On December 8, L’Oréal Groupe announced that it will increase its stake in Galderma Group AG, the Switzerland-based dermatology specialist, to 20%. The additional 10% stake will be acquired from a consortium led by EQT — including Sunshine SwissCo GmbH, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and Auba Investment Pte. Ltd. — for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
L’Oréal initially acquired a 10% stake in August 2024, marking a strategic entry into the fast-growing aesthetics market. Galderma, known for global brands such as Restylane and Cetaphil, operates across three core pillars: injectable aesthetics, dermatological skincare, and therapeutic dermatology.
Regarding the expanded investment, L’Oréal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus commented: “Aesthetics is a key adjacency to our core beauty business that we are keen to continue to explore. Our initial strategic investment made in 2024 in Galderma has proven very successful and therefore we are eager to solidify and extend the partnership further.”
As part of the capital structure revision, Galderma will consider nominating two non-independent board candidates from L’Oréal, replacing representatives of the EQT-led consortium, at the 2026 Annual General Meeting.
While this change will increase L’Oréal’s influence in governance, the company emphasized that Galderma’s operational independence will remain intact and confirmed that it is not considering any further increase in its ownership at this time.
Strengthening Scientific Collaboration Between the Two Companies
L’Oréal and Galderma have already partnered in scientific research, and the latest investment is expected to deepen collaboration in dermatology and skin health.
Galderma CEO Flemming Ørnskov, M.D., MPH, described L’Oréal as “a strong long-term partner,” signaling confidence in continued joint development initiatives.
L’Oréal Accelerates Its M&A and Investment Strategy
The increased stake in Galderma aligns with L’Oréal’s broader expansion strategy in beauty and aesthetics.
In recent years, the company has executed a series of major acquisitions and strategic investments, including:
- A majority stake in premium skincare brand Medik8
- The acquisition of the professional haircare brand Color Wow
- The purchase of Kering’s beauty business, along with a 50-year exclusive license for Gucci Beauty
These moves reflect L’Oréal’s ambition to strengthen its leadership in high-growth segments of the global beauty industry.
Within this context, the additional investment in Galderma represents a core component of its long-term strategy in the booming aesthetics market.
Copyright © 2025 Oui Speak Fashion. All rights reserved.