Wella Company, the beauty brand holding firm controlled by KKR, has officially submitted its initial public offering paperwork to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this Monday, with market projections indicating the fundraising effort could surpass the $500 million mark.
The company, which trades under the proposed ticker "WELA" on the New York Stock Exchange, operates as a global manufacturer of hair and nail care products, boasting a diverse portfolio of well-known brands. Originally carved out from Coty by KKR in 2020, Wella positions itself as the world's largest independent business dedicated exclusively to the hair and nail segments, with operations spanning over 100 countries and regions worldwide.
Its product offerings cover a wide spectrum, including hair colorants, conditioning treatments, styling aids, care products, nail polishes and nail care items, as well as styling equipment such as hair dryers. The brand architecture serves both professional salon channels and retail distribution, featuring labels like Wella Professionals, ghd, Clairol, OPI, Wella/Koleston, Sebastian Professional, and Nioxin. Currently, Wella provides services to more than 250,000 hair and nail salons globally, along with hundreds of thousands of stylists.
Among its standout performers, Wella Professionals has held the top position in the global salon hair color segment for six consecutive years, while the OPI nail care line ranks first in the premium retail nail category worldwide. Headquartered in both New York and Geneva, Switzerland, the company traces its heritage back to 1880.
For the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2026, Wella generated revenue of $2.9 billion. The company initially filed its registration statement confidentially with the SEC on April 17, 2026. The IPO is being led by a substantial syndicate of joint bookrunners, including Goldman Sachs, BofA Securities, KKR, J.P. Morgan, William Blair, TD Securities, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole CIB, BBVA, Commerzbank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Mizuho Securities, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Piper Sandler, Raymond James, and UniCredit Capital Markets. The company has yet to disclose the pricing terms for the offering.
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