Who Owns Supergoop?

Supergoop is a prestige skincare brand based in San Antonio, Texas. The brand was founded in 2007 by Holly Thaggard to help consumers incorporate UV protection into their daily routines.

As of Feb 2024, Supergoop had expanded across 20+ new markets. The brand has launched over 40 SPF-infused products and innovations, including Unseen Sunscreen Body SPF 40, Glowscreen SPF 40, Lipshade 100% Mineral SPF 30 Hydrating Lipsticks, and Triple Prep SPF 40 Weightless Moisturizer. [1]

Supergoop markets itself as the only skincare brand 100% dedicated to sun care. The brand wants to encourage consumers to use its sunscreen year-round, even though most people only use sun protection in summer.

In 2023, Supergoop increased investment in its out-of-home advertising strategy by 22%. The budget allows the company to implement on-the-ground activations across the US. The brand expanded its pop-up Sunshine Shack presence in 2023 to reach more customers beyond New York and California. [2]

Supergoop is a fast-growing prestige skincare brand with a bright future. The company is investing in its global expansion. In Mar 2023, Supergoop launched its products across Europe through Sephora stores.

The brand is eyeing retail opportunities in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East with Space NK and Sephora after reaching $250 million in annual sales. It has been in the UK market since 2020. [3]

Supergoop relies on its top leadership to spearhead its global expansion. Amanda Baldwin was Supergoop’s CEO from Jul 2016 to Oct 2023, when she accepted to join Olaplex as CEO.

In Feb 2024, Supergoop named Lisa Sequino as its new CEO to succeed Baldwin. Sequino is the co-founder and former CEO of JLo Beauty, who worked over nine years as a global strategist at Estée Lauder. Supergoop appointed former Nike product exec Michael Spillane to its board of directors. But who owns Supergoop? [4]

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Who is Supergoop’s Owner?

Supergoop is a prestige skincare company majority owned by investment firm Blackstone. In Dec 2021, Blackstone acquired a majority stake in Supergoop. Founder Thaggard and the company’s senior management team retained a significant equity ownership in the brand.

The acquisition allowed Supergoop to expand distribution globally, enhance brand awareness, and release new products. These initiatives led to 65% year-over-year growth in 2022. [5]

Supergoop’s majority owner, Blackstone Inc., is a New York-based investment management firm. Its private equity arm invests in innovative female-founded companies like Supergoop, including Sara Blakely’s Spanx, Whitney Herd’s Bumble, and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

In Apr 2024, Blackstone was close to acquiring L’Occitane International. This move signifies the firm’s interest in diversifying its portfolio. [6]

Supergoop is the first skincare brand to put sunscreen at the forefront. The brand educates consumers to encourage them to wear protective beauty products each day. This approach requires a media partner with an innovative problem-solving strategy.

In Jan 2024, Supergoop selected Digitas as its US media agency of record. Digitas will oversee Supergoop’s digital channels and marketing initiatives. [7]

Supergoop’s global expansion strategy prioritizes high-potential markets. In Asia, the brand has launched in China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the UAE, Thailand, and the Philippines. Supergoop seeks to strengthen its foothold in Australia and the Middle East. It relies on beauty retailers like Sephora and Space NK to expand into new markets. [8]

Image Credit: ian dooley

Supergoop Ownership History

Holly Thaggard founded Supergoop in 2007 to encourage daily sunscreen wear. She is the original Supergoop owner. The founder, a Texas elementary school teacher, realized people were undervaluing sunscreen after her 29-year-old friend was diagnosed with skin cancer.

In 2004, Holly researched sunscreen and found a lack of innovation in UV spectrum protection formulas (SPF). She created a kids-friendly sunscreen product and marketed it to private schools. Her program took off with six schools from Louisiana and Texas, marking the birth of Supergoop! [9]

Holly’s goal of universal sunscreen wear underpins everything Supergoop does. Although the company sells a premium product that might seem to undercut its mission, it reconciles the difference through philanthropic initiatives.

For example, in 2008, Supergoop launched its Ounce by Ounce program to provide sunscreen for schools. As of 2023, the Ounce by Ounce program had donated over 4,300 SPF pumps to over 1,600 US schools and youth organizations. [10]

Supergoop raised funding from investors, such as JMK, Encore Consumer Capital, and SWAT Equity. The brand entered South East Asia in 2017, the UK and China in 2020, and Europe in 2023.

Its sales increased from $20 million to $250 million within 5 years. In Dec 2021, Blackstone acquired a majority stake in Supergoop. The deal transferred Supergoop ownership to Blackstone. In Sep 2022, the company expanded its C-suite by promoting Britany LeBlanc to CMO and hiring Ryan Crowley as CFO and COO. [11]

Image Credit: Antonio Gabola

Supergoop Shareholder Structure

Supergoop is a private company offering over 40 skincare and suncare products. Founder Holly Thaggard was the brand’s sole owner before she landed her first investor.

In Dec 2021, Blackstone became Supergoop’s largest shareholder after acquiring a majority stake in the company. The investment fueled Supergoop’s product development and global expansion. [12]

Blackstone’s majority stake acquisition in Supergoop valued the brand at $600-$700 million. Supergoop’s founder, Holly Thaggard, and senior management retained significant equity ownership.

Previous Supergoop investors, like SWAT Equity and Encore Consumer Capital, rolled over their stakes after Blackstone took over the brand. In 2022, Blackstone announced a new investment team to fund the Supergoop deal.

The group includes Hugh Jackman, Jenna Lyons, Michelle Wie, Sara Blakely, Whitney Wolfe Herd, the I Promise School, Main Street Advisors, and G9 Ventures. [13]

Supergoop’s majority owner, Blackstone Inc., is a public company listed on the NYSE as BX. The investment firm has 1 Stock A share, 722,263,433 Stock B shares with one vote, and 1 Stock C share.

Blackstone’s shareholder structure has 2,219 institutional investors. As of Dec 2023, Vanguard Group was the firm’s largest institutional shareholder, with 8.99%. This figure represents 64.26 million shares. Blackrock Inc. is Blackstone’s second-largest institutional shareholder with 6.52%, followed by Capital World at 4.72%, State Street Corp at 3.94%, Morgan Stanley at 3.47%, Capital International at 2.73%, and Charles Schwab at 2.73%. [14]

Blackstone’s shareholder structure includes insiders, like the CEO, COO, CFO, and directors. They own 1.02% of the company. As of Apr 2024, President Jonathan Gray was Blackstone’s largest insider shareholder, with 3,081,120 shares. Director Joseph Baratta is second with 1,037,630 shares, followed by CFO Michael Chae at 840,079, Officer Vikrant Sawhney at 740,867, and Officer John Finley at 511,909. [15]

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