The Estée Lauder Companies to Acquire Dr. Jart+
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire the shares that it does not already beneficially own in Have & Be Co. Ltd., the Seoul-based, global skin care company behind Dr. Jart+ and men’s grooming brand Do The Right Thing. Expected to close in December 2019, the acquisition follows the Company’s December 2015 minority investment in Have & Be Co. Ltd. and is pursuant to an agreement made at that time. As one of the fastest growing skin care brands globally, Dr. Jart+ is expected to help further strengthen The Estée Lauder Companies’ leadership position in skin care, and will especially help expand the Company’s consumer reach in Asia/Pacific, North America, the United Kingdom and travel retail. This is the Company’s first acquisition of an Asia-based beauty brand.
Since December 2015, when the Company initially invested in Have & Be Co. Ltd., Dr. Jart+ has experienced significant growth and is expected to reach more than $500 million in net sales in calendar year 2019. Have & Be’s total enterprise is valued at approximately $1.7 billion, and The Estée Lauder Companies has agreed to acquire the remaining two-thirds of Have & Be Co. Ltd., net of cash acquired and subject to certain post-closing adjustments. The Company expects to fund this transaction with debt. The acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals. In connection with the closing, the Company expects to have a non-cash gain on its initial investment in Have & Be Co. Ltd.
Founded in 2005 by CEO ChinWook Lee in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Jart+ is a high-growth, global skin care brand fueled by cutting-edge innovation that offers a wide variety of high-performing skin care products. With a unique combination of dermatological science and art – as is reflected in the brand name, which is inspired by the phrase “Doctor Joins Art” – Dr. Jart+ appeals to a broad range of consumers and has a devoted following among millennials in Asia and the United States. Best known for its high-quality, on-trend skin care collections such as Cicapair and Ceramidin, the brand is renowned for its outstanding and fast-moving innovation pipeline and rapid speed-to-market capabilities. Sold through specialty-multi channels, travel retail, freestanding stores, high-end department stores and e-commerce sites in more than 35 countries globally, the brand offers a wide range of high-quality moisturizers, masks, cleansers and serums that are beloved for their innovative, breakthrough formulations.
“We have built an incredible, long-term partnership with ChinWook Lee and his terrific team over the last four years, and we are so pleased to officially welcome this fast-growing and globally beloved brand into our portfolio,” said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. “As the Company’s first acquisition of an Asia-based beauty brand, Dr. Jart+’s focus on creating high-quality skin care products that fuse dermatological science, incredible innovation capabilities and artistic expression make it a terrific, strategic addition to our diverse portfolio of prestige beauty brands. We look forward to continued global growth in the years to come.”
“The Estée Lauder Companies is the ideal home for our brands,” said Mr. Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Have & Be Co. Ltd. “Since the beginning of our partnership four years ago, the Company has shared our mission to provide the very best skin care and beauty products to consumers around the world. We are excited for the opportunity to continue this partnership as we continue to innovate and grow our brands globally.”
“The entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of Dr. Jart+ is a perfect fit for The Estée Lauder Companies,” said William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. “As consumers increasingly focus on skin care and the category continues its rapid global growth, the influence of cutting-edge, scientifically-driven brands like Dr. Jart+ is undeniable. We are delighted to welcome ChinWook Lee and his entire team to our family.”
Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., will add Dr. Jart+ to the portfolio of brands that she oversees.
In this transaction, Perella Weinberg Partners LP served as financial advisor to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., while Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Kim & Chang served as legal counsel. Have & Be Co. Ltd. received financial advice from Michel Dyens & Co. and legal counsel from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Bae, Kim & Lee LLC.
The forward-looking statements in this press release, including those in the quoted remarks and those relating to the expected closing date, expectations for the acquired brand and the benefits of the acquisition, involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements include the ability of the parties to satisfy the closing conditions under the definitive purchase agreement, current economic and other conditions in the global marketplace, actions by retailers, suppliers and consumers, competition, the Company’s ability to successfully integrate the acquired business and/or implement its long-term strategic plan, and those described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2019.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Tory Burch, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, By Kilian, BECCA and Too Faced.
