Is Wella Company Going Public?

Core Viewpoint - Wella Company, owned by KKR, is preparing for a potential IPO in the U.S., which could value the company significantly above the $4.3 billion acquisition price paid by KKR [1]. Group 1: Company Background - KKR acquired Wella's professional division, including brands like Clairol and OPI, for $2.5 billion on November 30, 2020, gaining 60% control of the joint venture [4]. - Coty Inc. sold its remaining 25.8% stake in Wella to KKR in December 2025, following a previous sale of a 3.6% stake for $150 million in July 2023 [2]. - Wella Company generated estimated sales of $2.26 billion in 2024, reflecting a 3.3% increase compared to 2023 [6]. Group 2: IPO Considerations - Going public can provide early investors with lucrative exits and enhance the company's profile, brand exposure, and access to capital through stock [7]. - However, IPOs also bring increased scrutiny from analysts and investors, who demand faster growth and improved margins [8]. - The performance of past beauty IPOs in the U.S. has varied, with Oddity's shares initially rising 35% on their first trading day but later trading lower [9].