Unilever has signed an agreement to acquire a 75% stake in the Italian personal care and wellbeing business, Equilibra.
Founded in 1987 by Franco Bianco, Equilibra has a growing presence in the natural personal care segments, offering skin care and hair care ranges; and is a leading player in nutritional supplements in Italy. Equilibra has a product offering and proposition based on its authentic Italian credentials; using plant-based ingredients with functional benefits, such as aloe, shea, argan and almond.
“Equilibra is very well-positioned in the wellbeing space in Italy and complements perfectly our existing offering. The Equilibra brand enjoys great recognition in the market, and we see opportunities for further development in what is a fast-growing segment,” said Alan Jope, Unilever President Beauty & Personal Care.
Equilibra will be run as a standalone business with the continued presence of the Bianco Family and the current management team. Marco Bianco will be leading the business as CEO from its headquarter in Turin, and Franco Bianco will be Honorary Chairman.
“Unilever has a successful track record of scaling partnerships with quintessential Italian brands on a national and European level. Unilever and Equilibra will leverage their complementary expertise to grow the Equilibra business, bringing sustainability, wellness and the Italian spirit to people in Italy and abroad,” added Fulvio Guarneri, General Manager Unilever Italy.
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
