Kracie Holdings (Japan)

Kracie is the new name for what remains of Japanese personal care giant Kanebo Ltd. This was one of Japan's oldest and best-known companies, making a broad range of products including cosmetics, confectionery, toiletries and healthcare products. However the group struggled in the late 1990s to adapt to a more competitive environment, and its reputation was tainted in 2005 by the discovery of a huge accounting fraud which overstated past profits by as much as $2bn. Kanebo came close to selling its international prestige cosmetics operations to rival Kao in 2004, but the deal was scuppered by the company's influential labour unions. Instead Kanebo Cosmetics was spun out as a separate business. It was put up for sale in 2005, and was acquired by Kao at the end of the year. Kao continues to operate the Kanebo brand (see separate profile). The group's remaining general consumer products business changed its name to Kracie Holdings in 2007.

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Competitors: see Personal Care Sector for other companies

The Adbrands Company Profile of Kracie summarises the company's history and current operations. Subscribers may access the following website links:

Kracie website

Naive	Resche
Ichikami	Prostyle
Tabi-no-Yada	Arm & Hammer
Epilat	Muichai Mashita
Frisk	Moistage
Coccoapo	Hadabisei

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