Permira buys John Masters Organics, Japanese distributor

The private equity firm plans to leverage its experience working with premium and lifestyle brands to support JMO's global expansion. Founded in 1991 by John Masters, a New York-based celebrity stylist, JMO distributes organic personal care products in more than 40 countries. Styla became the exclusive distributor for Japan and East Asia in 2007.

Subsequent to the acquisition - and the unification of the two businesses under a new partnership - Masters will continue his involvement, as will Yoshimune and Maiko Noda, the founders of Styla.

"We are very excited to announce this partnership with Mr. John Masters and Mr. and Ms. Noda with a view to further develop John Masters Organics globally. Our goal is for the brand to continue its leadership in premium organic personal care and to provide access to John Masters Organics products and vision to an even wider audience," said Ryo Fujii, head of Japan at Permira, in a statement.

Permira reached a final close on its fifth global buyout fund at the hard cap of EUR5.3 billion ($7.2 billion) in mid-2014. The firm has 120 investment professionals spread across 15 offices and focuses on consumer, technology, media and telecom, industrials, financial services, and healthcare.

The firm's most recent activity in Japan involved the sale of agricultural chemicals maker Arysta LifeSciences to US chemicals firm Platform Specialty Products (PSP) for about $3.51 billion. The GP currently has one active investment in the country: Akindo Sushiro, which it acquired from Unison Capital in 2012 for $1 billion.

Last year, Permira bolstered its Japan presence with the appointment of Fujii as managing director and head of Japan. Yoichiro Furuse, a senior advisor to the firm, became Japan chairman.

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