Estée Lauder Acquires Frédéric Malle, Third Brand in Less Than a Month

In what WWD has called a shopping spree, Estée Lauder has completed a trifecta of acquisitions in less than a month, adding Frédéric Malle to its portfolio. An agreement has been signed by the beauty giant to purchase Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle in a deal that will close in early January. The brand, which was launched in 2000 and who many credit for the current artisanal fragrance movement, has an estimated worth of $16 million wholesale. Malle will join the latest brands under the Lauder umbrella, luxury skincare brand Rodin Olio Lusso and fellow artisanal fragrance brand Le Labo, which were acquired within the past three weeks.

Earlier this week, the President and CEO of Lauder told analysts, “To maintain our steady annual growth, we are driving our portfolio on two main fronts. We are strengthening and expanding our existing brands to keep them relevant in all our regions, and at the same time, we are actively seeking and nurturing the next generation with an eye to creating the next big brands of the future.”

The three newest members of the Lauder family have global luxury distribution, which is a change of course from its usual popular department store fragrances. This trio of brands are sold in global luxury markets and found at stores like Colette in Paris, Barneys New York, Liberty of London and 10 Corso Como in Milan.

[via WWD]


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