Editing Avon Products

{{Short description|Anglo-American beauty products company}}
{{Redirect|AVON|other uses|Avon (disambiguation){{!}}Avon}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Avon Products, Inc.
| logo = Avon Logo 2020.svg
| logo_size = 200
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Cosmetics]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1886}}
| founder = [[David H. McConnell]]
| location = [[London]], United Kingdom
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Kristof Neirynck ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| products = [[Cosmetics]]<br />[[Perfume]]<br />[[Skin Care]]<br />[[Personal Care]]
| revenue = {{nowrap|{{profit}} {{US$|9.1 billion|link=yes}} (2020)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.mziq.com/mzfilemanager/v2/d/9e61d5ff-4641-4ec3-97a5-3595f938bb75/18ac3a48-dbb8-87fc-fe4a-dc8ac9132e6a?origin=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924001046/https://api.mziq.com/mzfilemanager/v2/d/9e61d5ff-4641-4ec3-97a5-3595f938bb75/18ac3a48-dbb8-87fc-fe4a-dc8ac9132e6a?origin=2|url-status=live|title=Natura & Co 2020 Annual Report|archive-date=2021-09-24}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|235.2 million|link=yes}} (2018)}}
| net_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|−107.4 million|link=yes}} (2016)}}
| assets = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|3.01 billion|link=yes}} (2018)}}
| equity = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|−848 million|link=yes}} (2016)}}
| owner = 
| num_employees = 23,000<ref name="fortune">{{Cite web|title=Avon Products|url=https://fortune.com/fortune500/2019/avon-products/|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|language=en}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2019
| parent = [[Natura & Co|Natura Holding S.A.]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190523-brazil-cosmetics-giant-natura-buys-avon-all-shares-transaction | title=Brazil cosmetics giant Natura buys Avon in all-shares transaction | date=May 23, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/23/natura-agrees-to-buy-avon-creating-cosmetics-powerhouse.html|title=Natura agrees to buy Avon, creating cosmetics powerhouse|website=[[CNBC]]|date=May 23, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.avonworldwide.com/|avonworldwide.com}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celgene-kinder-morgan-and-actavis-set-to-join-the-sp-100-several-constituent-changes-announced-for-sp-500-sp-midcap-400-and-sp-smallcap-600-300050468.html |title=Celgene, Kinder Morgan and Actavis Set to Join the S&P 100; Several Constituent Changes Announced for S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600  |date=March 13, 2015}}</ref><ref name="10-K 2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/8868/000000886817000009/a2016form10-k.htm|title=US SEC: Form 10-K Avon Products, Inc.|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]|access-date=January 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="8-K FEB 3 2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/8868/000095015718000190/form8-k.htm|title=US SEC: Form 8-K (Feb 3, 2018)|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]|access-date=February 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/8868/000000886819000016/a2018form10-k.htm|date=December 31, 2018|title=US SEC:FORM 10-K AVON PRODUCTS, INC.|work=[[United States Securities and Exchange Commission]]|access-date=April 6, 2019}}</ref>
}}
'''Avon Products, Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|'|eI|v|ɒ|n}} {{respell|AY|von}}) is an Anglo-American<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailysabah.com/economy/2016/03/16/avon-to-cut-2500-jobs-move-headquarters-to-britain | title=Avon to cut 2,500 jobs, move headquarters to Britain | website=[[Daily Sabah]] | date=March 16, 2016 }}</ref> multinational company selling [[cosmetics]], [[skin care]], [[perfume]], and [[personal care]] products. It is a [[multi-level marketing]] company based in [[London]]. In 2020, Avon had annual sales of $9.1 billion worldwide.<ref name="fortune"/>

