helen of Troy at a par value of $0.10 per share, according to the disclosure. The filing also notes that neither Spectrum Brands nor Empower Brands has had access to Helen of Troy's books and records.

The filing contains forward-looking statements, which the company and Empower Brands caution are "subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially." Identified risks include the possibility that a transaction may not be completed, that anticipated synergies may not be realized, that the transaction could be dilutive to Spectrum Brands' earnings per share, and that third-party debt financing may not be obtainable "on acceptable terms or at all." The filing directs investors to Part I, Item 1A of Spectrum Brands' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, for additional risk factors. Spectrum Brands signed this report through Ehsan Zargar, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

What Was Disclosed

Spectrum Brands filed an 8-K on November 12, 2026 reporting that Empower Brands, its Home and Personal Care joint venture with Oaktree Capital Management, issued an open letter and investor presentation to Helen of Troy shareholders in support of a proposal to acquire all of Helen of Troy's outstanding common equity.