Unilever buys hair care group Alberto Culver
Unilever is paying $3.7bn (£2.3bn) for hair care group Alberto Culver, adding the Tresemmé, VO5, and Simple personal products brands to its portfolio.
Anglo-Dutch Unilever already owns the Dove, Vaseline, Pond's and Sunsilk brands, and personal care products will now account for 30% of group turnover.
US-based Alberto has operations in nine countries, including the UK, and employs about 2,700 people.
Unilever chief Paul Polman said personal care was a key growth sector.
"Personal care is a strategic category for Unilever and growing rapidly. Ten years ago it represented 20% of our turnover," Mr Polman said.
"Bolt-on acquisitions such as Alberto Culver supplement organic growth and add powerful new brands to our portfolio," he said.