This growth insight is an analysis of the global personal care and cosmetic ingredients industry consolidation. It profiles notable transactions with case studies and examines the rationale for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the personal care and cosmetic ingredients market. It also discusses the key market drivers and restraints for M&A activity. The report provides transformation in the personal care and cosmetic ingredients ecosystem, models several growth opportunities that involves consolidation, with strategic imperatives.

The personal care and cosmetic ingredients include synthetic, natural, multifunctional, and others. Growth by acquisition, innovation, customer service leadership, and value addition are some of the strategies adopted by ingredient suppliers. Vertical integration and sideward integration are also aimed at to earn higher margins and to expand product line resepctively. Companies are increasing their global reach by acquiring companies for synergies of geographical markets, technologies and products, and even distribution channels.

Industry Trends:
• Personal care and cosmetic ingredients face highly competitive price pressures, leading to the need mergers with or the acquisition of competitors to achieve cost leadership by expanding technological innovation and diversification strategies.
• A majority (80-90%) of the personal care and cosmetic active ingredients are commodities or reaching commodity status, and thus innovation in products and technologies is an urgent requirement for growth.
• Consolidation is reshaping the industry as leading competitors acquire and assimilate target companies with compatible products and technologies.

Growth Opportunities:
• Product portfolio diversification through acquisitions is a key differentiator
• Customer preference for one-stop shop solution providers
• Increased funding interest from private equity firms
• The industry remains fragmented with a number of successful start-ups and entrepreneurial set-ups that are profitable as small businesses, prompting M&A activities.

Top M&A Companies: Acquisitions by Greentech of Mapric, Givaudan of Induchem, IFF of Lucas Myer and Aromor, are aimed at gaining access to complementary and supplementary portfolios. Examples of acquisitions for accessing natural products are Seppic’s takeover of Serdex, Clariant acquiring CRM International and 17% stake of BioSpectrum, Takasago’s buying out of Centre Ingredient Technology and Givaudan’s acquiring of Soliance.