PARIS — Kao Corp. has signed an agreement to accumulate Australian sun care brand Bondi Sands, as the sweetness category heats up.

The Japanese beauty giant and owner of brands including John Frieda, Jergens, Curéal and Bioré is making the acquisition of Bondi Sands Australia Pty. Ltd., and related Bondi Sands firms, through Kao’s wholly owned subsidiaries Kao Australia Pty. Ltd. and Kao USA Inc.

Financial terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.

The deal dovetails with Kao’s technique to make skincare one in all its key growth drivers within the midterm.

Sun care is a beauty category in high demand — and growing swiftly — today, due partially to global warming.

The sun care market is estimated to achieve $14.54 billion in 2023, up 8.8 percent on-year, and is projected to grow 7.4 percent between 2023 and 2024, then 7.3 percent between 2024 and 2025, in response to Euromonitor International.

“Growing consumer awareness of skin cancer and other sun-related health problems is predicted to drive value and volume growth for all sun care categories within the forecast period,” said Brando Coleman, research analyst at Euromonitor.

Bondi Sands, founded in 2012 in Melbourne, Australia, is a specialist in self-tanning, sun care, skincare and body products, that are sold in greater than 32 countries, including Australia, the U.K. and U.S.

“Their high-quality, distinctive formulations combined with sustainable practices have gained a loyal consumer base,” Kao said in an announcement released Tuesday. “In Australia, where sun care awareness is amazingly high, Bondi Sands has a number one share of the self tanning-market, enabling consumers to realize a phenomenal, healthy tan without the damaging effects of the sun.”

Bondi Sands said its mission is to create easy-to-use products that give a natural-looking tan at a reasonable price. Alongside sun care, its range includes skin look after after-sun use.

The Bondi Sands acquisition will give Kao an even bigger give attention to the skin protection segment.

“By leveraging Kao’s vast UV care technologies within the Japanese market and self-tanning technologies within the U.S. market, Kao will expand its global business portfolio an further speed up its business growth,” the corporate said.

“Bondi Sands is an incredible brand and an ideal fit for the Kao Consumer Care Business portfolio,” said Karen Frank, president of Consumer Care Business, Americas and EMEA, within the statement.

“Quality, innovation, environmental responsibility, accessibility and community are on the forefront of every little thing [the brand] does, ideally aligning Bondi Sands to our own brand values and company philosophy, which we call the ‘Kao Way,’” Frank said.

“The addition of Bondi Sands to our consumer family of brands will greatly advance our mission to be the preeminent leader in the worldwide skin protection business and proceed our journey of offering diverse products that promote a ‘kirei’ lifestyle that’s healthy, inclusive and sustainable for all,” she continued.

There are synergies between the 2 groups.

“Kao’s values and principles match those of Bondi Sands, as we each share an unyielding commitment to delivering modern products that protect the skin and enhance the lives of our valued customers worldwide,” said Shaun Wilson, cofounder, chief executive officer of Bondi Sands.

“The combination of Kao’s renowned scientific and technological resources into our operations is an unparalleled opportunity that may significantly contribute to the exponential growth of our brand, empowering us to further expand our product offerings and advance our research and development initiatives,” he said. “With this partnership, we will now confidently explore untapped markets, reach more customers world wide and proceed to meet our company mission.”