Brazil’s Natura acquires Aesop

By

Sarah Ahssen

Published
Jan 4, 2013

Natura, a Brazilian cosmetics company founded in 1969, has acquired 65% capital of Emeis Holidings, owner of Aesop, an Australian organic luxury cosmetics brand. Natura has bought 40% of Harbert Australian Private Equity Fund shares in the company and owner Dennis Paphitis has also reduced his stake in the company.

The acquisition should be finalized on 30 April to the sum of 54.7 million euros (68.25 Australian dollars). Aesop revenue is estimated at 51 million euros. In the meantime, the two companies will continue to function independently, keeping their respective teams.

Natura –which specializes in direct selling in Brazil with more than 1.5 million representatives – will benefit from the market expertise of Aesop, created 25 years ago in Melbourne, who has a retail network of 60 prime-location stores worldwide. With the acquisition, Natura hopes to reinforce brand presence on an international scale, outside it's main market of Latin America.