L'Oreal's US sales power ahead but investors are disappointed by
Western European sales despite an overall rise in turnover growth,
as the French group releases its third quarter results.
Body Shop International said that its latest results for the six
months up to 27 August showed new lines featuring exotic community
trade ingredients such as Brazilian babbusu nut oil and Zambian
honey have been a major driving force...
Parlux Fragrances looks to have struck gold with its crop of
celebrity and designer fragrances licenses and is expecting to
report an impressive 74 percent increase revenue for Q2 compared
with last year.
Two leading European manufacturers of oils and fats for the
cosmetics and food industries last week joined forces in a move the
companies hope will allow them to significantly expand their
businesses in the US and Northern Europe.
Procter & Gamble has signaled that it plans to make more use of
palm oil in its shampoos and detergents instead of relying mainly
on crude oil, which likely to be subject to volatile price changes
in the future.
The acquisition of the Gillette Company by Procter & Gamble was
cleared on Friday by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
resulting in the two companies operating jointly as of October 3.
Leading UK healthcare and beauty retailer Boots yesterday revealed
its third successive dip in quarterly sales, but said that
cosmetics and toiletry sales have continued to provide the company
with its strongest growth rates.
L'Oreal has pulled out of the bidding for beleaguered Japanese
household and cosmetics group Kanebo, citing a lack of Synergy with
its existing brands.
The second round of bids for Japanese household and cosmetics group
Kanebo were submitted yesterday by ten Japanese and foreign groups
of companies, many of which have made joint offers for the JPY400
billion (€2.95bn) company.
With larger retail outlets appearing to win the battle for the
European beauty spend recently, specialist retailer Sephora is
fighting back with new lines and aggressive marketing for its
online service.
Swedish direct sales company Oriflame has said that it expects
sales to grow at faster rates, but that significant investments,
particularly in the China and Russia markets, will impact operating
margins.
L'Oreal has announced the acquisition of Spanish sunscreen maker
Delial, in the same week that it unveiled more in-depth details for
its financial performance, division-by-division - moves that
showing a confidence in the company's...
Despite years of soft market conditions due to market maturity, the
leading players in the US cosmetics and toiletries market are
continuing to make steady gains, leaving the top three players -
Proctor & Gamble, L'Oreal...
Estee Lauder has reported a six per cent fall in its profits
despite a significant hike in its sales for its fourth quarter. The
company said that large tax charges and increased expenses had led
to the decline, but a rise in earnings...
International consumer goods maker Sara Lee has confirmed that it
is selling its direct sales cosmetics business to Tupperware for
$577 million. The move forms part of the company's bid to redefine
its over-stretched product...
The Japanese government bailout agency is to finalise the list of
bidders for household and cosmetics company Kanebo as final bids
are submitted today. Although all the bidders have maintained
silence throughout the run-up, global...
Swiss-based global fragrance and flavours giant Givaudan says that
a down-turn in its performance for the first six months of the year
was buouyed by a stronger showing from it international fragrance
operations.
Beiersdorf, the German based cosmetics giant and owner of the Nivea
brand, has reported second quarter results that have exceeded
analysts expectations, as sales rose nearly 6 per cent.
Although the company's sales for the quarter only grew by 1 per
cent, the performance was boosted by favorable exchange rates, as
the company announces a future focus on color cosmetics and seniors
to maintain the momentum.
Parlux Fragrance has reported a 74 per cent jump in profits on the
back of the continued roll out of Paris Hilton branded goods
together with the success of new fragrances such as Guess? for
women.
Gillette has reported a significant rise in both quarterly sales in
profits boosted by a series of new product launches. The results
leave it in good shape for the proposed merger with P&G later
this year, reports Simon Pitman.
P&G is building on four years' of solid growth, having revealed
that its most recent quarterly results are continuing the trend and
is pointing to the proposed merger with Gillette as a means of
continuing the current momentum...
Croda has announced a strong increase in both its sales turnover
and profits for the first six months of the year, driven primarily
by demand for skin care ingredients, reports Simon Pitman.
Oriflame has reported operating profits well down on the same
period last year, as the company's attempts to expand into new
markets hit the bottom line, reports Simon Pitman.
Alberto-Culver, the hair care and skin care maker, has announced
record sales and profits on the back of steady underlying sales for
its leading global brands and the sale of its European professional
hair care division, reports Simon...