It is the fourteenth-largest beauty company<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.beautypackaging.com/heaps/view/6459/1/ | title=Top 20 Companies in 2019 &#124; Beauty Packaging }}</ref> and, with 6.4 million representatives, is the second largest multi-level marketing company in the world (after [[Amway]]).<ref name=fortune20120430>{{cite journal|last=Kowitt|first=Beth |title=Avon: The Rise and Fall of a Beauty Icon|journal=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|date=April 30, 2012|volume=165|issue=6|pages=106–114|url=http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/11/avon-andrea-jung-downfall/?section=magazines_fortune|access-date=April 29, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222135958/http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/11/avon-andrea-jung-downfall/?section=magazines_fortune |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }}</ref> The company's CEO is Kristof Neirynck who was appointed to the position in November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leadership transition in Avon International |url=https://www.avonworldwide.com/news/leadership-transition-in-avon-international |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=Retail Dive |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2019, the Brazilian multinational company [[Natura & Co]] announced its intent to acquire Avon; the deal closed in January 2020. Following the merger, existing Natura shareholders held  73% of the combined company, Natura Holding S.A., with former Avon shareholders owning 27%.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=http://investor.avonworldwide.com/Cache/1500120834.PDF?O=PDF&T=&Y=&D=&FID=1500120834&iid=3009091|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523010017/http://investor.avonworldwide.com/Cache/1500120834.PDF?O=PDF&T=&Y=&D=&FID=1500120834&iid=3009091|archive-date=May 23, 2019|title=Natura &Co and Avon join forces to create a Direct-to-Consumer global beauty leader|publisher=Avon Products|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> At merger completion, Avon became a privately held company, common stock was removed from the [[NYSE]] trading.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayala |first=María Luisa |date=December 24, 2019 |title=Finanzas: Avon Products: The End Is Near For This Stock |url=https://www.america-retail.com/mexico/finanzas-avon-products-the-end-is-near-for-this-stock/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=América Retail |language=es}}</ref>

==History==
Avon's founder, [[David H. McConnell]], initially sold books as a door-to-door salesman to [[New York (state)|New York]] homes. In September 1886, he decided to sell perfumes rather than books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-09-10-avon-strategy_x.htm|title=Avon updates its look, strategy|work= [[USA Today|USATODAY.com]]|date=September 10, 2006|access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> He started the new business in a small office at 126 Chambers Street, Manhattan, New York. McConnell changed the company name in 1892. His business partner suggested calling it the "California Perfume Company." His business partner was living in [[California]] at the time and suggested the name because of the abundance of flowers in California.<ref name="Oak">{{cite web
|title=Great Oak
|url=https://digital.hagley.org/CPCHist_20101119_1976?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=fa27adaccb49ac901e93&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=0#page/10/mode/2up
|date=1976
|website= [[Hagley Digital Archives]]
|publisher=Avon Products, Inc.
|access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>Quote from an interview with David McConnell Sr., April 15, 1936. Avon Achieves, IE7, 1936.</ref>

{{multiple image
| align       = right
| direction   = horizontal
| total_width = 250
| header      = Early emblems
| image1      = Avon 1886 logo.png
| caption1    = First logo of the company (1886)
| image2      = Avon cpclogo 1911.png
| caption2    = "California Perfume Company" logo (1911)
| footer      =
}}
In May 1894, Alexander D. Henderson joined the company, became vice-president and treasurer, and helped shape its policies and assist in its growth.<ref>
{{cite web
|title=The Outlook
|url=https://digital.hagley.org/CPCHist_20101119_1976
|date=November 1, 1922
|website= [[Hagley Digital Archives]]
|publisher=California Perfume Company
|access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref> In 1897 they built a laboratory in [[Suffern, New York]].<ref name="Oak"/> On May 3, 1909, the California Perfume Company corporate office moved to 31 Park Place, New York.<ref name="perfumecompany">{{cite web
|url=http://www.californiaperfumecompany.com/company/cal_historical_timeline.html
|title=CP Historical Timeline
|website=www.californiaperfumecompany.com
|access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref> On June 16, 1909, McConnell and Henderson signed an agreement of Incorporation for the California Perfume Company in the state of New Jersey.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://digital.hagley.org/islandora/object/islandora:2226135#page/1/mode/2up
|title= Agreement of Incorporation for California Perfume Company
|website= [[Hagley Digital Archives]]
|date=1909
|access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref> On January 28, 1916, the California Perfume Company was incorporated in the state of New York. McConnell, Henderson, and William Scheele were listed as company officials.<ref>
{{cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vz0uw9kEAegC&q=Weekly+Drug+markets%2C+New+Incorporations%2C+California+Perfume+Company&pg=RA21-PA26
|title=Weekly Drug markets, New Incorporations
|page=Volume 2, Page 26
|publisher=Google eBooks
|date=1916
|access-date=February 3, 2020}}</ref> In 1939, the California Perfume Company changed its name to Avon.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cochran |first1=Sara L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-MzEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT34 |title=Direct Selling: A Global and Social Business Model |last2=Coughlan |first2=Anne T. |last3=Crittenden |first3=Victoria L. |last4=Crittenden |first4=William F. |last5=Ferrell |first5=Linda K. |last6=Ferrell |first6=O. C. |last7=Luce |first7=W. Alan |last8=Peterson |first8=Robert A. |date=September 14, 2021 |publisher=Business Expert Press |isbn=978-1-63742-114-7 |language=en}}</ref>

