Coty buys Lena White

US beauty company Coty has acquired UK based Lena White Ltd., the largest international distributor of popular nail care brand OPI. Coty acquired the professional nail care brand in November 2010 in a bid to beef up its colour cosmetics portfolio. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to Coty, the acquisition will help the company develop the OPI brand in the UK, where Lena White has distributed the brand for the professional and retail beauty channels for the past 30 years. The UK currently OPIs second largest market.

"This acquisition is an important step in strengthening OPI’s position in Europe,” said Michele Scannavini, CEO of Coty. “The OPI strategy remains focused on the salon professional and prestige channels, and we expect to accelerate its growth in the international markets by leveraging our investments in both areas. We welcome the Lena White team to the Coty family, and we look forward to integrating their unique expertise in our UK business."

"We are all excited about the next phase of opportunity for Lena White Ltd. and OPI,” added Lena White. “Our management team will continue in this new structure and we look forward to embracing the ‘Faster. Further. Freer.’ culture of Coty.”