VLCC to acquire two companies; foray into nutraceuticals biz

The company is going for an IPO this year

Beauty and wellness brand VLCC is in the advanced stage of acquiring at least two companies, including a nutraceuticals company, in the near future. The company is looking at relaunching its IPO this year, which it delayed last year owing to market sentiments.

"We are in talks with three companies for acquisition and at least two of them are in (the) advanced stage," said Vandana Luthra, founder of VLCC. One of the acquisitions would result in the company's foray into the neutraceuticals business. Talks are on to acquire companies which have a presence in wellness services. It also has the acquisition of an international wellness company in its radar.

The acquisitions are meant to expand its portfolio and geographical foot print. It is expecting all the acquisitions to be completed by March, 2018. Luthra refused to share any estimation on the acquisition size, claiming confidentiality.

The company would be looking at going for an IPO before the end of 2017. It may be noted that last year the company had filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to raise a total of around Rs 600 crore through an IPO. However, the IPO was not executed since the company felt that the market sentiments were not good. It will refile the DRHP soon and will go for an IPO in the later part of the year.

It had acquired Singapore-based GVig in 2013, which brought in a research and development and manufacturing facility for the company overseas. In 2012, it acquired a majority stake in a Malaysian slimming and beauty chain Wyann International, as part of its international expansion. In India, it has a manufacturing facility in Dehradun.

The company is in the process of setting up another facility in Assam. The new facility will manufacture hair-care and other major products it offers to around 2 lakh retail stores across the country, apart from direct distribution to beauty parlours and salons across the country.

The new facility will come up in Matia, Goalpara district in Assam, with an investment of around Rs 28 crore in the unit. The unit is set over an area of 100,000 square ft with the capacity to produce 86.41 million units. The facility will be ready in three months.

It is also increasing the number of wellness centres across the country, adding 100 more centres to the existing roster of 330 centres in 150 cities. It has a presence in 13 countries in South Asia, South East Asia, the GCC region and East Africa and it is in the process of expanding to the UK and Saudi Arabia, added Luthra.

The company is expecting a consolidated revenue of Rs 1,000 crore during the current financial year, growing from over Rs 800 crore revenue last year. The contribution of domestic business is around 60 per cent, while international business accounts for 40 per cent of the revenue.