Natura Sells Avon Operations in Central America; Henrique Blecher Rebrands Real Estate Business
Natura finalizes sale of Avon operations in Central America to Grupo PDC; Henrique Blecher rebrands his real estate firm Origem Incorporadora as ARKT to lead his group’s market presence.
- • Natura sold Avon operations in six Central American and Caribbean countries to Grupo PDC for $1 plus $22 million.
- • Baillie Gifford reduced its stake in Natura to 4.99%, stating no intent to alter company control or management.
- • Henrique Blecher rebranded Origem Incorporadora as ARKT to become the leading brand within his real estate group.
- • Nivi Real Estate remains the holding company, and Nivi Capital continues as the real estate investment fund.
Key details
Natura, the Brazilian cosmetics giant, completed the sale of its Avon operations across six Central American and Caribbean countries—Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. The buyer, Grupo PDC, a consumer goods company active in the region and Peru, acquired the stake for a nominal value of $1 plus an additional $22 million related to a receivable from Avon Guatemala involving Natura's Mexican subsidiary. This divestment marks a strategic move by Natura to streamline its portfolio in Latin America.
In parallel, Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited has reduced its ownership in Natura to 4.99%, holding 68,699,790 shares. The investor clarified their position is purely for investment purposes with no intention to influence Natura’s control or management.
Separately, Henrique Blecher, former CEO of Gafisa, is steering a significant rebranding effort within his real estate ventures. His company, formerly known as Origem Incorporadora, has now been renamed ARKT. This rebranding aims to position ARKT as the leading brand within the group, focusing on growth and market prominence. The holding entity will retain the name Nivi Real Estate, continuing its governance and institutional responsibilities, while Nivi Capital remains as the group's real estate investment fund.
Together, these developments reflect important corporate strategic shifts in Latin America, with Natura adjusting its operations footprint and Henrique Blecher strengthening his group's market identity through brand repositioning.