Kimberly-Clark has announced a major restructuring programme that
will see around 20 plants sold or shut down and the loss of 10 per
cent of its workforce. The majority of the 6,000 job losses and
plant closures are expected to happen...
Flavors and Fragrance maker Sensient Technologies has reported a 13
per cent drop in its quarterly profits following sluggish sales and
a one off arbitration payment following a dispute with a customer,
reports Simon Pitman.
European regulators gave their approval to P&G's $57 billion
takeover of Gillette on Friday, paving the way for the deal to be
sealed this autumn, reports Simon Pitman.
Kanebo, the Japanese consumer and household goods company, looks
set to be rescued with rivals L'Oreal, P&G, Kao, Shiseido and
Kosé all trying to get in on the rescue bid to rehabilitate the
company, reports reports Simon...
US international fragrance company Parlux has announced that it is
considering a number of strategic alternatives in an effort to
boost shareholder value. The company says that this does not
exclude the sale of the company, reports...
L'Oreal has reported a significant growth in its second quarter
sales on the back of a solid performance in both North America and
new markets, prompting investment firm UBS to upgrade its rating,
reports Simon Pitman.
Coty has completed the purchase of Unilever Cosmetics
International, the global prestige fragrance business of Unilever,
a deal that makes it the world's largest fragrance player,
reports Simon Pitman.
Japan's largest household and personal care producer, Kao, says it
is in talks to buy the UK's Molton Brown, a producer of luxury
cosmetics and accessories, reports Simon Pitman.
Gillette says it is still planning to finalize its $57 million
merger with Proctor & Gamble this fall, despite complaints from
competitors to anti-competition authorities in Europe. Indeed,
Gillette is so confident about the outcome,...
Gillette says it is to donate $800,000 towards preventing
homelessness in the Greater Boston area. The move comes amid rumors
that the company's merger with P&G could threaten hundreds of
jobs in the city as well as reports...
Germany-based Symrise is reorganizing its global, regional and
local fragrance management teams in an effort to hone its fine
fragrance, personal care and oral care categories, writes Simon
Pitman.
Procter & Gamble's plans to have the Gillette deal sealed by
the end of the year may have been scuppered following delays by
European regulators and the publication of a report that questions
the fairness of the deal, reports...
Leading UK healthcare and beauty retailer Boots has said that
cosmetics and toiletry sales have continued to provide the company
with its healthiest growth rates - some goods news in a slowing
retail environment. Simon Pitman takes...
Certain of P&G's smaller dental care operations are being
divested as the company readies to seek anti-trust approval in both
Europe and the US. But as acquisition deadlines draw ever closer,
opposition in Gillette's...
UK-based international cosmetics and toiletry player Body Shop has
released projected sales figures at its AGM indicating that the
company's recovery is getting into full swing, reports Simon
Pitman.
US cosmetics giant Estee Lauder is considering buying up the
perfumes and beauty products portfolio for the Yves Saint Laurent
brand, part of the French-owned Pinault Printemps Redoute retail
group, reports Simon Pitman.
Reflexion Cosmetics, a company formed to capitalise on
opportunities in the UK cosmetics and toiletries sector, has made a
warning about its financial position after failing to secure an
acquisition after one year in business, reports...
UK-based technologies and beauty care group Disperse has confirmed
plans to expand its capabilities in the branded cosmetics and
personal care business with the proposed acquisition of beauty care
retailer and distributor Woods of...
Procter and Gamble has filed a formal request seeking with the
European Commission approval for its $57 billion take over bid for
Gillette. Although the company still has several hurdles to
overcome, final approval will make the company...
US fragrance player Coty says it has entered into an agreement to
purchase the global fragrance business of Anglo-Dutch consumer
giant Unilever for an estimated $800 million. The move boosts
Coty's fragrance brand portfolio,...
French cosmetics giant L'Oréal has signed an agreement to acquire
SkinCeuticals, a cosmeceuticals skin care company based in the US,
a move that will see the business expanded into the international
market, reports Simon Pitman.
The European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (Colipa)
published its annual financial review of retail sales prices for
the industry, showing that in 2004 overall growth rates continued
to fall in Western Europe, whereas...
The Tokyo Stock Exchange has ordered that Japanese household goods
maker Kanebo be delisted following company executives' attempts to
inflate last year's sales figures, reports Simon Pitman.