Henkel explores takeover offer for Olaplex Holdings
The take has driven Olaplex shares up over 20-36% in recent trading.
USA – Henkel AG, the German consumer goods giant, is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire U.S. haircare brand Olaplex Holdings Inc., with a potential deal possibly materializing within weeks.
Discussions between Henkel and Olaplex remain ongoing but non-binding, with no final decision reached and talks potentially collapsing.
Henkel and Olaplex have declined to comment on the speculation, while Advent International, Olaplex’s majority shareholder with nearly 75% ownership, has not responded publicly.
Olaplex specializes in bond-building hair repair products sold via direct-to-consumer, retail, and professional salon channels, but has struggled post-2021 IPO, losing over 90% of its value amid slowing demand and competition.
Henkel, owner of brands like Schwarzkopf, seeks to bolster its prestige haircare segment, leveraging Olaplex’s patented technology, Gen Z appeal, and U.S. salon presence to complement its mass-market portfolio.
Olaplex’s market cap hovers around USD 900 million to USD 1.1 billion following the share surge, down sharply from its USD 16 billion IPO peak.
Henkel’s Consumer Brands division reported €7.3 billion(USD 8.54 billion) in revenue through nine months of 2025, with haircare as a growth driver.
The acquisition would give Henkel entry into premium clinical haircare, enhanced salon networks, and Olaplex’s bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate technology, aligning with its recent moves, such as the acquisition of Vidal Sassoon’s China business.
For Advent, it offers an exit from a post-2019 investment hampered by public market challenges.
Meanwhile, in August last year, Olaplex made its first-ever acquisition, acquiring Boston-based biotech company Purvala Bioscience.
This marks a significant move for Olaplex, which has been in business for 11 years but had never made an acquisition before.
The acquisition of Purvala aims to enhance Olaplex’s research and development capabilities, enabling the creation of next-generation, science-backed, and disruptive product innovations in the hair care industry.
The acquisition was finalized on August 25, 2025, and the deal amount has not been disclosed.
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