Investment firm takes near-20% stake in Lush

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Dec 13, 2022

Lush Cosmetics has a major new investor. Silverwood has acquired a 19.8% stake in the international beauty retailer, snapping up around £216.8 million in shares.

And the investment firm looks to be taking a hands-on approach, saying it is “well-placed for generating new ideas to invigorate and strengthen” the business which sells eco-friendly skincare and cosmetics across 48 countries.

And Silverwood’s dive into the beauty sector hasn’t stopped there. It has also purchased 90% of the total issued share capital for Japanese skincare maker Sonotas Holdings, alongside all of the total issued share capital of Sonotas Corporation. The acquisition involved they payment of £417,000 in cash and around £15.6 million in Silverwood shares to be paid to the Sonotas vendors.

Paul Hodgins, non-executive director for Silverwood, described both Lush and Sonotas as “tremendously exciting companies with a vast amount of growth potential.”

According to accounts filed at Companies House, in the year ended 30 June 2021, Lush's turnover was £408 million. In September 2021, Lush acquired its North American partner businesses for C$180 million (£143 million), plus C$20 million deferred consideration.