Beauty Independent is deepening its commitment to the dealmaking community with the expansion of its highly successful Dealmaker Summit. The Dealmaker EU/UK Summit will be held on Nov. 6 & 7 at Convene in London.
The resoundingly positive reception of the inaugural Dealmaker Summit this past May underscored the demand for a similar event to be held near Europe and the UK’s thriving centers of beauty and wellness innovation.
“Although similar macro factors influence dealmaking across the Atlantic, distinct forces operate within Europe and the UK,” asserts Nader Naeymi-Rad, the founder of Indie Beauty Media Group and publisher of Beauty Independent. He insists these unique elements warrant further investigation.
For instance, Naeymi-Rad highlights the tight interweaving of the fashion and beauty sectors in the European market, which stands in contrast to North America. This means fashion houses wield greater influence over beauty deals and market expansion. Additionally, he notes that European brands typically grapple with smaller domestic markets and a more fragmented consumer base spread throughout the continent.
“Compared to American counterparts, the route to expansion for European brands is more complex; this is an important subject that requires deeper exploration,” suggests Naeymi-Rad. “In Europe, there’s a higher concentration of privately owned, family-run heritage brands that, while lesser-known, may hold immense latent potential. The question then arises, how do we unlock and scale these brands?”
High-profile deals like L’Oreal’s purchase of Aesop, L’Occitane’s acquisitions of Sol de Janeiro and Grown Alchemist and Kering’s multi-billion dollar deal to acquire luxury fragrance brand Creed generate considerable attention. However, smaller-scale growth deals appear notably sparse.
“Deal-making in Europe is indeed happening, yet its character differs and there’s potential for growth and refinement, particularly beneath the strategic level,” Naeymi-Rad elaborates. “When we discuss venture capitalists, angel investors and the like, the conversation tends to dwindle. We perceive this as an underserved market that we’re keen on contributing positively to its advancement.”
Echoing the pattern of Dealmaker New York, the EU/UK Summit is drawing key professionals specifically engaged in beauty dealmaking. These include strategics, private equity entities, venture capitalists, family offices, angel investors, incubators and investment bankers. In their midst will be meticulously selected founders and CEOs of high-growth brands, creating an environment conducive to unparalleled thought leadership and unmatched networking opportunities spanning two days.
“We, as early initiators of growth investments in European beauty brands, are thrilled about the chance to foster the European dealmaker community and connect with individuals who would truly enrich our network,” expresses Montse Suarez, founder and managing partner at Madrid-based IRIS Ventures, with investments including Nutraceutical brand Olistic and fertility specialist Apricity. “We accelerate as a community through collective effort, and events like the Dealmaker Summit are pivotal in bridging our gaps and propelling us forward.”
“We were impressed with BI’s inaugural Dealmaker Summit in the US. The agenda, participants, and conversations were on point and notably pertinent to our interests as active dealmakers,” comments Anna Ohlsson-Baskerville, partner at London-based Unilever Ventures. Investments include UK skincare brand The INKEY List, cosmetics brand Trinny London as well as Swedish hair specialist SACHAJUAN. “The beauty and wellness investment landscape, particularly around early-stage deals, is evolving in its own way on this side of the Atlantic. A similar event in this region will undoubtedly stimulate more awareness and foster much-needed connections between European and UK-based entrepreneurs and capital sources.”
Like in the US, certain agenda categories hold equal interest across both continents, such as the growth of fragrance or service-centric products. However, others like retail strategy, geographic priorities and consumer trends necessitate a specific focus for UK and European beauty professionals.
“We invest a considerable amount of care in crafting these agendas. Our moderators dedicate hours for preparation; we present a highly curated selection of speakers and guests,” Jane Carlson, managing editor of Beauty Independent, explains. “All efforts are made to ensure attendees receive not only exceptional content but also unparalleled networking opportunities.”
The Dealmaker Summit in New York, held in May, was a sell-out success, attracting participants such as Estee Lauder’s Dave Smith, Nest CEO Edgar Hubar, Jeffries’ Sascha Radic, Revive Skincare CEO Elana Drell-Szyfer, True Beauty Ventures’ Rich Gersten and Beekman 1802 CMO Brad Farrel, among others.
Space for Dealmaker Europe is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limit of three tickets per company. Tickets are priced at £2,500 (£1,950 early bird until Sept. 1) and include admission to both days of programming, access to networking cocktail reception as well as breakfast, lunch and refreshments. Demand for this event has been robust and a considerable portion of tickets have already been pre-sold. Tickets for Dealmaker Europe are available here. Early bird pricing ends Sept. 1.
This is a rapid growth period for BI. The publication will be announcing additional live events launching throughout 2024.
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