The European Commission has given its blessing to L'Oreal's
takeover of UK-based The Body Shop, as the French cosmetics giant
announces that the offer is now unconditional as to acceptances.
Multinational suppliers for the cosmetics and toiletries industries
are facing increasing competition from China, while Japan continues
to offer innovation, says a new report from Kline and Company.
Nextera Enterprises has acquired the rights to the Ellin LaVar
Textures hair care product line and brand name from LaVar Holdings,
allowing it to tap into a fast developing niche product category.
As part of its massive worldwide restructuring program, Avon has
announced that a further 900 jobs are to go, in addition to the
1,300 jobs it axed at the end of April.
Having increased its offer to buy out leading personal care
supplier Engelhard, Germany-based BASF is looking more and more
likely to be successful in its hostile takeover bid.
Having confirmed strong sales growth for the first three months of
the year, German cosmetics giant Beiersdorf says it is expecting to
build on growth during the course of 2006.
British cosmetic and healthcare retailer Boots says that it has had
a positive feedback to retail tests carried out on a range of its
own brand beauty and cosmetics products in the US.
Swiss biotech company Lonza has announced the latest move to expand
its ingredients portfolio, with the acquisition of the larch
arabinogalactan assets of US firm Larex.
Dr Scheller Cosmetics says it has managed to continute its improved
financial performance by maintaining sales growth and increasing
its gross profit for its first quarter ending in March.
Germany-based fragrance and ingredients player Symrise has
completed a restructuring programme across its entire organisation
that will see the company divided into two clear division
consisting of a supply chain and operations businesses.
Boots plan to go ahead with a £7bn (€10.2bn) merger with Alliance
UniChem look set to go ahead after a last-ditch attempt by European
pharmacy retailer Celesio to block the deal has failed.
Procter & Gamble has reported a 37 per cent jump in its
profits, but share prices fell after the company revealed that its
sales had failed to meet with expectations on the back of inventory
cut-backs by Wal-Mart and slower than...
Two of the leading cosmetic players in the US have simultaneously
posted a big drop in their profits as they are hit by costs
associated with restructuring plans that aim to shape up the
businesses.
The Body Shop says that widespread criticism of its merger with
French cosmetics giant L'Oreal has failed to have an impact on the
stronger performance the company has experienced throughout the
financial year.
Continuing the decline in sales experienced during 2005, Inter
Parfums has reported a dip in its dollar sales for the first
quarter of 2006 as the company struggles to improve its ground in a
hugely competitive market.
After another flat quarter French luxury goods group PPR says it is
to pursue plans to restructure its YSL Beauté division in an effort
to improve efficiency and make the business more competitive.
Avon has reported a 67 per cent drop in its first quarter net
income as restructuring charges aimed at reinvigorating sales hit
the company's bottom line.
Leading Japanese and global cosmetics player Shiseido has pulled
back into profit following improved sales and reduced labour costs,
but it is predicting that sales growth will slip in the coming year
as a result of competition.
Colgate-Palmolive has successfully implemented increased pricing
and a greater emphasis on higher margin goods to help boost its
first quarter results despite the challenge of facing stiff
restructuring costs.
After 18 years at the helm of the world's leading cosmetics
company, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones has stepped down in favour of
Frenchman Jean-Paul Agon. The question on everyone's lips now is
can Agon measure up to the standards...
Avon has confirmed that it will fire 1,300 staff by the end of this
year as part of the comprehensive restructuring program it
announced in November last year.
Luxury cosmetics and fragrances are continuing to provide some of
the biggest sales growth in the industry, as the latest quarterly
results from France-based LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton reveal.
Sweden-based direct sales player Oriflame says it will continue to
focus its plans for sustained growth on Eastern Europe and
Mediterranean regions, following the publication of its 2005
financial report.
Beauty-conscious British women spend a whopping £3,000 (€4,300) a
year on beauty products and treatments, with 81 per cent of women
wearing make-up every day, says a survey commissioned by New Woman
magazine.
UK retailer Marks and Spencer has streamlined its colour cosmetics
business by switching to a single supplier, pulling a contract from
Swallowfield worth a reported £2m (€2.9m).
