Helen of Troy is acquiring the nail care brand for $225 million in cash and a $15 million earnout subject to performance over three years, the two companies announced Thursday. The acquisition is expected to close before the year end.
Crown Affair has closed its $9 million Series B funding round, led by True Beauty Ventures. This marks True Beauty Ventures’ fourth investment in Crown Affair, who also led the brand’s $5 million Series A fundraise in 2022.
Shiseido Long Term Investments for the Future Ventures acquired a minority stake in wellness brand Apothékary.
Dsm-Firmenich, the Swiss fragrance and flavors supplier, said it sold its remaining 1 percent stake in French natural fragrance and flavors supplier Robertet.
Scalp care brand Divi landed a minority investment from Norwest Venture Partners.
October
Two contract beauty manufacturers are joining forces, with SV Labs Corporation acquiring Sigan Industries Group Inc.
Yse Beauty, the skin care line, founded in April 2023 by author and actress Molly Sims, has landed an investment from Los Angeles-based private equity firm Willow Growth Partners, whose other beauty investments include Bubble, Kosas and hair care brands Dae and Jupiter.
Amerikas, a beauty products distributor, acquired the vegan, cruelty-free and natural skin care brand Skyn Iceland from a group of French and Swiss investors.
September
Seen, the hair care brand developed by Harvard-trained dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin after she experienced breakouts that were traced back to her hair care products, closed a $9 million Series A funding.
Label Capital made a 5 million euro minority investment in IVB Wellness Lab, a Spanish holistic supplements brand.
Violet Grey is back under old — and new — ownership. Cassandra Grey has acquired the luxury retailer back from Coupang-owned Farfetch, with help from private equity veteran Sherif Guirgis, who is helming the company as chairman, chief executive officer and co-owner.
L’Oréal participated in a 35-million-euro funding round for French biotech company Abolis Biotechnologies in the quest to create purpose-made, sustainable ingredients produced at scale. The minority investment was made through Business Opportunities for L’Oréal Development, or BOLD, the group’s venture capital fund. The deal is part of a three-way partnership. Evonik CVC, a global specialty manufacturer that’s a long-standing partner of L’Oréal, has also taken a minority share in Abolis, while other investors include Deep Tech & Climate Fund, Clay Partners, Icos Capital and Liberset.
L Catterton acquired a majority stake in Stenders, a bath and body care company founded in Latvia in 2001 that now has a presence in 20 countries.
August
Great Many, the hair growth clinic and platform raised $3.6 million pre-seed. The raise, which was oversubscribed by $600,000, was led by Brand Project with participation from Midnight Venture Partners and Tonic Ventures.
L’Oréal acquired a 10 percent stake in Galderma Group AG from Sunshine SwissCo AG, a consortium led by EQT, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Auba Investment Pte. Ltd.
Shiseido and Max Mara entered into a long-term fragrance license, under which the Japanese beauty giant will develop, produce and distribute fragrances under the Italian luxury fashion house.
Seaweed Bath Co., the ocean-inspired natural beauty brand, acquired Andalou Naturals and Mineral Fusion from Australian conglomerate BWX Ltd.
Givaudan acquired B.kolormakeup & Skincare, an Italian company focused on developing and manufacturing finished makeup and skin care products for consumer packaged goods, indie brands and luxury goods.
June
L Catterton partnered with actress Naomi Watts to acquire her menopause-care brand Stripes Beauty.
The PCA Companies acquired the U.S. wholesale division of Space NK, which entails roughly 600 points of distribution across Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Hudson Bay and the company’s shop-in-shop collaboration with Walmart and Beauty SpaceNK.
The Estée Lauder Cos. completed its acquisition of Deciem, the parent company of The Ordinary and Niod. Lauder first invested in Deciem in 2017, increased its stake to become majority owner in 2021, and recently exercised its option to purchase the remaining interests for an estimated $860 million. The total investment adds up to about $1.7 billion, net of cash.
May
Skin care brand Mother Science received additional investment, with Greycroft leading the $3.5 million round.
April
iBeauty Brands, a manufacturer of hair tools, styling products and skincare devices, acquired Voloom, the inventor of a patented hair volumizing iron.
Alyson Hogg, who founded self-tan brand Vita Liberata in 2003, re-acquired it from Crown Laboratories.
Monogram Capital Partners took a majority stake in beauty developer Tru Fragrance & Beauty, whose portfolio includes brands Le Monde Gourmand, Undone Beauty and Lake & Skye, as well as licensed fragrance ranges like Yellowstone — based on the Paramount Studios show of the same name — and American Eagle’s private label fragrances. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Grown Alchemist changed ownership. The Australian skin care brand’s majority stake was sold by L’Occitane Group to André Hoffman, the group’s former vice chairman and former chief executive officer, who remains a board member. Anna Teal, Grown Alchemist CEO, is now a minority shareholder. The transaction was priced at 28 million euros.
Fable Investments, Natura & Co.’s venture capital fund, has taken an undisclosed stake in Eadem.
Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, completed the acquisition of Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, for an enterprise value of $810 million.
March
Natural, refillable, by-subscription skin care and hygiene brand 900.care raised 21 million euros. The funding round was led by Lombard Odier Investment Managers, alongside 900.care historic investors White Star Capital, Swen Blue Ocean and Founders Future.
Allies of Skin, the Singapore-based skin care brand, raised $20 million from Meaningful Partners.
Caudalie founders Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas invested 1.5 million euros in natural acne care brand Skin and Out.
February
Advent International acquired a majority stake in Skala Cosméticos, a vegan hair care brand based in Brazil. The funding came from Advent’s managed funds, LAPEF VII, dedicated to the region, where consumer and retail companies comprise around 30 percent of Advent’s investments.
French luxury skin care brand Cible Skin received significant minority investment from Verlinvest.
Ulta Beauty’s digital innovation fund Prisma invested in Myavana, a beauty-tech business that uses AI hair care technology.
January
Manzanita Capital acquired a majority stake in the Brooklyn-based fragrance brand D.S. & Durga.
Yellow Wood Partners added ChapStick to its growing consumer brand portfolio. The Boston-based private equity firm paid consumer health company Haleon $430 million for the lip balm brand, which dates back to the 1880s.
Australian SPF-based skin care brand Ultra Violette received a $15 million AUD minority investment from U.S. consumer growth equity firm Aria Growth Partners.
Bridgepoint acquired RoC Skincare. The undisclosed investment was made through Bridgepoint Europe VII, Bridgepoint’s fund centered on investing in mid-market growth businesses.
Compass Diversified acquired a majority stake in plant-derived feminine care brand The Honey Pot Company for an enterprise value of $380 million.
Spanish beauty and fashion company Puig has acquired a majority stake in Dr. Barbara Sturm.
Acupuncture company Wthn has closed a $5 million Series A led by L Catterton with participation from Jesse Draper’s Halogen Ventures and angel investors.
Fromm International was acquired by Firelight Capital Partners in the firm’s first beauty deal.