===International expansion===
[[File:The Story of Perfumery and the CPC.pdf|thumb|130px|''The Story of Perfumery and the CPC'' by William Scheele, published in 1924, tells the history of Avon.]]
Avon sells products in over 100 countries. [[Brazil]] is the company's largest market, passing the United States in 2010. Avon entered the Chinese market in 1990.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/avon/timeline-key-dates-in-avons-history-idUSL2E8E5CGB20120316|title=TIMELINE-Key dates in Avon's history|date=2012|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref> [[Direct selling]] was outlawed in China in 1998,<ref name="crain's" /> which forced Avon to sell only through physical stores called Beauty Boutiques. The ban was lifted in 2001, and the company received a license for direct selling in 2006.<ref name=fortune20120430/>

88% of Avon's 2013 revenue (around $10 billion) came from overseas markets.<ref name="crain's" />

===Mergers and acquisitions===
Avon purchased Silpada, a direct seller of silver jewelry, in 2010 for $650 million.<ref name=fortune20120430/> In May 2012, perfume company [[Coty]] offered $24.75 a share for Avon, which was nearly 20 percent above Avon's stock price at the time. While [[Fox Business Network]] reported that Avon delayed the process and Coty withdrew its offer,<ref>{{cite news|last=McIntyre|first=Douglas A.|title=10 Brands That Will Disappear in 2013|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2012/06/21/ten-brands-that-will-disappear-in-2013/|newspaper=Fox Business}}</ref> earlier reports said that Avon rejected the bid, stating "At the time, the board concluded, and it still believes, that Coty's indication of interest is opportunistic and not in the best interest of Avon's shareholders."<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith |first=Aaron |url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/04/02/news/companies/avon-coty/index.htm |title=Avon rejects $10 billion offer from Coty - Apr. 2, 2012 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Dominic Rushe in New York |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/02/avon-coty-cosmetics-fragrance-takeover |title=Avon rejects $10bn takeover bid from celebrity-fragrance company Coty &#124; World news &#124; guardian.co.uk |newspaper=Guardian |date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 2, 2012 |author=Tiffany Hsu |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-apr-02-la-fi-mo-avon-coty-20120402-story.html |title=Avon rejects Rimmel owner Coty's $10-billion bid - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |access-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref>

In March 2016, [[Cerberus Capital Management]] paid $435 million in cash for preferred stock in Avon Products. This move was the conclusion of a deal initiated in December 2015, when Avon sold 80.1 percent of its North American Business to Cerberus for $170 million. The total value of the deal was $605 million. The investment resulted in Cerberus having an almost 17 percent stake in Avon Products.<ref name="Avon Concludes Deal With Cerberus">{{cite web|last1=Ausick|first1=Paul|title=Avon Concludes Deal With Cerberus|url=http://247wallst.com/consumer-products/2016/03/08/avon-concludes-deal-with-cerberus/|website=24/7 Wall Street|access-date=March 13, 2016|date=March 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Cerberus Strikes Deal to Buy into Avon">{{cite news|last1=Becker|first1=Nathan|last2=Mattioli|first2=Dana|title=Cerberus Strikes Deal to Buy into Avon|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cerberus-strikes-deal-to-buy-into-avon-1450359684|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=March 13, 2016|date=December 17, 2015}}</ref>

In January 2020, Natura & Co closed the acquisition of Avon Products, Inc. The Natura & Co<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://naturaeco.com/|title=Natura &Co|last=Natura &Co|website=naturaeco.com|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref> group also includes Natura, [[Aesop (brand)|Aesop]], and [[The Body Shop]], and with the acquisition of Avon has created the world's fourth-largest pure-play beauty company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avonworldwide.com/news/natura-co-to-close-acquisition-of-avon|title=Natura &Co to close acquisition of Avon|website=Avon Worldwide|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref>