Elizabeth Arden is to team up with singer Mariah Carey for the
launch of a new line of fragrances. The announcement comes just a
few weeks after the company's shares fell on the back of rising
competition in the celebrity fragrance...
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has been accused of artificially
inflating its share prices in a lawsuit filed by shareholders who
claim they were tricked into investing in the struggling company.
Irish cosmetics and personal care company IWP International has
announced a restructuring that aims to return the company to
profitability after two years in the red.
After more than two years of searching for its first move into the
cosmetics business, UK-based Reflexion Cosmetics says it is in
talks for a potential reverse take over.
Shares in leading US cosmetics company Elizabeth Arden fell last
week after a number of leading financial analysts downgraded their
rating, citing rising competition in the celebrity fragrance market
and a weak start to its new anti-aging...
More than one month ahead of the scheduled publishing of its
half-yearly results, hair care specialist Alberto-Culver says it is
on course to deliver record results.
The fact that L'Oreal's acquisition of The Body Shop will provide
plenty of potential growth opportunities is undisputed, but the
question of how well the acquisition sits in the portfolio of the
world's largest cosmetics...
As Avon continues to make major cut backs, analysts and market
experts are being won over as the company's position starts to look
stronger following a difficult two year period.
BASF's hostile takeover bid for leading personal care supplier
Engelhard is looking more likely after it was acknowledged that the
Germany-based chemicals giant has been allowed to look at sections
of Engelhard's accounts.
The world's largest cosmetic company, L'Oreal, will acquire The
Body Shop - a move that will see it break into new ground as the
brand-owner of a business revered for its ethical values.
A record financial year for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is
supported by a strong performance from the company's cosmetics and
fragrance operations, boosted by the Dior brand as well as an
increasing market share for its...
The ever-competitive personal care industry sees yet another law
suit this month. This time Pfizer, maker of Listerine mouthwash is
suing Procter & Gamble over advertising claims made about a
rival product.
German cosmetic and toiletries giant Beiersdorf says it will be
realigning its Dutch and Swedish facilities as part of the second
stage of restructuring plans that aim to save €100m a year in
production costs.
Revlon has reported a strong fourth quarter, with profits up an
impressive 38 per cent following strong sales of its Vital Radiance
line and a successful repositioning of its Almay brand.
Leading cosmetics and toiletries contract player Creative
Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) has secured an
investment restructuring plan that will help the company in its
ambitions to become one of the leading contract players...
L'Oreal says it is considering making a cash offer for British
cosmetics and toiletries retailer Body Shop, as it aims to broaden
its existing business portfolio in an effort to maintain its
unbroken sales growth record.
Brazilian direct sales cosmetics player Natura is benefiting from a
booming domestic economy and renewed vigor for all things cosmetic,
having announced a big increase in its end of year sales and
profits.
German consumer goods group Henkel is aiming to strengthen its
cosmetic and toiletries operations with the purchase of Gillette's
Right Guard deodorant business in the US, a deal that forms part of
requirements to comply with...
L'Oreal has declared that it is not adverse to making further
acquisitions in the future in an effort to maintain sales growth at
6 - 8 per cent, while confirming a 50 per cent drop in its annual
profits following merger gains...
German cosmetics giant and marketer of the Nivea brand, Beiersdorf,
says it is poised to grow organically, with the Asian and men's
personal care market likely areas for investment.
After months of speculation the UK's leading retailer has announced
it plans to enter the United States retail market through the
convenience sector, where its cosmetics and toiletries offerings
could give the edge on the competition.
Oriflame says that euro currency sales growth of 24 per cent in its
fourth quarter, ending in December - a strong end to a year marked
by restructuring and a major push into developing markets.
Unilever sales grew by just 2 per cent in 2005, putting them in the
shadows as arch rival P&G takes the number one consumer goods
spot following last year's purchase of Gillette.
Direct sales giant Avon has reported a 36.7 per cent drop in its Q4
income as it tackles fierce competition and rising costs. The
disappointing results coincide with the decision to pull out of the
Indonesia market, which also knocked...
Mercatura Cosmetics has struck up a joint venture with Amrit
Medical to construct a cosmetics manufacturing facility in Syria
that will supply the fast-growing Middle Eastern market.