AURIS Finance advised Kippax, a Hong Kong-based group specialising in the management and distribution of cosmetics, on the acquisitions of Bastille Paris, Maison Detaille and ASKLÖV brand over an 8-month period.
Through this outsourced M&A engagement, AURIS Finance supported Kippax first in refining its acquisition strategy, then through deal execution stages and onto managing post-merger integration topics.
Strategy to build a portfolio of European fragrance brands
Already a leading player in the management and distribution of cosmetics brands in Asia-Pacific, Kippax already had an in-depth understanding of the market. The group had a clear strategy for expanding its business through acquiring a diverse portfolio of European luxury fragrance brands with strong international growth potential.
To deliver on this ambition, Kippax sought immediate access to an experienced M&A team based in Europe, combining transaction expertise, knowledge of local markets and an understanding of the operational realities of target companies.
Kippax focused on independent, niche fragrance brands, each with a distinctive positioning, combining a strong identity with an authentic heritage.
Founded in 2019 by French entrepreneur Marie-Hortense, this French niche fragrance house has a modern, transparent and responsible positioning. The brand offers a focused collection of eaux de parfum made in France, formulated primarily with ingredients of natural origin and distributed internationally through selective perfumeries, department stores and concept stores.
Founded in 1905 by Marie-Aline Detaille, Comtesse de Presle, this historic Parisian fragrance and beauty house has been based for more than a century on Rue Saint-Lazare in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Led by Louis Pallier since 1990, the house develops its fragrances in collaboration with perfumers from Grasse and has an established international presence, particularly in Asia.
ASKLÖV
Launched in 2016 by Aude Asklöv, this Swedish natural, artisanal and artistic fragrance brand is developed using natural raw materials. Its universe draws inspiration from nature and the Swedish way of life, combined with French influences from its founder.
Accelerated buy & build program
In just eight months, Kippax successfully launched its expansion strategy through these three acquisitions. The group was able to deploy its growth strategy remotely, without the need of a permanent local team, while benefiting from on-the-ground presence and the execution capabilities required to support its rapid development.
Nora Lee, Kippax’s Chief Growth Officer, said:
“We are extremely grateful to the AURIS outsourced M&A team in making our build-up project a reality. We were particularly impressed by their ability to rapidly source a large number of quality targets for us and by their excellent and comprehensive support throughout the process. We would highly recommend this team to anyone looking for a European M&A firm to accompany their buy & build project.”
The role of AURIS Finance
AURIS Finance’s outsourced M&A team acted as an extension of Kippax’s own teams throughout the transaction lifecycle: identifying and approaching targets, performing financial analyses and valuations, negotiating and structuring transactions, coordinating external advisers, managing the process through to the completion of the acquisitions.
The team also assisted with the operational integration of the brands. It supported Kippax with visits to production and distribution sites, participated in meetings with local accountants, key suppliers and subcontractors, conducted inventory reviews, and prepared the transition with the former shareholder-managers. The AURIS Finance team consisted of Matthew BALDWIN and Lucas NONY.
Paul Nafilyan, of CPC & Associés, acted as Kippax’s legal adviser. Judy Zhang, of Bauhinia Partners, advised on the financial due diligence.
This series of transactions perfectly highlights the value of the outsourced M&A service for international groups pursuing an acquisition-led growth strategy.
