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COSRX Acquisition

COSRX Acquisition: Key Details, Impact, and What Comes Next

March 24, 2025

Amorepacific's acquisition of COSRX marks a significant move in the beauty industry. By increasing its stake to 93.2%, Amorepacific aims to leverage COSRX's strong international presence and digital marketing expertise. This strategic acquisition is expected to enhance both companies' global reach and product innovation, solidifying their positions in the competitive skincare market.

What Is COSRX?

Founded in 2013, COSRX specializes in skincare products, including face care, body care, and sun care. The brand is known for its ingredient transparency, offering detailed information about the components in their products. COSRX also emphasizes customer feedback, featuring a review section to ensure satisfaction. Their unique formulations, such as low pH cleansers and targeted serums, cater to specific skin concerns like acne and sensitivity, setting them apart in the competitive skincare market.

Who Acquired COSRX?

AMOREPACIFIC is a leader in the skincare and beauty industry, known for its advanced skincare solutions and innovations. The company offers high-performance products such as the Dual Repair Lift Cream, Prime Reserve Retrinity Serum, and AO Reboot and Renew Essence. Additionally, it provides services like skin consultations and AP Spa treatments. AMOREPACIFIC's commitment to research, proprietary ingredients, and clinical testing underscores its influential position in the market, solidifying its role as a pioneer in skincare science.

When Was COSRX Acquired?

Amorepacific acquired COSRX on October 30, 2023. This acquisition comes at a time when the skincare industry is experiencing significant growth, particularly in hypoallergenic and sensitive skin products. COSRX has shown rapid growth and a strong digital presence, aligning with current industry trends towards digital marketing and global expansion. The move also reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the beauty and skincare industry, where larger companies acquire successful niche brands to expand their market reach and product offerings.

Why Was COSRX Acquired?

  • Market Expansion: The acquisition of COSRX allows Amorepacific to accelerate its global expansion efforts. COSRX has a strong international presence, selling in around 140 countries, including key markets like North America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Japan. Over 90% of COSRX's sales come from these overseas markets, providing Amorepacific with a robust platform for further growth.
  • Technology Integration: Amorepacific benefits significantly from COSRX's advanced digital communication capabilities. COSRX has excelled on platforms like Amazon and TikTok, with their TikTok challenge in 2022 garnering over 2.1 billion cumulative hashtag views. This digital prowess complements Amorepacific's existing technological and product development strengths, as evidenced by their co-developed products like The Vitamin C 23 Serum and The Retinol 0.1 Cream.
  • Competitive Advantage: The acquisition strengthens Amorepacific's competitive position in the skincare market. COSRX's rapid growth, driven by differentiated products and effective digital marketing strategies, enhances Amorepacific's portfolio. COSRX's top-ranking products in the Beauty & Personal Care category on Amazon, particularly in North America, underscore its strong market competitiveness. Integrating COSRX's unique strengths with Amorepacific's business management expertise aims to develop COSRX into a captivating global brand.

Acquisition Terms

  • Acquisition Price: 755.1 billion won (approximately $567.3 million)
  • Payment Method: Acquisition of 288,000 remaining shares from COSRX's largest shareholder and related parties
  • Key Conditions or Agreements:
    • Amorepacific will own 93.2% of COSRX's shares after the acquisition
    • The acquisition follows a previous investment in 2021 where Amorepacific acquired 38.4% of COSRX's shares
    • Amorepacific was granted a call option to purchase the remaining shares, which they have now exercised
    • The acquisition aims to integrate COSRX as a subsidiary and accelerate its global expansion through multifaceted collaboration

Impact on COSRX

The acquisition of COSRX by Amorepacific is expected to bring significant changes to the brand's operations and management. With Amorepacific now owning 93.2% of COSRX, the latter will be integrated as a subsidiary, aligning its business strategies and operational practices with Amorepacific's vision. This shift is anticipated to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, leveraging Amorepacific's extensive experience in the beauty industry. The collaboration between the two companies has already resulted in successful product launches, such as The Vitamin C 23 Serum and The Retinol 0.1 Cream, indicating a promising future for innovative product development.

Regarding product offerings and services, the acquisition aims to accelerate COSRX's global expansion. The brand's strong international presence, particularly in North America and Southeast Asia, will be further bolstered by Amorepacific's resources and expertise. New product lines and enhanced formulations are expected to emerge from this partnership, catering to a broader audience. While specific employee reactions have not been detailed, the overall sentiment appears positive, with a focus on growth and innovation. Customers have shown strong approval of COSRX's products, as evidenced by their popularity on platforms like Amazon and TikTok, suggesting a favorable reception to the acquisition.

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