South Korea: LG Household & Health Care Ltd. looks to invest 1 trillion won in M&A

LG Household & Health Care Ltd., one of South Korea’s leading cosmetics firms, has announced plans to invest up to around 1 trillion won ($963 million) in M&A over the next five years.

Commenting on the plans, a company spokesman said: "M&A is our fundamental growth strategy, helping us strengthen our competitiveness as well as expanding into overseas markets", adding: "There are two to three companies that we are interested in, both local and overseas".

Since 2009, the firm has acquired The Face Shop, Haitai Beverage, The Bom, Ginza Stefany, Ever Life, and the energy drink unit of Youngjin Pharmaceutical. Last year, it examined a purchase of Elizabeth Arden, the US cosmetics brand that was estimated to have a worth of more than 1 trillion won.

LG Household & Health Care is a Korea-based company which offers a number of cosmetic brands including O Hui and the Face Shop, in addition to producing other consumer goods such as detergent and shampoo.

Source: Hankyung Stock / Korea IT Times / Wall St Journal