Business & financial

Estee Lauder mulls YSL buy

Estee Lauder mulls YSL buy

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.

Gillette rebuffs subpoena

Gillette rebuffs subpoena

The Gillette Company says it has filed its own law action against
Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin in response to a
subpoena claiming that acquirer-to-be P&G is offering too
little for the global razors and toiletries...

Playtex restructures

Playtex restructures

Playtex Products has announced a restructuring program on the back
of strong financial results for 2004. The program aims to push
profit growth into double figures in the course of the next three
years, reports Simon Pitman.

Mosaic expands into cosmetics

Mosaic expands into cosmetics

Mosaic says it has acquired the assets of Atlanta-based Channel
Source, a retail service company dedicated to the cosmetics
industry. Channel Source will consolidate and move operations to
Dallas while retaining its national staff...

Natura reports strong 2004

Natura reports strong 2004

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,...

Boots issues profit warning

Boots issues profit warning

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...

P&G buys up Gillette

P&G buys up Gillette

Proctor & Gamble, the leading cosmetics and personal care
group, is to acquire Gillette in a $57 billion (€43.7bn) deal that
sees the company expanding its presence into the men's grooming
category.

Toiletry sales down at Boots

Toiletry sales down at Boots

Leading UK and international retailer Boots has reported that sales
for its mainstay toiletries division have fallen by 0.8 per cent
due to a price discounting strategy. The results reflect the
increasingly competitive retail environment...