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L’Oreal to Acquire 10% Stake in Swiss Skin Care Company Galderma 

A logo is seen over the entrance of Cosmetics company L'Oreal building in Paris, August 16, 2013. (Reuters)
A logo is seen over the entrance of Cosmetics company L'Oreal building in Paris, August 16, 2013. (Reuters)
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L’Oreal to Acquire 10% Stake in Swiss Skin Care Company Galderma 

A logo is seen over the entrance of Cosmetics company L'Oreal building in Paris, August 16, 2013. (Reuters)
A logo is seen over the entrance of Cosmetics company L'Oreal building in Paris, August 16, 2013. (Reuters)

French cosmetics company L'Oreal is to acquire a 10% stake in Swiss skin care firm Galderma from a group of major shareholders, the two companies said on Monday.

The Swiss firm, originally set up as a joint venture between Nestle and L'Oreal, began trading on the Swiss stock exchange in late March, with its shares rising.

Galderma said L'Oreal would acquire the 10% stake for an undisclosed premium from Sunshine SwissCo AG - a consortium led by Swedish private equity firm EQT - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Auba Investment Pte. Ltd.

Galderma said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with L'Oreal to work towards a new research and development collaboration in the form of a scientific partnership focused on complementary research projects.

"It marks an ambitious step for L'Oreal, and true to our mantra of 'seize what is starting,' it allows us to explore partnering in the fast-growing aesthetics market, a key adjacency to our own pure beauty play," said Nicolas Hieronimus, Chief Executive Officer of L'Oreal.

"We fully support Galderma's management and its strategy as a leading dermatology pure player, respect its independence and are very confident in its long-term growth potential."

L'Oreal said it will not seek to be represented at Galderma's board of directors and has agreed to customary provisions for an investment of this type as part of a shareholders' agreement with Sunshine SwissCo.

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Fashion

Hugo Boss May Push Back 2025 Targets as Luxury Sector Falters

The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP
The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP
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Hugo Boss May Push Back 2025 Targets as Luxury Sector Falters

The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP
The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP

Hugo Boss may push back key sales and profit targets beyond 2025 when it reports its second-quarter results on Thursday, as investors watch for updates on trading and cost-cutting plans.
Shares in the company fell as much as 10% in July as it cut its full-year sales and earnings forecasts, citing weakening global consumer demand, especially in China and Britain, said Reuters.
It warned in March that its target of reaching 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) in annual revenues in 2025 might be delayed, but said it still expected its margin on earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to reach at least 12% next year.
"Besides comments on current trading, which will be closely watched by investors, we would not rule out an update on Hugo Boss' mid-term targets," said Felix Jonathan Dennl, analyst at Metzler Capital Markets in Frankfurt.
Some analysts, including Dennl, expect Hugo Boss to hit its mid-term sales target two to three years later than originally forecast, and to reach its mid-term EBIT margin goal after 2028.
"If Hugo Boss can't provide more visibility, the revenue and EBIT targets should be in doubt," Alexander Zienkowicz, senior analyst at Mwb Research said.
In an average of estimates last updated ahead of the company's preliminary results in mid-July, analysts had forecast sales of 4.65 billion euros and an operating profit of 519 million for 2025, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 11%.
Cost cuts are also going to be in focus, said Joerg Philipp Frey, analyst at Warburg Research. He highlighted the company's 21% jump in marketing spend and higher brick-and-mortar retail expenses in the second quarter from a year earlier, in contrast with its quarterly sales decline.
The upmarket fashion brand has been on an expansion drive, increasing marketing spend and opening 102 new points of sale, including own stores, "shop-in-shops" and outlets, in 2023. It is trying to stem a slowdown in sales growth which has contributed to the company's shares almost halving in value this year.
"To lift the share price, it will be important for Hugo Boss to demonstrate effective management of the issues at hand and a credible path to recovery," Zienkowicz said.
The luxury sector is grappling with weaker sales and pressure on margins as inflation-hit shoppers hold off from splashing out on designer fashion. A property slump and job insecurity in China has exacerbated the problem.
Earnings from luxury companies this quarter have demonstrated the strains that the sector is under with both LVMH and rival Kering falling short of forecasts.