Germany’s Henkel in $1.4 billion deal to acquire hair care brand Olaplex

FRANKFURT, March 25 (Reuters) – Germany’s Henkel said on Thursday it agreed to buy Nasdaq-listed Olaplex in a $1.4 billion deal to strengthen its premium hair care business.

* Henkel will offer $2.06 per share in cash for an equityvalue of $1.4 billion, a premium of about 55% over Wednesday’sclosing price and about 45% over a 30-day average * Olaplex reported $423 million in 2025 sales, and Henkelsaid it delivered a strong gross margin * According to Olaplex, private equity group Advent agreedto fully sell its stake, which is about 75%, according toOlaplex’s annual report * Olaplex’s “focus on consistent quality and meaningfulrelationships within the professional community has resonatedstrongly with stylists and consumers alike,” said Henkel * Olaplex shares surged 50.2% to $2 in premarket tradingwhile Henkel shares were little changed at 0939 GMT * Family-controlled Henkel, a maker of industrial glues aswell as consumer brands Persil and Schwarzkopf, is valued atabout 28.5 billion euros ($33 billion), according to LSEG data * The transaction is the latest in a deal spree as Henkellast month agreed to acquire coatings maker Stahl for 2.1billion euros after smaller deals to buy the “Not Your Mother’s”hair care brand and ATP Adhesive Systems($1 = 0.8652 euros)

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger in Frankfur, Preetika Parashuraman in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Anusha Shah; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Louise Heavens and Joe Bavier)