COTY INC - COTY STOCK NEWS

Coty (NYSE: COTY) has appointed Lubomira Rochet to its Board of Directors, effective January 2, 2023. Rochet, currently a Partner at JAB Holding Company, has over 20 years of experience in digital transformation, notably at L’Oréal. Her leadership was recognized when she was named “Marketer of the Year” in 2019. Coty’s CEO Sue Y. Nabi expressed optimism about Rochet's impact on the company’s digital strategy. This appointment boosts female representation on the board to 50% and increases total board members to twelve.

Coty (NYSE: COTY) has agreed to sell its Lacoste fragrance license back to Lacoste, marking the end of a 6-year partnership. During this period, Lacoste's men's fragrances gained significant market presence, with award-winning products and notable improvements in rankings. Coty's CEO, Sue Y. Nabi, expressed pride in the partnership's achievements and noted that the sale aligns with Coty's strategic goals to concentrate on major fragrance licenses and enhance its deleveraging efforts. The transaction is set to conclude by the end of the calendar year 2023.

Coty has renewed its licensing agreement with HUGO BOSS, extending their partnership to beyond 2035. This agreement encompasses all BOSS and HUGO fragrances, reflecting Coty's growth strategy in the global fragrance market. Both companies aim to enhance their presence, particularly in the U.S. market, and expand BOSS women's fragrances in Europe. The renewal comes with no material changes in licensing terms, and Coty's average remaining duration for top licenses is now approximately ten years, indicating a stable portfolio.

Coty (NYSE: COTY) has announced plans to hedge a share buyback program of approximately $200 million in calendar 2025, on top of a previously announced $200 million buyback for CY24. The company aims to improve its leverage, targeting 4x by CY22, 3x by CY23, and 2x by CY25. Coty is entering into total return swaps with banks to manage stock price exposure related to the buyback. The firm expects continued strong free cash flow generation and steady deleveraging progress in the coming years.

Coty Inc. announced the early results of its tender offers to purchase up to $100 million of its 6.500% Senior Notes and €100 million of its 4.750% Senior Notes, reflecting its ongoing strategy to reduce debt by $1.1 billion over 15 months. The company anticipates a reduction in interest expenses of approximately $8 million annually. With a successful early tender date on November 22, 2022, the accepted notes totaled approximately $76.9 million for the USD notes and €69.7 million for the Euro notes, representing 14% and 28% of outstanding notes, respectively. The offers will expire on December 7, 2022.

Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) has announced new tender offers to purchase up to $100 million of its U.S. dollar-denominated notes and €100 million of Euro-denominated notes, as part of its ongoing deleveraging strategy. This follows a cumulative $1.1 billion reduction in debt over the past 15 months, aiming to lower annual interest expenses by approximately $11 million. The offers expire on December 7, 2022, with an early tender date of November 22, 2022.

Coty Inc. (COTY) reported strong Q1 FY23 results, with revenues of $1,390 million, up 1% year-over-year, and 9% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis, despite FX headwinds. Prestige revenue fell 1% reported, but grew 7% LFL. Consumer Beauty saw a 12% LFL growth. Gross margins expanded to 63.9%, driven by pricing improvements. Operating income surged to $171.9 million, a tenfold increase, with adjusted EBITDA rising 11% to $307.9 million. Coty is on track to reduce financial leverage towards 4x by CY22 end. The company aims for FY23 adjusted EBITDA growth of 955-965 million.

Coty (NYSE: COTY) has announced a new global gender-neutral parental leave policy effective November 1st, allowing all employees equal access to fully paid parental leave for family expansion via pregnancy, adoption, or surrogacy. This initiative aims to foster inclusivity and address gender stereotypes. Chief HR Officer Anne Jaeckin states that this aligns with Coty's corporate values, promoting diversity and gender equality. This policy strengthens existing leave commitments and adheres to local regulations, representing a significant step in Coty's commitment to workplace inclusivity.