Henkel acquires North American hair professional business from Shiseido

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — The company announced an agreement to acquire Zotos International, the North American hair professional business of Shiseido. Included in the $485 million deal are such brands as Joico and Zotos Professional.

“This acquisition is part of our strategy to expand our position in attractive markets and categories. It will further strengthen our Hair Professional business in the US, the world’s single biggest hair professional market. The high-performance and high-quality brands are a perfect fit for our Beauty Care business. We are looking forward to welcoming Zotos’ experienced team at Henkel,” Hans Van Bylen, Henkel’s chief executive officer said.

In October, the company acquired Nattura Laboratorios, which included the Pravana brand. In 2014, Sexy Hair, Alterna and Kenra were also acquired by Henkel.

“At Henkel, we have strong capabilities to identify compelling acquisition targets with a clear strategic fit and attractive valuations,” Carsten Knobel, chief financial officer of Henkel said.

Based in Darien, Conn., in 2016, Henkel reported sales of $230 million dollars with 700 employees. Their main focus is the U.S. market, with a presence in Europe and Asia.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.