Symrise Acquires Minority Stake in Kobo Products

Symrise AG has agreed to make a strategic investment in Kobo Products Inc., a powder and dispersion specialist for the beauty industry. Symrise says the investment is a strategic step to expand its activities into inorganic UV filters and decorative cosmetics. 
 
Symrise will acquire a 25 % stake and agreed with Kobo on the future disposition of shares of Kobo ́s capital stock and the governance of Kobo. 
 
“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”, said Dr. Jörn Andreas, president of the cosmetic ingredients division at Symrise AG. “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.” 
 
Incorporated in 1987 and headquartered in South Plainfield, NJ, Kobo Products Inc. is a pigment and powder specialist, providing innovative, technology-based raw materials to the cosmetic industry. The firm has a very large color palette of surface treated pigments and dispersions to supply the market demand for make-up products for a wide range of skin tones. Kobo is also a market leader in mineral sunscreen technologies to create high protection formulations with broad spectrum protection, microspheres for enhanced textures, and materials that are derived of natural origin. 
 
With a portfolio ranging from advanced actives and botanicals, market-leading product protection solutions, broad range of sun care filters to high-performance functionals and special color solutions, Symrise sees a wide range of possibilities to jointly explore additional growth opportunities together with Kobo. Both groups will, for example, cooperate in the distribution of UV filters and Kobo can capitalize on Symrise’s global sales infrastructure. 
 
 “Joining forces with Symrise offers us an opportunity to further develop our color and sun businesses,” said David Schlossman, president of Kobo. “Both companies share similar values  regarding employee health and their 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.” 
 
The financial details of the investments were not disclosed.