euro adhoc: Wella AG
Wella Group signed long-term licence agreement with ESCADA AG and acquires ESCADA BEAUTE GROUP S.A. (E)
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
Darmstadt, 4 March 2002: PARFUMS ROCHAS S.A., a subsidiary of the Wella Group, signed a long-term licence agreement on marketing fragrances and cosmetics with ESCADA AG and acquired at the same time ESCADA BEAUTE GROUP S.A., Paris, with effect from 1 April 2002. Approval by the cartel authorities is still to be given.
Since 1997 the activities of Wella AG in the cosmetics and fragrances sector are organized under the roof of Cosmopolitan Cosmetics, Cologne, to which also belongs PARFUMS ROCHAS S.A. Successful brands of Cosmopolitan Cosmetics are among others Gucci Parfums, Dunhill, Montblanc, Rochas as well as fragrances of MEXX, Marc OPolo, Naomi Campbell and 4711.
ESCADA is one of the leading international fashion houses in the luxury segment for women. With almost 400 stores and in-store departments in 60 countries, it is able to satisfy sophisticated demands.
ESCADA BEAUTE GROUP S.A. sells its products via subsidiaries in Germany, France, the USA and Great Britain as well as via distributors in all important countries in the world. Founded in 1990, ESCADA BEAUTE achieved with about 200 employees sales with own products of EUR 51 million in 2001.
The most important sales drivers are the fragrance "ESCADA Sentiment" and an annually launched limited edition of a so called "Fashion Fragrance" - in 2002 this is the fragrance "Sexy Graffiti" which currently is available on the market. Cosmopolitan Cosmetics plans to launch a new ESCADA fragrance already in autumn 2002. The USA, Central Europe - especially Germany and France - as well as Asia are the most important regional markets at present.
With the acquisition and the integration of the business into Cosmopolitan Cosmetics two strategical targets of our Cosmetics and Fragrances business will be achieved: extending the brand portfolio and at the same time focussing on the segment of higher priced international prestige fragrances. The strong position of Cosmopolitan Cosmetics in the global fragrance market will be expanded with the acquisition and the globalization will successfully be continued.
Contact: Investor Relations (for investors, analysts and interested shareholders): Phone ++49-6151-34 3962 Mail: ir@wella.de
Corporate Communications (for the press): Phone ++49-6151-34 3440 Mail: bklesper@wella.de
end of announcement euro adhoc 04.03.2002
Further inquiry note:
Ms. Michaela Wanka
Branche: Health & Beauty products
ISIN: DE0007765604
WKN: 776560
Börsen: Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse, Bayerische
Börse, Börse Düsseldorf, Hamburger Wertpapierbörse, Frankfurter
Wertpapierbörse, Handelsüberwachung der Berliner Wertpapierbörse