Quala to divest personal care and home care brands to Unilever

Latin American consumer goods firm Quala has signed an agreement to divest its personal care and home care brands to Unilever.

Founded in 1980, Quala currently operates in ten Latin American countries and reported a turnover of more than $400m last year.

The firm’s personal care and home care offerings include haircare and skin cleansing brand Savital/Savilé, male haircare and styling line eGo, haircare range Bio-Expert, oral care collection Fortident, and fabric conditioners brand Aromatel.

Unilever's chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Polman said: “Quala has done an outstanding job of building strong and competitive local brands.

“The inclusion of these brands in our stable will consolidate our leading position in haircare globally, and contribute to our oral care and male grooming businesses, complementing our existing offering very well.” 

The acquisition is expected to support Unilever’s footprint in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Quala's chairman Michael De Rhodes said: “Following a strategic review, we have decided to focus our efforts and resources on accelerating growth on our core business.

“As a result of this transaction Quala intends to increase its investment in innovation, continue broadening our product and brand portfolio, and maintain our leadership positions in the region.”

With aloe vera as the main ingredient, the Savital / Savilé brand products are formulated using functional ingredients such as keratin, biotin, and argan oil. The brand has a strong presence in the North Latin America region, primarily in Colombia.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Financial details of the acquisition have not been divulged.