US investor takes $10m stake in Australian sunscreen startup Ultra Violette

US consumer growth equity firm Aria Growth Partners has invested $10 million into an Australian sunscreen startup Ultra Violette to help it expand further into the North American market.

Aria has taken an undisclosed stake in the business in what marks the first time the five-year-old company has taken outside capital, having previously been bootstrapped by its founders Ava Chandler-Matthews and Rebecca Jefferd, (pictured above).

Among other channels, the brand will be rolling out its products through Sephora in Canada in March.

“This investment marks a significant milestone for our business, one we are confident will be remembered as the starting point of something greater than we could have imagined,” said Jefferd.

“Through our expansion so far, we’ve been overwhelmed by the response to our product formulations, but we’ve only just scratched the surface.”

Ultra Violette’s Skinscreens range is sold in 28 international markets across Europe, Australia, the UK, Asia, and the Middle East, through Sephora, Space NK, Harrods, and Liberty London.

New York City-headquartered Aria Growth Partners focuses on the consumer sector and is currently a partner to The Inkey List, Lesser Evil and Onda Tequila Seltzer. Aria was previously an investor in Hero Cosmetics, subsequently acquired by Church & Dwight.

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