UNIVERSAL-BEAUTY
9.12.2021 19:17:05 CET | Business Wire | Press release
The French natural cosmetics company, known for its Végétalement Provence brand, announces a €6m capital raise from a group of investors led by Connect Pro, an investment fund based in Marseille.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005914/en/
New shareholders
The arrival of new investors to develop Végétalement Provence, is led by Connect Pro alongside the private equity funds BNP Paribas Développement and Etoile Capital, whose membership of leading banking groups, will ensure the sustainability of the support. The financing is completed by the Région Sud Investissement fund.
« We were won over by the commitment and geographic proximity of Connect Pro and its co-investors, to help companies of our region to grow in France and internationally».
Vincent Faraco,
Co-Founder of Universal Beauty Group
Following the transaction, the founders, Vincent Faraco and Jean-Marc Delabre, will remain reference shareholders and will continue to lead the group.
« We are proud to invest in Universal Beauty Group, which will be the first investment of our new Sud Rebound fund launched in June this year. This venture in the heart of the local economic ecosystem is fully in line with our strategy to support the development of key business in our region».
Franck Paoli,
President and Founder of Connect Pro
Partners in growth
The investors’ entry into the company’s capital will allow the business to accelerate its development in the rapidly expanding natural beauty sector, a market expected to show annual growth of 6-9% over the period 2021-2027.
This transaction follows the first investment in the company’s capital in 2017 made by the private-equity fund Audacia, whose support has made it possible to double the number of product references and open 3 own-brand concept salons alongside about twenty independent concept salons under the Végétalement Provence brand, including the most recent salon opened in Lyon in October.
Végétalement Provence – a committed beauty brand
In 2008, Universal Beauty Group started as a distributor of haircare brands before launching its own brand Végétalement Provence in 2011 to offer hairdressing professionals a technical product that was kinder to the environment and customers’ health. In the space of a few years, Végétalement Provence has become a premium beauty brand recognized as much by professionals as by a general public in search of wellness.
With 170,000 products sold in 2020, Universal Beauty Group forecasts sales of €4m in 2021, with an EBITDA margin of around 20%. 70% of sales are made in mainland France, 15% in the French island of Reunion, and 15% internationally. Its eco-responsible products have been rewarded with numerous prizes for their innovation, and are acclaimed by international colourists and hair stylists in search of natural and high-performance products. The brand is distributed via more than 500 points of sale and through its own e-shop.
Established in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in the South of France since 2014, Universal Beauty Group, with the support of its teams, training academy, and logistics base, is ready to become a major player in alternative cosmetics and beauty.
« We are delighted to welcome our new partners who will bring their vision and support to the growth of Végétalement Provence whose potential is limitless ».
Jean-Marc Delabre,
Co-Founder of Universal Beauty Group
Among the projects for Végétalement Provence
The product range, designed and developed in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence will be further expanded. With the support of its new investor base focused on the region, Universal Beauty will place a particular emphasis on innovation
The company also plans to open a concept store in Paris in Spring 2022, a new base for Végétalement Provence. A significant investment will be dedicated to the digital development of the brand and to support e-commerce. Previously centred more on its domestic market, the new round of financing will allow the company to consolidate its international expansion.
"We are delighted to accompany the leaders of Végétalement Provence in this great adventure. With its unique products, Végétalement Provence responds to a fundamental trend. The increase in the number of people looking for natural products continues to grow and will offer significant development opportunities."
Rémy Garello,
Managing Director of Connect Pro
Fundraising process
The transaction is the conclusion of a competitive process launched in May 2021 to search for an investor. The process attracted very strong interest both in France and abroad from haircare and beauty companies, as well as private equity and family offices.
Universal Beauty Group was advised by Richard Morgan Advisory (Richard Morgan) and the law firm Volt Associés (Stéphane Letranchant, Lucas d'Orgeval). The investors were advised by the law firm Nova Partners (Olivier Nett, Julien Immoff), with the financial audit carried out by Deloitte Finance (Thomas Gorguis).
Universal Beauty Group - Végétalement Provence
Since its launch in 2011, with its hair and skincare ranges, Végétalement Provence quickly established itself as a real alternative to major brands among hairdressers and beauty professionals.
Its efficient plant-based product ranges, with natural and organic sourcing, meet the needs of a demanding professional public looking for technical prowess with a philosophy of eco-responsibility. In addition to the attractiveness and performance of its products, Universal Beauty Group benefits from a network of professional customers whose resale rate of Végétalement Provence products is unparalleled. While the usual resale rate of the sector in France is around 5%, it exceeds 20% with Végétalement Provence.
Today the brand offers a range of over 275 different beauty product references including 140 in hair and skincare for the general public, covering all needs.
Its ranges combine not just beauty and health, but also wellness based on the foundation of innovation and commitment.
The development of creative styling products, and the introduction of a specific line for ethnic hair, complete the product range. The Essentiels collection, with its shampoos and conditioners, has become a must-have for lovers of the brand.
For its professional clientele, Végétalement Provence offers a range of more than 130 colouring references, with an offer by oxidation and an organic offer based on plant powder.
Végétalement Provence currently has about twenty employees in its Saint-Rémy-de-Provence headquarters.
Connect Pro
Since its creation in 2007, Connect Pro has been supporting small and midcap businesses in the South of France in their development and transmission needs with more than €70m in capital invested. Among the latest equity investments, Mariton designs, manufacturer and distributer of custom-made mosquito nets and interior blinds, EITP, a heating and air-conditioning company and Pharma Santé Développement, a group of independent pharmacies. With Sud Rebond, Connect Pro launched its third fund in June 2021 with a fundraising of more than €15m from institutional investors and entrepreneurs in the South-East of France. It will be completed by a second round of fundraising in the first half of 2022 to reach €25m.
