Intrepid Investment Bankers, one of the premier M&A advisors in the Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness industry, announced today that it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Loving Tan on its strategic investment from middle-market private equity firm Gauge Capital.
Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, Loving Tan is a leading luxury sunless tanning brand providing high-quality self-tan solutions with professional grade efficacy to the consumer. Founded on the core tenets of quality and innovation, Loving Tan has developed a strong consumer love for its core self-tan mouses, self-tan creams, tan applicators, and tan removal products. Since inception, Loving Tan has experienced rapid growth across geographies and distribution channels and is currently sold in a variety of prestige beauty retailers as well as online globally.
The investment by and partnership with Gauge will support additional hires and infrastructure, new product development, the growth of new and existing distribution channels, and strategic add-on acquisitions. In addition, as part of the investment, Hilary Daly will be appointed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Hilary brings with her vast experience in the skin care and body care categories and relevant sales and marketing channels. Hilary will partner with the existing Australia-based team to drive organic growth of the Loving Tan brand and pursue add-on acquisitions within the sunless tan, sun care, and body care markets.
“Loving Tan is a category-leading and disruptive brand in the fast-growing self-tan category. It is one of few brands in the beauty industry that has created professional-strength products that truly perform, which we could immediately see in the company’s customer loyalty data, word-of-mouth marketing, and the cult-like following of the brand among consumers, influencers, and retailers,” said Lauren Antion, Co-Head of the Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness practice at Intrepid. “We were proud to tell the Loving Tan story and to be a part of the team.”
“The company entrusted Intrepid to find a value-added partner for the Loving Tan team with deep beauty care experience, a proven track record in global expansion and infrastructure build, and a highly experienced CEO that could take the brand to the next level. We feel like we hit a home run with the partnership between the Loving Tan team, Gauge Capital and Hilary,” said Steve Davis, Co-Head of the Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness practice at Intrepid. “We are excited to see the Loving Tan brand continue to flourish with its new partners.”