L'Oréal is allegedly exploring options related to its liabilities from talc and other chemical ingredient litigation in the US, according to a new report.
The French beauty giant has allegedly tapped advisors Weil Gotshal & Manges and investment bank Ducera Partners, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Cosmetics Business has contacted L’Oréal, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Ducera Partners for comment.
L’Oréal US has approximately 760 pending proceedings related to the alleged presence of asbestos particles in certain talc-containing cosmetic products as of 30 June, according to the company’s half-year financial report.
No cases involving L’Oréal’s subsidiaries have so far gone to trial, the financial report said, while some claims have been dismissed and others settled.
L'Oréal said in the report that it strongly contests the claims made in these actions.
Several companies have faced legal action in the US over claims of cancer-causing chemicals in cosmetics products.
L’Oréal is also facing lawsuits in the US over allegations that it did not disclose cancer risks related to chemical hair relaxer products.
A consumer fraud lawsuit was filed by the Arizona, US, Attorney General's Office against Softsheen-Carson and its parent company L’Oréal on 10 September.
In a statement to Cosmetics Business, a spokesperson for L’Oréal USA said the allegations in the lawsuit “have neither legal nor scientific merit”.
The company spokesperson continued: “L'Oréal’s highest priority is the health and wellbeing of all our consumers.
“Our products are subject to a rigorous scientific evaluation of their safety by experts who also ensure that we strictly follow all regulations in every market in which we operate.”
According to L’Oréal’s half-year financial report, as of 30 June the group's US companies were defendants in 11,554 federal consolidated proceedings in a multi-district litigation (MDL) case pending in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
A further 1,082 individual, sometimes consolidated, actions are pending in various state courts, the report added.
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