===Recent history===
[[File: Avon company logo.svg|thumb|right|Former logo between 2019 and 2020]]
In 2014, Avon's global sales had fallen for five straight years, and its North American revenues fell 18% that year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wahba|first1=Phil|title=Avon's in a ding-dong battle to stay in business|url=http://fortune.com/2015/04/14/avon-battle-for-future/|access-date=April 15, 2015|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|date=April 14, 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Avon completed the separation of its United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico business as ''New Avon LLC'', which also trades with the "Avon" name. As part of a three-year plan, the global Avon Products relocated its headquarters to London in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35808678|title=Avon to move headquarters to UK|work=[[BBC]] |date=March 15, 2016}}</ref> In August 2019, New Avon LLC, the privately held North American company that split from Avon Products, Inc. (Avon Worldwide) in 2016 entered into a definitive agreement with South Korean consumer goods giant [[LG Household & Health Care]], Ltd., which purchased the direct-selling cosmetics business for $125 million in cash.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 31, 2019|title=LG Household & Health Care To Acquire New Avon, LLC|url=https://about.avon.com/us-about/news/lg-household--health-care-to-acquire-new-avon-llc|url-status=live|access-date=January 19, 2020|website=The Avon Company|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419090637/https://about.avon.com/us-about/news/lg-household--health-care-to-acquire-new-avon-llc |archive-date=April 19, 2021 }}</ref> 

Jan Zijderveld was appointed the company's CEO in February 2018.<ref name="8-K FEB 3 2018" /> The former CEO, [[Sherilyn S. McCoy]], stayed on as an adviser to the Board and to Zijderveld through March 31, 2018.<ref name="8-K FEB 3 2018" />

In January 2021, New Avon Company announced its corporate name change to The Avon Company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Avon Company Announces Corporate Name Change to The Avon Company|url=https://about.avon.com/us-about/news/New-Avon-Company-Announces-Corporate-Name-Change-to-The-Avon-Company|url-status=live|access-date=August 12, 2021|website=about.avon.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419091719/https://about.avon.com/us-about/news/New-Avon-Company-Announces-Corporate-Name-Change-to-The-Avon-Company |archive-date=April 19, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2019, the Brazilian beauty company Natura agreed to buy Avon Products for more than $2bn via a share swap,<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 14, 2019|title=Avon Secures Shareholder Approval for Takeover by Natura|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/avon-secures-shareholder-approval-for-takeover-by-natura-2019-11-14|access-date=December 11, 2020|website=[[Nasdaq]]}}</ref> creating the world's fourth-largest beauty company.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Fontanella-Khan|first1=James|last2=Schipani|first2=Andres|date=May 22, 2019|title=Brazil's Natura confirms $2bn deal to buy Avon|url=https://www.ft.com/content/604dfb16-7cd8-11e9-81d2-f785092ab560 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/604dfb16-7cd8-11e9-81d2-f785092ab560 |archive-date=December 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 16, 2019|website=[[Financial Times]]|language=en-GB}}</ref> Under the deal's terms, Natura will hold 76% of the combined business with over $10 billion in annual revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natura & Co acquires Avon in all-stock $2 billion deal |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/natura-co-acquires-avon-in-all-stock-2-billion-deal--154835 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=cosmeticsbusiness.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-22 |title=Body Shop owner Natura to buy Avon for £1.6bn |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48375130 |access-date=2024-10-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Min |first=Sarah |date=2019-05-22 |title=Avon Products sold to Brazilian beauty retailer Natura & Co. - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/avon-products-sold-to-brazilian-beauty-retailer-natura-co/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In November 2023, Avon announced it would open stores in the United Kingdom for the first time in the company's history, augmenting its already existing network of 63 stores in Turkey.<ref><nowiki>{{Cite web|date=November 13, 2023|title=Avon to open physical shop in the UK for the first time |url=</nowiki>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67406434</ref> However, in August 2024, Avon Products filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection in an effort to settle its talc-based lawsuits.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/beauty/avon-products-files-for-bankruptcy-to-wrangle-talc-lawsuits/|title= Avon Products Files for Bankruptcy to Wrangle Talc Lawsuits|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024|website=Business of Fashion|language=en}}</ref>

==Business model and marketing==
[[File:Avon lady school 1363 Jerome Av jeh.JPG|thumb|right|240px|An Avon training center in [[the Bronx]]]]
Avon uses both [[door-to-door]] salespeople ("Avon ladies", as well as "Avon men") and brochures to advertise its products.<ref>{{cite book |title=Avon: Building the World's Premier Company for Women |last=Klepacki |first=Laura |year=2005 |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |isbn=0-471-71026-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZUPceXxVP4C|access-date=April 4, 2013}}</ref> Some Avon training centers have a small retail section with skin care products, such as creams, serums, makeup, and washes. Avon recruits sales representatives who sell beauty products, jewelry, accessories, and clothing.<ref name=washingtonpost>{{cite news|last1=Ehrenfreund|first1=Max|title=Avon splits with trade group, citing risk of pyramid schemes|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/16/avon-splits-with-trade-group-citing-risk-of-pyramid-schemes/|access-date=December 21, 2014|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=September 16, 2014}}</ref>

Some of the brand-names used by the company include Avon Color (including Power Stay, Make Up + Care, and Ultra Colour range),  Imari, Far Away, Avon Eve, Today Tomorrow Always, Black Suede, Avon Fashions, Anew, Clearskin, Naturals, Avon Care, Avon Senses, Skin So Soft among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avonworldwide.com/|title=AVON Embrace Your Power|last=Embrace Your Power|first= Avon|website=AVON Worldwide|language=en-US|access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref> According to the U.S. government, Avon has 5 million to 6 million sales representatives operating in over 100 countries as of 2014. Avon and its subsidiaries have 40,000 to 50,000 employees, 6,000 of which are in the United States.<ref name="crain's" />

Avon was an early member of the U.S. [[Direct Selling Association]], which was founded in 1910. The company left the association in 2014, saying that the trade group was not paying enough attention to the industry as a whole.<ref name=washingtonpost/>

==Controversies==
===American corruption charges===
Beginning in 2008, the conduct of various employees and executives of Avon were investigated for possible violations of the law, including bribery and violations of the [[Foreign Corrupt Practices Act]].<ref name="Reuters">
{{cite news
|last=Wohl
|date=April 13, 2010
|first=Jessica
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/avon-china-idUSN1318680420100413
|title=UPDATE 2-Avon suspends four execs in China bribery probe
|work=[[Reuters]] 
|access-date=June 29, 2020 }}</ref>

Avon began a probe of its China division after an internal whistleblower alleged bribery in June 2008.<ref name="Reuters"/> At least four executives, both in Asia and in the United States, were suspended in 2010,<ref name="Reuters"/> and later fired for their roles in the activities being investigated.<ref name=Bloomberg>
{{cite news
|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/avon-says-it-fired-four-executives-in-china-over-bribes.html |title=Avon Says It Probes Possible Corruption After Firing Four
|work=[[Bloomberg News]]
|access-date=June 29, 2020 }}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Avon spent over $170 million on legal fees and costs related to the investigation: $59 million in 2009 and $95 million in 2010, and $22.5 million for the first quarter of 2011.<ref name=NYTimes>
{{cite news
|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/the-high-price-of-internal-investigations/
|title=The High Price of Internal Inquiries
|work=N.Y. Times|date=May 6, 2011
|access-date=June 29, 2020 }}</ref> The final tally was about $500 million.

The Times reported that Avon would report the findings to the [[United States Department of Justice]] and the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) and try to negotiate the penalties that those entities may impose.<ref name=NYTimes/> On February 24, 2011, Avon filed a report with the Securities and Exchange commission highlighting the investigation as a corporate risk factor that could cause investor loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/8868/000119312511044531/d10k.htm#tx125165_2 |title=Avon 10-K report |publisher=Sec.gov |access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref>

In 2014, Avon settled the bribery charges for a total of $135 million; $68 million in criminal penalties, with the remainder in interest, [[disgorgement (law)|disgorgement]], and fines from a civil case brought by the SEC.<ref name="crain's">{{cite news|title=Avon Products settles bribery charges for $135M|url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20141218/RETAIL_APPAREL/141219842/avon-products-settles-bribery-charges-for-135m|access-date=December 21, 2014|work=Crain's New York Business|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Berfield|first1=Susan|title=Avon's Ugly China Bribery Probe Ends With a $135 Million Settlement|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-01/avons-ugly-china-bribery-probe-ends-with-135-million-settlement|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503204603/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-01/avons-ugly-china-bribery-probe-ends-with-135-million-settlement|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2014|access-date=December 21, 2014|work=Bloomberg Business Week|date=May 1, 2014}}</ref>

===Animal testing===
Avon vowed in 1989 that as a company located in the United States, it would no longer participate in animal testing.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.avoncompany.com/corporate-responsibility/about-cr/positions-policies/animal-welfare/|title=Avon Products, Inc. & Consumer Safety: Commitment to Science...Respect for Animal Welfare|website=www.avoncompany.com|access-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref> Avon has since claimed to be working globally to introduce safer methods of testing cosmetics that do not require animals. These methods include ''[[in vitro]]'' testing, [[computer simulation]]s, and testing cosmetics on human volunteers.<ref name=":0" />

Although Avon does not practice animal testing of its cosmetics that are sold in the United States, certain specialty products do require extensive testing in other countries. In China, specialty products that require degrees of animal testing include but are not limited to: sunscreen products, whitening/pigmentation products, and hair dye/perm or growth products.<ref name=":0" /> Despite laws that require animal testing in some countries, Avon chooses to distribute its products in those jurisdictions. Laws in various countries require companies to pay for animal testing through a commercial business in order to sell certain products in that country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/avon-tests-on-animals/|title=Urge Avon to Stop Paying for Cruel Tests on Animals in China|work=PETA|access-date=March 16, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Because Avon is not globally animal-testing free, [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA) has not included Avon on their cruelty-free list.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/avon-mary-kay-estee-lauder-and-revlon-are-paying-for-tests-on-animals/|title=Avon, Mary Kay, Estée Lauder (and Subsidiary MAC Cosmetics), and Revlon Are Paying for Tests on Animals|work=PETA|access-date=March 16, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peta.org/living/beauty/search-cruelty-free-companies-products/|title=Search for Cruelty-Free Companies, Products, and More|date=June 9, 2010|website=PETA|access-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref>

In 2019, Avon ended all regulatory-required animal testing, making it the first global beauty company selling in China to stop all animal testing of ingredients and products across all its brands by developing new ways to deliver products that do not require animal testing, such as reformulating products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avonworldwide.com/about-us/our-values/policies-positions/animal-welfare|title=Animal Welfare position {{!}} Avon|website=Avon Worldwide|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref> PETA has since announced that it has added Avon Products Inc. to their list of companies "Working for Regulatory Change".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avonworldwide.com/news/peta-recognizes-avons-change|title=PETA Recognizes Avon's Commitment to "Working for Regulatory Change"|website=Avon Worldwide|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref>

== Withdrawal from major markets ==
In October 2013, Avon announced the closure of its branch in [[France]] at the end of that month. Its French employees accused it of keeping the workers in the dark for months and not acting in line with the company's publicly stated values of being a socially responsible company that upholds values of trust, respect and integrity and a culture of "open and candid communication."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24522756|title=Avon to close its French operations|work=[[BBC]]|date=October 14, 2013|access-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref> As of January 2014, Avon France was in [[receivership]].<ref name="Avon France Said Seeking Receivership">{{cite web | url=http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/financial/avon-france-asks-to-enter-receivership-7398860?src=nl/mornReport/20140129 | title=Avon France Said Seeking Receivership | publisher=[[Women's Wear Daily]] | date=January 28, 2014 | access-date=January 29, 2014 | author=Weil, Jennifer}}</ref>

This was followed by an announcement via [[Facebook]] on February 15, 2018, that Avon Australia and New Zealand would close by the end of the year.<ref name="Avon Media Statement">{{cite web | url=http://beautynews.avon.com.au/avon/edm/announcement/media_statement_15Feb2018.pdf | title=Media Statement - 15 February 2018 | publisher=Avon | date=February 15, 2018 | access-date=February 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508195319/http://beautynews.avon.com.au/avon/edm/announcement/media_statement_15Feb2018.pdf | archive-date=May 8, 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref> This decision resulted in the loss of 220 jobs and 21,400 sales representatives. The company has attracted criticism for poor communication with its customers and employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/end-of-an-era-220-to-lose-jobs-as-avon-plans-to-quit-australia-and-nz-20180216-p4z0le.html|title=End of an era: 220 to lose jobs as Avon plans to quit Australia and NZ|first=Jenny|last=Noyes|date=February 16, 2018|website=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

Avon is still active in Russia and is recruiting more people and continuing to manufacture products as of January 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-28 |title=Beauty giant Avon under fire over Russia links |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67425366 |access-date=2024-01-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
{{Natura & Co|state=autocollapse}}
{{Multi-level marketing}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1886]]
[[Category:Cosmetics brands]]
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[[Category:Cosmetics companies of the United Kingdom]]
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[[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]]
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