Core Viewpoint - The launch of the immersive youth art education project "The Way of Beauty: Readers and Authors" by L'Oréal China in collaboration with Song Art Museum is a significant initiative aimed at promoting art education among young people through the retrospective exhibition of contemporary artist Zhang Xiaogang [1][4]. Group 1: Event Overview - The exhibition "Readers and Authors" opened on September 13 at Song Art Museum, showcasing nearly 400 artworks by Zhang Xiaogang from 1975 to 2025, exploring the relationship between the era, art history, and personal identity [4]. - L'Oréal China supports the exhibition by making it free for all students and has organized various activities such as art salons, themed tours, and collaborative painting sessions to encourage public engagement, especially among students [4]. Group 2: Strategic Goals - L'Oréal aims to achieve a dual empowerment of art and public education through this collaboration, helping more individuals explore the concept of beauty [4]. - The initiative aligns with L'Oréal's global philosophy of "Essentiality of Beauty," which is interpreted in China as "The Way of Beauty," merging the concept of beauty with Eastern philosophical thoughts [5]. Group 3: Collaboration Insights - The partnership between L'Oréal, Song Art Museum, and Zhang Xiaogang is seen as an excellent practice of leveraging each party's strengths to promote art and beauty in everyday life [4]. - L'Oréal emphasizes that beauty should be accessible to everyone, not just professionals or artists, and aims to integrate beauty into daily life experiences [4].

Core Insights - L'Oréal China collaborates with contemporary artist Zhang Xiaogang to launch the immersive "Beauty Path" project, coinciding with his major retrospective exhibition "Readers and Authors" [1] - The exhibition features nearly 400 artworks spanning from 1975 to 2025, exploring the relationship between era, art history, and personal identity [1][3] - The "Beauty Path" project aims to encourage public engagement, particularly among students, by offering free access to the exhibition and various interactive activities [1][5] Event Highlights - The event commenced with a morning yoga session, setting a relaxed tone for the immersive experience [3] - L'Oréal invited various cross-disciplinary guests to lead thematic tours, connecting art with daily life and exploring aesthetic possibilities [3] - A collective painting session allowed over a hundred young participants to express their interpretation of "beauty," reinforcing the idea that everyone can be a creator [5] Salon and Discussions - The "Beauty Path Salon" featured prominent figures from the art world discussing the themes of "beauty inspiration," "beauty elevation," and "beauty coexistence" [7] - The dialogue emphasized the universal pursuit of beauty, which transcends the realm of artists and is shaped by individual perspectives [7][8] - The event concluded with a piano performance by renowned pianist Luo Wei, adding a romantic touch to the 12-hour immersive journey [7] Previous Initiatives - The "Beauty Path" experience is part of L'Oréal's broader cultural initiatives, including a collaboration with the National Museum of China, showcasing 32 national treasures through innovative exhibition formats [8]

Core Viewpoint - Jefferies downgraded L'Oréal's rating from "Hold" to "Underperform" and reduced the target price from €371 to €340 [1] Summary by Category - **Rating Change** - Jefferies has changed L'Oréal's rating from "Hold" to "Underperform" [1] - **Target Price Adjustment** - The target price for L'Oréal has been lowered from €371 to €340 [1]

Core Viewpoint - The passing of Giorgio Armani has set a clear path for the future of his fashion empire, with a detailed succession plan outlined in his will, prioritizing LVMH, L'Oréal, and EssilorLuxottica as potential buyers for the company [1][2]. Group 1: Succession Plan - Armani's will specifies a phased sale of the company, starting with an initial 15% stake to one of the three preferred buyers, followed by an additional 30% to 54.9% within five years [1][2]. - If the phased sale does not materialize, the company should consider going public as an alternative [2]. Group 2: Potential Buyers - LVMH's CEO, Arnault, expressed strong interest in acquiring Armani, highlighting the brand's significance in the luxury fashion sector [3]. - L'Oréal stated it feels honored to be considered for the acquisition and will carefully evaluate the opportunity, having had a licensing agreement with Armani since 1988 [3]. - EssilorLuxottica expressed pride in being considered and will assess the potential investment through its board [3]. Group 3: Internal Transition - Leo Dell'Orco, responsible for the men's wear style office, will play a key role in future decisions, holding 30% of the company shares and 40% of the voting rights [4]. - Other heirs include Roberta Armani, Silvana Armani, Andrea Camerana, and Rosanna Camerana, with the Giorgio Armani Foundation tasked with selecting a new CEO [5]. Group 4: Challenges Ahead - The new leadership and potential owners will face challenges as the company has experienced stagnant growth, with revenues around €2.4 billion due to declining demand for formal wear among younger consumers and a general slowdown in the luxury goods sector [6].

