Unilever to acquire clinical skincare brand Murad

Unilever has inked an agreement to acquire clinical skincare brand Murad for an undisclosed amount.

Since its inception in 1989, Murad has been offering products with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and hydrators to address virtually every skin care concern, from acne to anti-ageing.

Murad offers its products through professional salons and spas such as Massage Envy, and specialist retailers such as Sephora, Ulta and Nordstrom; as well as through direct sales across the US.

It is currently present in department stores, pharmacies, spas and salons across more than 42 countries.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Murad will become a part of Unilever’s Prestige division, which is exclusively dedicated to select distribution and premium personal care brands.

Unilever CEO Paul Polman said: "We are delighted to welcome Murad to our portfolio of Prestige personal care brands. As an expert ‘Doctor brand’, Murad offers products in a differentiated clinical and holistic well-being segment.

"It has a loyal following that gives it excellent potential for expansion, and wonderfully complements the brands recently acquired. We look forward to working with Dr Murad and his team to continue to grow the brand."

Murad generated around $115m in annual sales volume in 2014.

The deal is the recent in the series of acquisitions made by Unilever including Dermalogica, Kate Somerville and REN.