The Cheshire-based Beauty Tech Group, known for innovations like LED face masks and laser devices, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange with a reported target value of £350 million. This move—unfolding at a critical moment for UK capital markets—positions the group to become one of the largest consumer technology floats of 2025, showing strong growth against a muted backdrop for other IPOs.
Background and Pioneering Growth
Founded in Cheshire in 2009 as CurrentBody by Laurence Newman and Andrew Showman, the company shifted from reselling third-party beauty tech to manufacturing its own devices. Their bestseller: LED face masks retailing for £400 and endorsed by celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams. The product line now spans at-home lasers for hair removal, microcurrent devices, and electric acne treatments—each underwritten by clinical testing and research.
Beauty Tech operates in over 90 countries and is behind three distinct premium brands—CurrentBody Skin, ZIIP Beauty, and Tria Laser—known for replicating clinic-level technologies for the home. In the year ending 2024, it reported £101.1 million in revenue and £22.9 million adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating strong compound annual growth rates (CAGR) of 73.6% for own-brand revenue and 92.9% for EBITDA across a two-year period.
Leadership, Strategy, and Future
The group’s board is led by CEO Laurence Newman and, most recently, Elaine O’Donnell—best-known for her chairmanship at Games Workshop—joined as non-executive chair to guide strategic oversight and capitalize on growth opportunities. Newman explained:
“There are significant opportunities ahead … and an IPO… will provide us with access to capital and enable us to raise awareness and incentivise staff to take the business to the next level”.
O’Donnell echoed: “A float on the London Stock Exchange will facilitate the group’s ambition to capitalise on the significant opportunities ahead”.
Berenberg is serving as Sponsor, Bookrunner, and Joint Financial Adviser for the IPO, with additional advisory support from N.M. Rothschild. The proposed float is expected in October, aiming for a debt-free position and the financial muscle to accelerate international growth.
Impact and Industry Context
With only nine UK main-market IPOs in the first half of 2025—raising just £182.8 million, a 64% drop from last year’s period—Beauty Tech’s £350 million listing represents hope for revitalizing the capital market and boosting investor sentiment. Its commitment to research-backed and clinically tested devices, broad international reach, and proven track record position it as a role model for future UK tech floats.
As Beauty Tech Group prepares for its IPO, it stands not only as a leader in home-use beauty technology, but also as a catalyst for the next phase of growth in consumer wellness—showing how digital, clinically-backed brands can thrive in the public market.
Background: From Cheshire Startup to Global Player
Beauty Tech Group evolved from reselling third-party gadgets to designing and manufacturing its own bestsellers, including LED face masks (favored by Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams), microcurrent tools, and lasers for hair removal and acne treatment. Its premium brands—CurrentBody Skin, ZIIP Beauty, and Tria Laser—bring professional clinic tech into everyday homes. The company now operates in over 90 countries, strategically positioned at the intersection of clinical efficacy, celebrity endorsement, and consumer-friendly engineering.
Annual revenues hit £101.1 million in 2024, with adjusted EBITDA at £22.9 million and pre-tax profits of £5.2 million. Own-brand revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 73.6%, outpacing the market, while EBITDA surged 92.9% for the two years through January 2024.
IPO Details and Why It Matters
Beauty Tech Group’s IPO, led by Berenberg and N.M. Rothschild as advisers, will see at least 25% of shares offered to institutional and retail investors, with directors subject to “lock-up” arrangements post-listing. New shares are designed to leave the firm debt-free and boost expansion funding, while existing shareholders will ensure free-float standards. The move signals a strong vote of confidence for research-backed consumer tech on London’s main market.
Despite just nine UK IPOs in H1 2025 (raising £182.8 million, down 64% year-on-year), Beauty Tech’s high-value float is set to inspire renewed interest. Globally, IPO values rose 17% this period despite deal numbers being flat.
Conclusion: Catalyst for UK Retail Tech
As Beauty Tech Group prepares for its high-profile IPO, it stands out in a muted year for listings—with a clear data-driven playbook, global reach, and booming category tailwinds. Its leadership team and new board talent are set to leverage public listing for aggressive expansion, promising to redefine the UK’s approach to consumer tech scale-ups—and set the pace for digital health, wellness, and beauty innovation in public markets.
