SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian cosmetic maker Natura &Co late on Monday posted better-than-expected core earnings for the second quarter, but saw its bottom line affected by write-offs as U.S. subsidiary Avon Products filed for bankruptcy protection.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Natura &Co is a cosmetic giant that has been pushing for a turnaround and shedding global assets, including the sales of the Aesop and The Body Shop brands, as it turned its focus to Latin America to integrate Avon and its namesake brand.

BY THE NUMBERS

Natura posted net revenue of 7.35 billion reais ($1.34 billion) for the April-June quarter, up 5.4% from a year earlier and above the 6.78 billion forecast by analysts polled by LSEG.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 14.2% to 803.5 million reais. Analysts expected 763.8 million reais.

KEY QUOTE

"We started to see a better trend in the top-line dynamics reflecting a strong performance of the Natura brand, with Brazil and Mexico accelerating pace," CEO Fabio Barbosa said.

API CHAPTER 11

Natura said that Avon Products (API), a U.S.-based non-operating holding that it bought in 2020 as part of its acquisition of Avon, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to deal with high debt.

Natura &Co is API's largest creditor and supports the move, committing to a $43 million debtor-in-possession financing and a $125 million offer to buy Avon's non-U.S. operations.

API's move led Natura &Co to post a net loss of 859 million reais in the second quarter, wider than last year's 732 million-real loss, mainly due to write-offs.

MARKET REACTION

JP Morgan analysts said Natura &Co continued to show a good trajectory to deliver the expected results from the Avon integration in Latin America, but results were still polluted by many one-offs and Avon International.

"In this noisy context, we expect a positive share price reaction to the better than anticipated results from LatAm."

($1 = 5.4929 reais)