BNP Paribas Développement
One of the private equity funds of the BNP Paribas banking group, BNP Paribas Développement, manages €1 billion of its own funds, investing directly to support the development of successful mid-sized companies. BNP Paribas Développement, whose mission is to support management teams in the realization of medium-term strategic projects, has a portfolio of more than 400 holdings.
www.bnpparibasdeveloppement.com
Etoile Capital
Etoile Capital, a subsidiary of the bank Crédit du Nord, is a shareholder of French small business in widely diversified sectors, with a portfolio currently of about twenty investments. It positions itself as a shareholder in the capital of corporate clients of the various regional banks that make up the Crédit du Nord group. The fund brings to the shareholders and managers of its invested companies its expertise in strategic thinking and the means to accelerate development.
www.corporatefinance.groupe-credit-du-nord.fr
Région Sud Investissement
Région Sud Investissement is the regional investment company created in 2010 by the Southern Region of France to support the emergence and development of high growth companies.
Région Sud Investissement, endowed with €134m, benefits from the support of the European Union through the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), which contributes 42% of its funding. Région Sud Investissement is advised by Turenne Groupe in the management of its holdings.
www.regionsudinvestissement.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211209005914/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Backed by Investments Exceeding $1 Billion, PCI Pharma Services Announces Major Expansion of US Sterile Fill-Finish and Drug-Device Delivery Combination Capabilities27.4.2026 16:00:00 CEST | Press release
As pharma manufacturers prioritize US supply chain resilience, highlights include high-speed isolator filling lines for prefilled syringes, cartridges and vials, and drug-device combination assembly and packaging. PCI Pharma Services (“PCI”) – a world-leading integrated global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on innovative biologic and small molecule therapies – announced a series of major infrastructure investments that substantially deepen its sterile fill-finish and advanced drug delivery capabilities. As pharma manufacturers and their development partners increasingly prioritize US supply chain resilience, PCI’s latest investments come as part of a broader commitment exceeding $1 billion across the CDMO’s US and European operations, reinforcing its ability to provide seamless support for drug product development and manufacturing, clinical trial supply and drug-device combination assembly from clinical stages through commercial launch – all underpi
Pure Lithium Appoints Renowned Battery Expert Dr. Yuan Gao to Board of Directors27.4.2026 15:53:00 CEST | Press release
Pure Lithium Corporation, a vertically integrated lithium metal battery technology company, is pleased to announce that world-renowned inventor and battery expert Dr. Yuan Gao has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Gao has been an invaluable member of Pure Lithium’s Scientific Advisory Board since October of 2023. "We are thrilled to have Dr. Gao join our board as we focus on rapidly scaling our technology in the most capital efficient manner possible,” said Pure Lithium Founder, Chairman and CEO Emilie Bodoin. “Dr. Gao is a brilliant scientist who also has deep commercial expertise, a rare combination. He is also unique in the industry because his experience spans the entire battery materials value chain, including all of Pure Lithium’s verticals. His insights over the years have been critical in advancing our technology, and his experience as a director of public companies will strengthen our board.” Dr. Gao commented: “I am thrilled to join the board of Pure Lithium Corpor
Taiho Oncology, Taiho Pharmaceutical and Araris Biotech AG Advance ADC ARC-02 into Phase 1 Clinical Development27.4.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Phase 1 dose-escalation trial represents the first clinical trial of a product developed using the AraLinQ™ ADC technology and marks Taiho’s expansion into the clinical development of ADCs for oncology Taiho Oncology, Inc., Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Araris Biotech AG (“Araris”) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its Investigational New Drug (IND) review period for ARC-02, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, enabling Taiho Oncology to initiate a Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical trial of ARC-02. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427127507/en/ Taiho Pharmaceutical acquired Araris Biotech in March 2025, expanding Taiho group’s capabilities in biologics and ADC research and development. Araris is a spin-off of the Paul Scherrer Institute and ETH in Switzerland focused on the development of antibody-drug co
Boomi To Unveil the Future Of Data Activation and AI-Driven Innovation at Boomi World 202627.4.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Premier global event to highlight how organizations are bringing data to life to power everything from AI to BI Boomi, the data activation company, today announced Boomi World 2026, its premier annual user conference, taking place May 11 - 14, 2026 in Chicago, IL. The event will bring together customers, partners, and industry leaders from around the world to explore how data activation is transforming the enterprise and accelerating the path to AI-driven outcomes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427600340/en/ Boomi To Unveil the Future Of Data Activation and AI-Driven Innovation at Boomi World 2026 Boomi World 2026 will spotlight data activation — bringing data to life to power AI, analytics, and intelligent automation. Attendees will gain firsthand insights into how the Boomi Enterprise Platform enables businesses to unify data, streamline operations, and innovate faster in an increasingly agentic world.
Axinn Appoints Rachael Philbin as Chief Innovation Officer27.4.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Appointment Reflects Firm's Vision for the Future of Legal Practice Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP today announced the appointment of Rachael Philbin as Chief Innovation Officer, reinforcing the firm’s continued investment in advanced solutions and technology for legal services delivery. Philbin joins from Proskauer Rose LLP, where she served as Innovation & Transformation Officer. Based in Axinn's New York office, she will lead the firm’s AI and legal technology initiatives as well as knowledge management efforts, accelerating adoption and integration across its antitrust, intellectual property, and litigation practices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427277725/en/ Rachael Philbin joins Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP as Chief Innovation Officer. “As Axinn continues to grow, we are making deliberate investments in the capabilities that enable our lawyers to deliver service and results at the highest level
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom