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.
Two weeks after settling the first subpoena bought about by
Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, the senator is
again knocking at Gillette's door, this time trying to contend that
the razors and personal care giant...
The maker of the Nivea brand has announced first quarter sales
broadly in line with the previous quarter, but a small increase in
profits helped the company to achieve a respectable bottom line,
reports Simon Pitman.
Revlon has reported that it has significantly narrowed its first
quarter losses despite a small fall in its revenue. Overall the
results were below expectations - a better performance being pinned
on a significant reduction of in...
Avon has announced a significant increase in its first quarterly
sales, leading to an even bigger jump in net profits. Although the
UK market registered a slump in sales, it was the central and
eastern Europe markets where extraordinary...
UK-based Body Shop has upped its expectations for the coming
financial year on the back of full-year results revealing a trading
come-back. Growth had come on a global basis thanks to a successful
investment programme to enhance the...
P&G appears to be going from strength-to-strength, with the
announcment that it has increased its first quarterly sales by 10
per cent, exceeding market expectations. Analysts say that the
performance is proof of the company's...
Despite global sales rising 9.5 per cent Colgate-Palmolive has
reported an 11 per cent drop in net profits for its first quarter
results. However, the company said that increased advertising
expenditure had managed to ensure sales...
Direct sales player Oriflame has announced a significant drop in
its first quarterly profits despite a healthy increase in sales.
The results reflect last year's IPO and refinancing expenses,
reports Simon Pitman.
Japanese textiles and cosmetics group giant Kanebo has admitted to
inflating profits by about $2 billion over the five-year period to
March 2003, in what could be Japan's largest accounting fraud
involving a non-financial firm.
Sales at UK accessories and fragrances group Burberry were flat
during the second half, the firm said today, but it forecast
full-year profit growth of at least 15 per cent.
Cognis Care Chemicals has reported a stronger financial performance
in 2004 thanks in part to a restructuring of the division. The
results helped the privately-owned German group to reduce its debts
by more than half compared to the...
Beiersdorf has reported flat financial results following what the
Germany-based skin specialist described as a difficult year for
trading as the domestic market continued to prove particularly
challenging. However, the company says...
Ambitious Israeli fragrance and flavours firm Frutarom has
benefitted from recent acquisitions as year end figures show 40 per
cent boost in sales. But the figures show that growth in the fine
ingredients division, which largely supplies...
Coletica has confirmed that Engelhard will acquire a majority stake
in the company, having just announced a strong set of financial
results for 2004, reports Simon Pitman.
Brazilian direct cosmetics sales company Natura has reported a
growth in sales of nearly 30 per cent and a very healthy increase
in profits, following its expansion into the Mexican and French
market during the course of the year,...
Liz Claiborne has reported a strong final quarter for its financial
year 2004, but a mixed performance for its cosmetic revenues clouds
an otherwise good year for the US fashion house.
Global packaging provider Rexam has announced flat results for the
full year 2004, with its plastics packaging division boosted by a
particularly good performance from its beauty operation, reports
Simon Pitman.
Givaudan has reported that sales fell in 2004, with a poor
performance from its fragrance division hampered by its fragrance
ingredients business combined with unfavourable currency exchange
rates, reports Simon Pitman.
UK cosmetics retailer Boots has warned that its full year profits
are likely to be impacted by low levels of consumer spending. The
announcement follows a disappointing December and January that saw
consumer spending well down on...
The investment world has given its seal of approval to P&G's
proposed $57 billion acquisition of Gillette, with analysts
recommending Gillette shares as a good buy, but experts are
expecting that the deal will bring headaches...
UK speciality oils supplier Croda International said sales to
cosmetics and supplement customers rose 8 per cent last year,
helped by expanded capacity in fish oil concentrates and new
product launches.
L'Oreal announced second half financial results broadly in line
with market expectations at the end of last week, boosted by strong
sales in both the US and emerging markets. However, analysts
believe that improvements in profitability...
