Conair and Kao Brands Company Announce Licensing Agreement

STAMFORD, Conn. and CINCINNATI, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conair Corporation and Kao Brands Company are pleased to announce a licensing agreement that will allow Conair to create, market and distribute a line of premium hair appliances under the widely respected John Frieda® brand name.

The collection will include a series of hair dryers, straighteners, and styling tools that offer state-of-the art technologies and professional quality and performance. The license will also allow Conair to manufacture non-electric styling tools.

"Our relationship with the John Frieda® brand is a perfect marriage of hair care leaders," said Ron Diamond, President of Conair Corporation. "The John Frieda® brand is world-renowned for hair care and styling products, just as Conair is internationally recognized as a leader in hair care appliances, offering great value and performance. We could not be more excited about our relationship with Kao Brands Company and the John Frieda® brand."

According to William J. Gentner, Kao Brands Company President and CEO, "Both the Conair and John Frieda® brands are leaders in the art of hair transformation. Both are dedicated to leveraging our professional expertise to bring innovative solutions to the retail beauty market. The collaboration between our two companies is a natural fit. We at Kao Brands Company look forward to the launch of an unsurpassed line of John Frieda® hair styling tools."

"The two brands have great synergy on so many levels," continued Diamond. "The expansion of the John Frieda® brand into hair appliances will provide immense opportunity for our retail partners to reach the beauty customer with a complete hair care regimen."

The John Frieda® hair styling tools collection will launch in first quarter 2011 in the food, drug and mass channels. Details on the line will be available closer to the launch date.

About Conair Corporation

Conair began in 1959 as a small hair appliance and hair care company. Today Conair is a multinational corporation with annual gross sales of over $2 billion. Headquartered in East Windsor, New Jersey, with sales and marketing operations in Stamford, Connecticut, Conair is respected around the world as one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of personal care and professional products, grooming, health and beauty products, and premium kitchen electrics and cookware. Conair products currently sell in 101 countries on six continents. For more information about Conair Corporation, please log on to www.conair.com.

About Kao Brands Company

Kao Brands Company is a leading manufacturer of premium beauty care brands that are recognized around the world for their innovation and quality. Kao Brands Company's portfolio includes Ban® antiperspirants; Jergens® and Curel® hand and body lotions; Biore® facial care; and John Frieda® Frizz-Ease,® Sheer Blonde,® Brilliant Brunette,® Radiant Red,® Luminous Color Glaze,® Luxurious Volume and Root Awakening® professional hair care. Founded in 1882, Kao Brands Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kao Corporation.

SOURCE Conair Corporation