KKR-Beteiligung: Wella beantragt US-Börsengang – Umsatz steigt

Wella, a cosmetics company known for brands such as Wella, Clairol, and OPI, has filed for a U.S. stock market listing. The company submitted required documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday. For the fiscal year ending June 2026, Wella reported a net profit of $2.7 million on sales of $2.94 billion.

The previous year, it had reported a net loss of $44.6 million with sales of $2.69 billion. Wella's product portfolio includes hair coloring and care products, nail care items, technical devices like hair dryers, hair curlers, and warm air brushes, as well as hair care products and accessories. The company was founded in 1880 by Franz Ströher in Rothenkirchen, Saxony, who initially produced net material for wigs.

The Wella brand was introduced in 1924, and later the product range expanded to include dandruff shampoos, hair lighteners, hair coloring products, and products for hair and scalp care. In 2020, KKR, a financial investor, acquired a majority stake in Wella from Coty for $750 million. Coty announced in 2025 that it would sell its remaining stake in Wella to KKR-managed capital companies and investment vehicles.

Coty was also granted a 45% share of any proceeds from a future sale or stock listing of the company, once KKR has reached a preferred return. The proceeds from the stock listing will be used, among other things, for debt repayment and tax obligations related to a restructuring. The listing is expected to be supported by Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, KKR, and JPMorgan Chase. Wella plans to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "WELA."