NEW YORK, Aug 2, 2002/ --- Japanese soap-maker Kao Corporation, through its U.S.-based subsidiary The Andrew Jergens Company, has bought John Frieda Professional Hair Care, Inc. for $450 million.

Frieda's trademarks -- for the hair care lines Frizz-Ease, Sheer Blonde, Beach Blonde, Ready To Wear, and Relax -- will be acquired by Kao for $340 million.

All corporate stock and additional assets of the popular Frieda brand will be acquired by The Andrew Jergens Company. The acquisition is scheduled for completion in early September, pending approval from authorities.

Founded in 1990, the Connecticut-based John Frieda Professional Hair Care line pulls in around $160 million in annual sales. Frizz-Ease has made hair care product history by remaining ranked in the top ten for eight years running, and Frizz-Ease Hair Serum is the number one styling product in all of hair care.

"We see this as an opportunity to combine our creative concepts with their unsurpassed research and development capabilities in order to maximize our growth potential in an entirely new way," said Gail Federici, John Frieda Professional Hair Care president and CEO of the acquisition.

The Tokyo-based Kao Corporation, which makes soaps and other beauty products, hopes this deal with offer long-term growth opportunity for its expansion into North America.

John Frieda Salons - in London, New York and Los Angeles -- are not leveraged in the deal, and will continue operating independently of this agreement.