The Body Shop-owner Aurea Group PE says plans to deploy $3-5 billion into beauty brands

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. UK-based Auréa group, which rescued and invested in beauty brand The Body Shop last year is in the process of deploying $3-5 billion into beauty brands including its current investment.

The company’s Indian-origin founder Mike Jatania, who is in India this week, said The Body Shop is grossing $1 billion in annual sales and is turning its focus on India as it’s a top five global market for the beauty business. Jatania—an Indian-origin Gujarati businessman—said, “India is very much at the top of our global growth strategy.

We hope that in the coming years, India will move into the top three markets for us." He told Mint that the company is launching a new product line in India, which it plans to export to the rest of the world soon. “We’re also excited about quick commerce here as that’s delivered very good results for us," he added.

The PE firm also owns Herbivore Botanicals, a plant-based cosmetics company, Scandinavian Biolabs, a natural haircare product company, and Decypher, a company that produces and sells foundation makeup.

Also Read | India's beauty brands battle hard in a crowded market Jatania's vision for the future of The Body Shop is focused on maintaining the brand’s iconic presence while adapting to the rapidly changing retail environment. "We’re living in a very dynamic environment where you have to invest in social engagement, digital channels, and store formats.

It requires significant capital, but we are committed to making the beauty business relevant for the next 50 years as it has been in the past," he said. The Body Shop acquisition was the company's largest investment—for an undisclosed sum—to date in the sector, and Jatania described the opportunity as a rare