Famille C Participations acquires majority stake in Pai Skincare after £14m fundraising

The investment fund of the Courtin family, Famille C Participations, has acquired the controlling stake in Pai Skincare, only two years after investing in a minority stake in the company.

This second investment, which is part of a Series C fundraising of £14 million (€15.9 million), has made Famille C Participations the majority shareholder of the London-based organic skincare label.

Pai Skincare was founded in 2007 by Sarah Brown after she became frustrated with her cabinet of ineffective skincare products.

Commenting on the company's start, Brown said: "I just wanted effective skincare I could trust and depend on and creating Pai was my way of taking back control. Pai is everything I wanted as a customer; skincare made with effective, organic ingredients, no-nonsense marketing and a brand that understands products are just one piece of the puzzle."

By 2021, the skincare brand had hit sales of £10.5 million.

Pai Skincare is mainly present in its domestic market, the UK, where it is formulated and created. It’s also available in French Sephora shops. However, with the new investment, the company plans to expand its offering and distribution in Europe.

Prisca Courtin, Managing Director of Famille C Participations and Chairwoman of the Clarins supervisory committee, commented: "Famille C Participations' ambition is to become an international leader in the responsible cosmetics sector, as demonstrated by the investments and acquisitions made in this field in recent years. Famille C Participations is unique in that it combines the advantages of a group with those of an investment fund with solid and strategic financial capabilities.

"We support entrepreneurs who innovate and make a positive contribution to the industry. I have huge respect for what Sarah and Ed have built so far. We are committed to grow Pai and help it to reach its full potential, thanks to the quality of the products and formulas, and their high standards."

This news follows Famille C Participations’ investment in the US-based makeup brand Ilia in May 2022.