Giorgio Armani names LVMH, EssilorLuxottica and L’Oreal as preferred buyers for a stake in the company, according to a copy of the designer’s will that was opened on Friday https://t.co/W9bp3zfTln ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the transformation of the Human Resources (HR) function at L'Oréal under the leadership of Stephanie Kramer, emphasizing the shift from a traditional HR role to a strategic partner within the organization [1][7] - Kramer highlights the importance of effective communication and employee engagement in enhancing the HR function and attracting talent [1][2] Group 1: HR Transformation - L'Oréal's HR department has evolved from merely a personnel function to a strategic partner that empowers employees to take control of their career paths [1][7] - The company has implemented a new benefits program designed based on employee feedback, showcasing a proactive approach to HR management [2] Group 2: Communication Strategies - Kramer emphasizes the need for clear communication regarding the resources and support available to employees, which is crucial for building a strong company culture [1][5] - Annual employee meetings and monthly "salon" events have been established to maintain consistent communication and engagement among employees [5] Group 3: Talent Attraction - L'Oréal's Brandstorm competition invites young talent to submit innovative ideas, demonstrating the company's commitment to attracting potential candidates and showcasing its innovative culture [2] - The recent BeautyV3rse conference in New York served as another platform for L'Oréal to display its creativity and engage with external audiences [2] Group 4: Market Insights - Kramer introduces the concept of the "magic triangle," which represents the interconnectedness of HR, hiring managers, and employees, highlighting the importance of independent relationships among these parties [6] - The article notes the shift from a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world to a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) world, presenting new challenges for HR leaders [6][7]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that despite ongoing consumer weakness impacting comparable sales, L'Oréal S.A. continues to demonstrate positive revenue growth and has several admirable qualities [1] - The company is recognized for its long-term investment potential, particularly for investors seeking stocks that can sustainably deliver high-quality earnings [1] Group 2 - L'Oréal S.A. is categorized as a French cosmetics giant, indicating its significant presence and influence in the global cosmetics industry [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses L'Oréal's commitment to sustainable packaging practices, focusing on reducing plastic use, increasing the use of recycled materials, and establishing a comprehensive recycling system to combat plastic pollution [1][4]. Group 1: Source Reduction Strategies - L'Oréal emphasizes the importance of reducing packaging strength to achieve source reduction, successfully decreasing the plastic used in a 200ml shampoo bottle from 22 grams to 16 grams through innovative design [2]. - The company employs three main strategies: redesigning packaging to optimize material use, offering larger product sizes to reduce packaging per unit, and promoting refillable options, which have seen a 17-fold increase in the past five years [2][3]. - The "芯动就行" initiative highlights that a 100ml refill can reduce glass usage by 73%, plastic by 66%, and cardboard by 61% compared to two 50ml bottles [2]. Group 2: Use of Recycled Materials - L'Oréal is actively promoting the use of recycled or bio-based materials in its plastic packaging, aiming to phase out virgin fossil-based plastics [3]. - The company requires that recycled plastic suppliers meet food-grade standards to ensure quality, with many products now made from 100% recycled PET [3]. - Collaborations with companies like Carbios aim to develop innovative recycling technologies for unlimited recycling of colored, transparent, and multi-layer PET [3]. Group 3: Comprehensive Recycling System - L'Oréal recognizes that the lack of a complete recycling system is a major contributor to plastic pollution, thus integrating recyclability into product design from the outset [4]. - The company collaborates with local suppliers to develop fully recyclable packaging solutions, such as replacing metal springs with plastic alternatives [4]. - Initiatives like partnerships with recycling platforms and the introduction of eco-friendly product labels aim to enhance recycling convenience for consumers [4].

Core Insights - L'Oréal has launched a new perfume line called "Miutine" in collaboration with Miu Miu, reflecting a blend of high fashion and youthful spirit [1] - The perfume is priced competitively with other high-end brands, with a 30ml bottle costing 890 yuan and a 100ml bottle priced at 1650 yuan [1] - Miu Miu, a luxury brand under the Prada Group, has seen significant growth, achieving a 93.2% increase in sales last year [1] Group 1: L'Oréal's Performance - L'Oréal's sales growth has slowed, particularly in the Chinese market, with a 3% increase in sales to 22.473 billion euros in the first half of the year [2] - The company's operating profit also grew by 3.1%, reaching 4.74 billion euros [2] - The luxury cosmetics division's sales increased by 2%, but there was a 1.9% decline in the second quarter [2] Group 2: Fragrance Business Growth - L'Oréal's fragrance business has emerged as a new growth engine, with an 11% increase in sales in the first half of the year [2][3] - The company plans to accelerate its fragrance portfolio, with new launches including a men's perfume from Prada later this year [3] - L'Oréal has made several investments in fragrance brands, including acquiring stakes in luxury brands and signing exclusive beauty collaboration agreements [3]

Core Viewpoint - L'Oréal has launched a new perfume line "Miutine" in collaboration with Miu Miu, reflecting a strategic move to enhance its fragrance business amidst slowing growth in other segments [2][3][4]. Group 1: Product Launch and Design - The "Miutine" perfume series combines the brand name "Miu Miu" with the French word "Mutine," meaning rebellious [2]. - The bottle design features Miu Miu's signature matelassé leather pleating, paired with a stylish azzurro blue box, showcasing a blend of high fashion and youthful energy [2][3]. - Pricing for "Miutine" is set at 890 yuan for 30ml and 1650 yuan for 100ml, comparable to other high-end perfumes like Chanel [3]. Group 2: Market Performance and Growth - Miu Miu has seen a remarkable sales growth of 93.2% in 2024, making it a hot brand in the luxury sector [3]. - L'Oréal's overall sales growth is slowing, particularly in the Chinese market, where sales in the North Asia region declined by 1.1% to 53.927 billion euros in the first half of 2025 [4]. - Despite the slowdown, L'Oréal's fragrance business has become a new growth engine, with a 11% increase in sales during the first half of the year [4]. Group 3: Strategic Investments and Future Plans - L'Oréal plans to accelerate its fragrance business, with upcoming launches including a men's perfume from Prada [5]. - The company has made several strategic investments in the fragrance sector, including acquiring stakes in luxury brands like Amouage and Jacquemus, and investing in the Korean brand Borntostandout [5]. - Experts suggest that L'Oréal's focus on high-end fragrances is a necessary strategy as its skincare and makeup segments reach maturity [5].