2016: The year’s biggest Cosmetics Technology stories

Mibelle Group to buy P&G’s Ondal Sarl production plant in France

Switzerland-based beauty and personal care products Mibelle Group agreed to acquire Procter & Gamble's (P&G) Ondal Sarl production site in Sarreguemines, France.

Effective from July, 2016, the deal is expected to enable Mibelle to boost its international growth strategy.

Evonik to buy Alkion Biopharma

Germany-based specialty chemicals company Evonik signed a purchase agreement to buy Alkion Biopharma, a French-based company that manufactured biotechnologically developed cosmetic active ingredients.

The purchase was scheduled to be completed in April, 2016, and the agreed amount was not disclosed. Evonik was expecting to expand its portfolio of personal care business line in the area of speciality active ingredients.

Alkion was established as a spin-off of the Imperial College London in 2011, mainly involved in the extraction of cosmetic actives from plant biomass.

Accoje to launch three products in Whitening Capsule Line

South Korean cosmetics brand Accoje was set to release three new products under its Whitening Capsule line.

Products in the range include Accoje whitening capsule essence, Accoje whitening capsule ampoule, and Accoje whitening capsule cream.

The company claimed that the line received attention from overseas buyers in China Beauty Expo in Shanghai and Beauty World Japan.

Image: The three products under Accoje Whitening Capsule Line. Photo: courtesy of Accoje.

CD&R to acquire High Ridge Brands for $415m

Private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) approved a $415m acquisition of High Ridge Brands Brynwood Partners.

The acquisition was valued at around $415m. Additional financial details were not disclosed.

High Ridge Brands is a manufacturer of skin cleansing and haircare products in North America.

Johnson & Johnson agrees to acquire Vogue International for $3.3bn

Johnson & Johnson Consumer agreed to acquire privately held hair and personal products company Vogue International for around $3.3bn in cash.

Johnson & Johnson intended to boost the consumer business with this purchase, reported The Wall Street Journal.

The purchase also includes brands such as the OGX collection of shampoos, conditioners, bath, and bodycare products, styling products, and the FX line of hair styling products, and the Proganix and Maui Moisture haircare lines.

Revlon buys Coty’s Cutex business

Revlon purchased Coty's international Cutex businesses, which mainly operates in Australian and the UK markets.

Following this purchase, Revlon consolidated Cutex brand's global operations under its management.

Sephora launches web tool to help women find suitable hair products

Sephora introduced a new website tool to assist women to find products that are suitable for curly hair.

The online service was launched as part of its latest initiative, 'It's a Curl Thing', reported Madamenoire.com.

This initiative was launched In May, 2016, and continued until mid-June, reported Refinery29.com.

L'Oréal opens research and innovation centre in South Africa

L'Oréal inaugurated its new research and innovation (R&I) centre in South Africa.

The new facility is L'Oréal’s seventh global R&I centre, which is intended to study African hair and skin specificities, as well as sub-Saharan consumers’ beauty routines.

L'Oréal's research and innovation executive vice-president Laurent Attal said: “By opening this new research and innovation centre, we are spearheading L'Oréal Research for the African continent."

P&G collaborates with Alibaba to boost online expansion in China

US-based multinational consumer goods company Proctor & Gamble (P&G) partnered with global wholesale trade platform Alibaba.com to boost its online expansion in the Chinese market.

The partnership is expected to see the launch of new products, brand building, and initiatives to boost customer engagement.

In addition, it will focus on market expansion and consumer-to-business to launch products in future.

Coty acquires hair styling firm ghd

US-based beauty products manufacturer Coty acquired hair styling appliances firm good hair day (ghd).

The deal was expected to be immediately accretive to Coty’s earnings. ghd was included into the professional beauty unit of Coty and became an independent entity.

The company's operations are now overseen by its existing chief executive officer Anthony Davey and management team, who report to Coty professional beauty president Sylvie Moreau.