Margot’s favourite in line for £1bn sale
LUXURY cosmetics giants are weighing up a £1 billion takeover of skin care brand Aesop.
Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido and Luxembourg-based sustainable beauty retailer L’Occitane are among the suitors, according to sources of The Mail on Sunday.
CVC Capital Partners, investor in the Six Nations Rugby Championship, is also said to be considering a bid for the label – a favourite of Australian actress Margot Robbie.
Aesop was founded by hairdresser Dennis Paphitis in 1987 in Australia. He sold the brand to Natura & Co a decade ago. Sources said Natura & Co – a Brazilian group which also owns the Body Shop and Avon – is sounding out possible buyers. Advisers to Natura & Co are calling for indicative offers for Aesop to be submitted by the end of this month.
One source said Groupe L’Occitane is working with advisers from Corporate Finance International on a possible offer.
Analysts suggested that Aesop could be sold for between £1 billion and £1.5 billion.
The MoS reported in August that Natura & Co was seeking to demerge or sell The Body Shop. It later announced that it might list Aesop on the US stock exchange.