Unilever buys minority stake in True Botanicals

Published: 3-Apr-2017

The Anglo-Dutch conglomerate has invested in the US skin care brand through its private equity arm Unilever Ventures

Unilever has bought a minority stake in skin care brand True Botanicals, investing through its venture capital and private equity arm Unilever Ventures.

The US brand, which describes its positioning as “serious luxury”, creates highly-concentrated bio-active products that are certified by MadeSafe – a marker of being toxin-free.

Unilever stated: “We are looking to invest in the world beaters of tomorrow.

“Like any other venture capital investor, we are motivated by financial return but hope that we are able to bring genuine value add thanks to our privileged relationship with the Unilever group such as access to Unilever’s ecosystem, consumer insights and expertise.

“Our objective is always to leverage our network of resources inside and outside of the Unilever Group to help propel our portfolio companies to their next phase of growth, while making sure the management teams maintain their independence and entrepreneurial spirit.“

Unilever Ventures has already invested in a number of hair care propositions including Sachajuan Haircare and Blow Ltd.

However, True Botanicals is Unilever Ventures’ first investment in a ‘digitally native’, luxury beauty line.

Unilever added: “True Botanicals has shown an early but demonstrable high growth trajectory, a great founding management team, an authentic brand with a distinctive positioning as well as an innovative, digitally native business model.”

True Botanicals was Co-founded by Christina Mace-Turner and Hillary Peterson.

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