Today, according to media reports, Elliott Advisors, the parent company of British book retailer Waterstones, has made indicative bids for The Body Shop in the past few weeks. It is currently uncertain whether Elliott is still pursuing the acquisition of the chain store.
At the end of August, Natura&Co, in a document, stated that its board had authorized the company to seek “strategic alternatives” for its subsidiary, The Body Shop, including the possibility of selling the business.
Currently, according to insiders, the auction process for The Body Shop, led by Morgan Stanley, is “progressing steadily,” and Natura&Co, the parent company of The Body Shop, is eager to reach a provisional agreement on the sale by the end of October.
It is reported that Elliott Advisors owns the book retailer Barnes & Noble and Waterstones, as well as the fashion accessory chain Claire’s. There have been public reports that the company has become increasingly active as a private equity investor in recent years and has also acquired the cinema operator Cineworld this year. However, Elliott Advisors has currently declined to respond to the matter of acquiring The Body Shop.
