THE WHAT? Henkel has announced that it has successfully closed the acquisition of Shiseido’s Professional hair business, which comprises leading professional hair brands, including Sublimic and Primience.

THE DETAILS Under the terms of the deal, Shiseido will retain a 20 percent stake in the legal entity in Japan.

A J-beauty innovation hub will be set up in Tokyo to develop and tailor products for consumers in Asia. It will serve as a base for new product development and ingredient formulation, for example, for both the Shiseido Professional and Schwarzkopf brands.

THE WHY? David Tung, Regional President of Henkel Consumer Brands Asia, explains, “We have a clear ambition to grow our Beauty Care business in Asia-Pacific. With this acquisition, we have become a leading player in the hair professional business in the region, which includes having a significantly stronger market position in Japan and China. At the same time, we have been able to establish our presence in South Korea and a leading position in Thailand.”