Azrul Reza Aziz, COO of Marna Capital
MARNA Capital and Crème Simon have entered into an agreement for the Malaysian private investment firm to make an undisclosed equity investment in the award-winning French heritage skincare brand.
“We are very pleased to welcome Marna Capital on board as a strategic investor,” said Crème Simon managing director Felicia Soh .
“With their support and reach, we will continue to accelerate our growth within the Asia-Pacific region,” she added.
Marna Capital chief operating officer Azrul Reza Aziz said the company was attracted to the Crème Simon brand for several reasons.
“We believe in the long-term upside being generated by Asia’s large, fast-growing and increasingly affluent domestic consumer base.
“The premium retail space fits nicely into this macro-economic story, so Crème Simon, being our first retail sector investment with a focus on growth within Asia, complements our long-term investment strategy quite well,” he explained.
“When we learned that Crème Simon was first sold in Ipoh, Malaysia in the 1920s, it was a testament to the brand’s legacy and history. We look forward to playing a role in Crème Simon’s long-term success,” he added.
Marna Capital through its fund has primarily invested in the technology, lifestyle and media and entertainment sectors. The investors in the fund include prominent figures such as SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin of the Naza Group.
Founded in 1860, Creme Simon is the oldest French skincare brand, having pioneered the first beauty creams in France.
Featuring natural formulations that are free of parabens, alcohol, oil and silicone, and which have been specially developed for different climate conditions, Crème Simon is growing rapidly within the Asia-Pacific region. Crème Simon is currently being distributed in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, China and Australia and is expanding rapidly into new markets.
Crème Simon’s products are also available internationally at www.crème-simon.com.
