Beiersdorf AG

Who owns Nivea?
Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf AG, the German consumer goods company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Beiersdorf introduced Nivea cream in 1911 in Hamburg. The Herz family holds a majority stake of approximately 51% in Beiersdorf.

Who owns Coppertone sunscreen?
Coppertone is owned by Beiersdorf AG, which acquired the brand from Bayer AG in May 2019 for approximately $550 million. Before Bayer, Coppertone had been owned by Schering-Plough.

Who owns Eucerin?
Eucerin is owned by Beiersdorf AG. Eucerin is a premium dermatological skincare brand sold through pharmacy channels and is used by dermatologists as a recommendation for patients with dry or sensitive skin conditions.

Is Beiersdorf publicly traded?
Yes. Beiersdorf AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker BEI. However, the Herz family holds a majority stake of approximately 51% through Hamburger Teerosen Holding GmbH, meaning the free float available to public investors is limited.

Beiersdorf was founded in 1882 by pharmacist Paul Beiersdorf in Hamburg, originally as a manufacturer of medical plasters. In 1890, Beiersdorf sold the company to Dr. Oscar Troplowitz, who developed a series of skincare innovations including a new stable emulsion that became the basis for Nivea cream.

Nivea cream was first introduced in 1911 in the now-iconic blue tin, formulated using a new emulsifying agent called Eucerit that allowed oil and water to be combined into a stable cream for the first time. The white cream in the blue tin became one of the most widely distributed consumer products in the world and remains the core Nivea product more than a century later.

The company faced significant challenges during World War II, including the loss of its international trademarks and the separation of operations in East and West Germany. Beiersdorf rebuilt its international portfolio after the war, reclaiming the Nivea trademark in key markets through a combination of legal action and business arrangements.

The Herz family has been a significant shareholder since the mid-20th century and exercises influence over the company's long-term strategy through its majority holding. This stable family ownership is often cited as a reason for Beiersdorf's consistent long-term investment in the Nivea brand rather than short-term earnings optimisation.

Beiersdorf has set ambitious sustainability targets under its C.A.R.E.+ strategy. The company committed to achieving carbon neutrality for its production sites by 2025 and to net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. Beiersdorf is a signatory to the Science Based Targets initiative.

In sun care, Beiersdorf has invested in developing reef-friendly sunscreen formulations for its Nivea Sun and Coppertone brands, responding to consumer and regulatory pressure on certain UV filter chemicals in coastal and marine environments.

Packaging sustainability goals include 100% recyclable packaging for consumer products by 2025 and an increase in recycled material content across the portfolio.