Symrise AG has announced it will acquire a 25% stake in Kobo Products, Inc., a powder and dispersion specialist for the beauty industry.
According to Symrise, the company considers the investment a strategic step to expand its activities into inorganic UV filters and decorative cosmetics.
Kobo Products, Inc. is a pigment and powder specialist, providing technology-based raw materials to the cosmetic industry. Kobo has a large color palette of surface-treated pigments and dispersions for makeup products for a wide range of skin tones.
In addition, it provides mineral sunscreen technologies to create high protection formulations with broad-spectrum protection, microspheres for enhanced textures and materials that are derived of natural origin.
President of Kobo, David Schlossman, said, "Joining forces with Symrise offers us an opportunity to further develop our color and sun businesses. Both companies share similar values regarding employee health and well-being. Symrise’s resources and expertise in organic UV filters combined with ours in inorganic UV filters will create an organization with the capacity to analyze and develop novel ingredients and formulations that provide broad spectrum protection, are safer for the environment, and that minimize in their impact on carbon emissions. Together, we will do the research necessary to create technical color and sun care products that are responsive to the needs of customers, regulators, and other stakeholders around the world.”
Jörn Andreas, president of cosmetic ingredients division at Symrise AG, said, "With this investment, we fast-track our strategic plan to expand into decorative cosmetics. It enables us to stay at the forefront of consumer trends by bridging color and skin care cosmetics. We will combine Kobo’s broad range of market-leading product lines in surface treated pigments, sun care and color dispersions with our decades of experience in manufacturing and marketing high-quality cosmetic ingredients. Our customers will benefit from an unmatched range of UV filter products and a full spectrum of formulations and integrated solutions.”
