The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has agreed, subject to regulatory approvals, to acquire the remaining interests in Forest Essentials.
Building on a trusted 18-year partnership, this milestone celebrates The Estée Lauder Companies’ long-term commitment to nurturing and growing this extraordinary Indian brand and expanding its global consumer reach.
The announcement reflects the company’s strong confidence in Forest Essentials’ highly trusted brand equity, its vertically integrated capabilities, and its sustainability ethos. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2026.
It follows The Estée Lauder Companies’ minority investment in Forest Essentials, initially made in 2008 and increased to 49 percent in 2020.
Founded in 2000 by Mira Kulkarni, Forest Essentials represents the soul and artistry of Indian beauty. The brand, forecast to grow net sales by low double digits, combined with The Estée Lauder Companies’ existing brand portfolio, will make India the company’s largest emerging market.
With this acquisition, The Estée Lauder Companies is well-positioned to gain prestige beauty share in one of the most dynamic beauty markets in the world.
Under the continued guidance and direction of Kulkarni and her son, Executive Director Samrath Bedi, Forest Essentials will remain headquartered in New Delhi. The brand will maintain its fully integrated operational ecosystem in India, spanning R&D that is grounded in Ayurveda, responsible and local botanical sourcing, and in-house manufacturing.
This Indian end-to-end model will continue to enable the brand to innovate with integrity, uphold exceptional quality, reduce its environmental impact, and continue cultivating enduring consumer trust.
Through this partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies, Forest Essentials will leverage global brand-building capabilities, a prestige distribution network, and operational expertise to drive long-term, sustainable growth while preserving the brand’s distinctive Luxurious Ayurvedic DNA and Indian heritage.
The collaboration is a strategic investment in Forest Essentials’ future, creating a scalable platform that will broaden the consumer reach and bring modern Luxurious Ayurveda to new audiences worldwide.
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