Unilever completes Alberto Culver acquisition

LONDON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Unilever has completed its $3.7 billion acquisition of Alberto Culver after obtaining the necessary regulatory clearances to do so, the companies jointly confirmed on Tuesday.

With the acquisition, Unilever becomes the world's leading company in hair conditioning, the second largest in shampoo and the third largest in styling. Alberto Culver generated annual sales in excess $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2010.

As previously reported by Drug Store News, Unilever will divest the Alberto VO5 brand in the United States from the Alberto Culver portfolio and the Rave brand from the Unilever portfolio.