More acquisitions, Rs 5,000-cr turnover in 2011-12: Dabur

Dabur India, the fast-moving consumer goods major, on Tuesday said it planned a turnover of Rs 5,000 crore for 2011-12, with more acquisitions in the personal and healthcare segments.

The company expects to close its current financial year with revenue of Rs 4,000 crore.

Saying so on the sidelines of an event showcasing debutant actress Sonakshi Sinha as the new brand ambassador of Fem Care, the firm’s acquired brand, CEO Sunil Duggal said on the proposed acquisitions: “The size might vary somewhere between Rs 50 crore and Rs 500 crore. It could even go higher, depending upon the brand and the company. We are flexible in terms of the size of our acquisitions.”

In January 2011, the company made its second overseas acquisitions by buying US-based personal care firm, Namaste Group, for Rs 451 crore. In September 2010, the company had completed acquisition of Turkish personal care firm, Hobi Kozmetik Group, for Rs 324 crore to strengthen its presence in West Asia and North Africa.

Dabur expects the personal and skin care segments to be a growth driver for the next year.

Sonakshi Sinha, who had won all the best newcomer awards for her performance last year in the movie Dabangg, has replaced Preity Zinta, who was endorsing Fem Care for the past two years.

On rising input costs, Duggal said, “It’s scary. We are trying our best to minimise the impact of growing input costs through various ways, including price increases.”

The company, which sells skincare and haircare ranges under the Dabur and Vatika brands, respectively, had raised prices in December last year by two to three per cent for some products. Duggal wouldn’t say if there’d be more price increases.