ELC-C
ELC-F
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191118005242/en/
Contact information
Media Relations:
Jill Marvin
(212) 572-4438
Investor Relations:
Rainey Mancini
(212) 284-3049
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Vonage Network APIs Pave the Way for Freenow by Lyft to Advance Urban Mobility Innovation22.1.2026 09:00:00 EET | Press release
Vonage, a part of Ericsson, and Freenow by Lyft, a leading taxi and multi-mobility app in Europe, have expanded their partnership with the launch of Vonage Silent Authentication API for customers based in the U.S. Vonage Network APIs enable Freenow by Lyft to tap into real-time network data and insights, helping prevent fraud through seamless user verification, ensuring reliable, efficient, and secure interactions for its customers and drivers. Network intelligence is becoming a critical layer of defense in the transportation space as fraud threats become more sophisticated and targeted. Enterprises worldwide lost 7.7% of their annual revenue on average due to fraud over the past year, representing an estimated $534 billion in losses.¹ With scam/authorization fraud, synthetic identity fraud, and account takeover as the leading cause of business loss, the need for advanced security measures continues to grow. “Launching Vonage Silent Authentication API for the U.S. customers marks a tra
Daiichi Sankyo Appoints New Leadership at the Daiichi Sankyo Translational Research Center Europe22.1.2026 08:30:00 EET | Press release
Daiichi Sankyo (TSE:4568) has appointed Veronika Rozehnal, Ph.D., to succeed Jürgen Müller, Ph.D., as the Head of the Translational Research Center Europe. Dr. Jürgen Müller will retire after nearly 30 years of research work at Daiichi Sankyo. Under his leadership, the Translational Research Center Europe, previously called the Tissue and Cell Research Center Munich, has grown from three to 40 researchers since it was founded in 1997 and has become an internationally recognized institution that plays a strategic role in the global innovation process of Daiichi Sankyo. Dr. Veronika Rozehnal joined Daiichi Sankyo in 2009 and has held various positions at the Translational Research Center Europe in addition to spending three years at the Daiichi Sankyo R&D Center in Tokyo. Dr. Rozehnal graduated from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany with a Ph.D. degree in Clinical Pharmacology. “Jürgen Müller has made significant scientific contributions that have helped Daiichi Sankyo
I Squared Announces Launch of Radiant Energy Solutions22.1.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
I Squared Capital (“I Squared”), a leading global infrastructure investment manager, announced today the launch of Radiant Energy Solutions (“Radiant”), an investment from I Squared’s Middle East infrastructure strategy, which is focused on targeting transformational, mid-market investments in the region. Reflecting I Squared’s platform-building approach of starting with a core initial investment and scaling over time to build market-leading businesses, Radiant marks the firm’s entry into the Middle East distributed renewables market, providing decarbonization solutions to commercial and industrial customers. The investment for Radiant is the acquisition of FAS Renewables and its 100% owned subsidiary Zahra Energy, a Saudi Arabia–based distributed solar company with a secured and advanced portfolio of over 100MWp of distributed solar projects with established customers and long-term contracted solar power purchase agreements. These include Cenomi Centers, an owner, operator, and develo
IMCAS 2026: Galderma Showcases the Latest Scientific Advances Behind the Industry’s Broadest Injectable Aesthetics Portfolio22.1.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Galderma (SIX: GALD) will present ten posters with the latest updates from across its broad aesthetic portfolio spanning regenerative biostimulation, HA and neuromodulator treatments at the International Master Course on Aging Science (IMCAS) 2026 World Congress in Paris, France, from January 29-31, 2026. The company will also showcase its leadership in community education through a number of events including two symposia, a live anatomy workshop, multiple masterclasses and meet-the-expert sessions, and a booth that will delve into the science behind its innovations. “With ten posters spanning all key aesthetic treatment modalities and areas across the face and body, our data at IMCAS truly showcases the breadth and versatility of our injectable aesthetics portfolio and how we continue to drive innovation with our trusted products. In tandem with our first-class Galderma Aesthetic Injector Network (GAIN) educational activities, conducted in partnership with renowned experts, we are equ
Azafaros Announces Key Scientific Oral and Poster Presentations on Nizubaglustat Accepted for WORLD Symposium™ 202622.1.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Azafaros, a company building a portfolio to become a leader in lysosomal storage disorders with the goal of addressing neurological symptoms, today announced that its lead asset, nizubaglustat, will feature in five scientific presentations accepted at the WORLDSymposium™ 2026, the leading global conference on lysosomal diseases, taking place in San Diego, California, USA between February 2-6. The company’s conference activities include: Oral Presentations (including Poster numbers 134 and 29-C) Long-term data from a Phase II study with oral nizubaglustat for late-infantile/juvenile GM2 and Niemann-Pick Type C diseases (RAINBOW) on February 5, presenting preliminary clinical efficacy and safety data. The data underscore nizubaglustat’s potential as a therapeutic option, reinforcing Azafaros’ commitment to addressing critical unmet needs in lysosomal storage disorders. Nizubaglustat reinstates pro-neuronal transcriptional programs in human CLN3 retinal organoidson February 6 (Rapid Fire
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom