With the imminent departure of Reckitt Benckiser CEO Bart Becht, speculation is growing over a merger or acquisition bid. But a leading financial analyst believes anti-trust laws may throw a spanner in the works.
The global cosmetics giant reported strong growth for the first quarter of the year thanks to the power of brands in Consumer and Luxury Products as well as accelerated growth in the US.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has posted strong growth for its first quarter although it’s Perfume and Cosmetics business did not post as much growth as other business units.
PZ Cussons has admitted that trading remains challenging due to higher raw material costs, and tough markets in Europe due to UK input costs, and in Nigeria due to the ongoing elections, and has lowered its expectations for the financial year.
Global skin care specialist Nu Skin says that first quarter sales could return to the record rates seen earlier in 2010, despite significant troubles in the Japan market.
Texas-based Huntsman Corporation has confirmed an investment in Indian Petrochemicals player Laffans, eight months after first announcing its intentions to buy.
France-based luxury goods company LVMH has made several acquisitions in 2011 that will enhance its cosmetics and perfumes business segment, which generated sales of €3.1bn in 2010, an increase of 9 per cent.
International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has said that rises in input costs have been more exaggerated than were first predicted, leading the company to enter into ‘aggressive’ pricing strategy negotiations.
International Flavors & Fragrances has appointed Anne Chwat as senior vice president, general counsel & corporate secretary, together with two new executive directors.
Symrise exceeded its sales and earnings for fiscal year 2010 thanks to the global economic recovery, strong boost in demand and a solid positioning in emerging markets.
The Esée Lauder Companies has appointed Wei Sun Christianson to its board of directors, a move aimed at tapping into key knowledge of the fast expanding China market.
Cosmetics company Kao is suing Dusseldorf-headquartered Henkel over the sale of its foaming hair care products in Germany and Japan, insisting Henkel is infringing its intellectual property rights.
UK-based contract manufacturer Swallowfield says that big growth from international clients has helped increase the company’s results for the first half financial year.
Following a disappointing fourth quarter Avon Products has reappointed its existing CFO Charles Cramb to head up its developed markets group, leaving the key finance position vacant.
Azelis has signed a definitive agreement to acquire raw material and ingredient supplier S&D Group as it looks to strengthen its portfolio coverage as well as its geographical spread.
Personal care ingredients provider Croda International has reported a healthy rise in both sales and profits for its fourth quarter and says future growth will centre on developing markets.
Maurer & Wirtz says it is restructuring its company in an effort to target specific categories and grow its market share for its own brand and licensed fragrances.
Global cosmetics firm Revlon announced its fourth quarter and year results, reporting an overall increase in net sales despite problematic currency fluctuations in Latin America.
IFF reported strong sales and profits growth in Q4 for both its fragrance and flavors divisions on the back of big gains in its Latin America and Greater Asia markets.
Avon Products has reported flat sales for it fourth quarter the negative impact of currency translations and falling sales for skin care and color cosmetics.
After making inroads into color cosmetics and skin care through several acquisitions in 2010, fragrance and cosmetics player Coty has said it will look to China and Brazil in 2011 as part of its plan to target high-growth opportunities in emerging markets.
Japanese cosmetics brand Shiseido has said that if consumer demand and the appropriate retail channels exist, it will continue to expand into new markets as part of its aim to become ‘a global player representing Asia with its origins in Japan’.
The company reported healthy growth in both sales and profits for the fourth quarter, although growth has declined over the course of the financial year.
Fourth quarter sales and net income for the beauty business of the Tupperware group was up on last year but its US operations still recorded a drop in sales.
Q-Med, the Sweden-based manufacturer of anti-ageing products that is currently in take-over talks, warned that rising marketing and development costs are likely to hit future profits.
A significant drop in profit and weaker domestic sales in the first nine months of 2010 has led Japanese-headquartered Shiseido to lower its forecasts for the full year.
Procter & Gamble announces steady gains for its third quarter sales ending in December, but profits are down on lower retail pricing and negative currency exchange rates.
Global beauty company Coty has received minority equity investments from two private equity firms which will aid in its accelerated growth plans on a global scale.
Consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark announced a slight increase in both its organic and like-for-like sales and will focus on restructuring its pulp and tissue division.
Beiersdorf has announced a full year organic 2010 sales increase of 3.1 percent, in line with the forecast that were recently lowered by costs relating to its restructuring programme.
Japanese-headquartered Kao Corporation has invested in a new manufacturing plant in the Anhui province, China, in order to reinforce its production base of consumer goods in the country.
Cargill is to acquire Indonesian starch, sweetener and sorbitol company PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, in a deal designed to help it better serve its customers in the Asia Pacific region.
Beiersdorf has announced new measures designed to focus the business on skin care, which it says will weigh on next year’s operating margin, including pulling out of the color cosmetics market in Germany.
Intercos America, a leading worldwide manufacturer of make-up products has secured state investment to expand its production facilities in New York State.
Indian fast moving consumer goods giant Godrej has acquired two important niche brand in the country’s hair and body care market, Swastik Shikakai and Swastik Neem.
Fragrance and cosmetics manufacturer Coty has announced its plans to purchase a majority stake in TJoy in an attempt to increase its presence in China.
L’Occitane’s expansion into China, funded by a recent IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange, has helped drive a big increase in sales for the first half of its financial year.
Godrej Consumer Products is planning future acquisitions in the emerging markets in order to grow in the personal wash, hair care and household care categories.
New, mainly natural, products with higher than average margins have helped flavour and specialty ingredient firm Frutarom to widen its overall margin performance in the third quarter.