- Bridgepoint Europe VII will acquire RoC Skincare from its existing backer, Gryphon Investors
- The iconic skincare brand will benefit from Bridgepoint’s strong European presence and deep sector expertise to accelerate its next phase of growth and development
- The strategic investment represents the sixth acquisition by BE VII
Bridgepoint has today announced that Bridgepoint Europe VII (“BE VII”), a fund focused on investing in mid-market growth businesses, has made a strategic investment in RoC Skincare (“RoC” or the “Company”), the iconic skincare brand. RoC’s existing backer, Gryphon Investors, will sell its majority shareholding in RoC to Bridgepoint as part of the transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Founded in Paris in 1957 by Dr. Jean-Charles Lissarrague, RoC is one of the largest independent skincare brands worldwide, offering clinically proven, dermatologist-backed skin health solutions with a focus on ageing skin. With a rich history spanning over 65 years, RoC is a pioneer brand of the dermo-cosmetic world with its track record of industry-first innovations, including the first hypoallergenic skincare products, the first broad-spectrum UV protection and the first stabilised Retinol products. Today, RoC’s products are sold globally, including in the US, Canada, France, the UK, the rest of Europe, Australia and China.
Since Gryphon Investors acquired RoC from Johnson & Johnson and established it as an independent business in 2020, the Company has experienced significant organic growth, supported by a revival of the brand’s positioning and a growing consumer trend towards effective, clinically proven skincare solutions. RoC’s revenue has grown by 70% since 2020. The dermo-cosmetic facial skincare market in the US and Europe is set to continue to grow ahead of the broader skincare space, a trend mirrored in products for ageing skin. RoC, uniquely positioned as the best clinically proven specialist for ageing skin conditions, has the potential to capture an even larger market share across geographies. Bridgepoint plans to support RoC in further accelerating its growth in its heritage European markets and in France in particular.
Bridgepoint’s strategic investment in RoC builds on the firm’s growing track record of supporting businesses in the wider dermatology ecosystem, including HTL, a leading producer of high-quality hyaluronic acid; and Vivacy, a global personal healthcare company. RoC will benefit from Bridgepoint’s strong European presence and deep expertise in the dermatology sectors. The transaction represents the sixth acquisition by BE VII.
Fernando Acosta, CEO of RoC Skincare, said: “With Bridgepoint's deep expertise in the dermatology sector and its strong European presence, RoC is poised to capitalise on the promising growth opportunities that lie ahead. I would like to thank the RoC team and Gryphon for their support over the past few years. Through the hard work and innovation of RoC's talented team, we've become one of the largest independent skincare brands globally, while upholding our commitment to delivering the best clinically proven skin health solutions.”
Fabrice Turcq, Partner at Bridgepoint, commented: "Under Fernando’s leadership, RoC has become an impressive standalone business with a rich European heritage and dermatology expertise. The Company’s unique, clinically proven products for ageing skin conditions are a highly appealing customer proposition with significant growth opportunities. With Bridgepoint’s support, RoC is poised to accelerate growth in Europe and beyond, strengthen its online presence and expand its product offering.”
Vincent-Gael Baudet, Head of Bridgepoint Europe in France, said: "The project developed with Fernando and his team, along with months of constructive dialogue between Bridgepoint and Gryphon, has culminated in a transaction marking a new phase of acceleration for the Company. We look forward to leveraging our international network and deep expertise in working with consumer and aesthetics businesses to help scale one of the most iconic brands in the dermo-cosmetic world.”
Matt Farron, Partner at Gryphon, said: “We are proud to have supported RoC’s growth as an independent leader in the skincare category, and grateful for the efforts of RoC’s tremendous management team. We believe the Company will continue to thrive under Bridgepoint, as the Company benefits from investments in product innovation and clinical efficacy. RoC is a great example of Gryphon’s ability to use its integrated deal and operations model to build leading companies.”
The transaction is expected to close in February.
Bridgepoint was advised by Jefferies (M&A Advisor), Latham & Watkins (Legal Advisor), BCG (Commercial), EY (Financial and Tax Due Diligence), ERM (ESG Due Diligence) and Marsh (Insurance Due Diligence).
RoC was advised by Raymond James (M&A Advisor), Kirkland & Ellis (Legal Advisor) and PWC (Financial and Tax Due Diligence).