two partial takeover bids submitted

Placed in receivership by the Paris Commercial Court on Thursday, April 4, British beauty chain The Body Shop France is attracting interest from two buyers who have filed partial takeover bids with the Paris Registry. These are Horizon Pharma, a specialist in the distribution of pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products, and Berger International, a specialist in candles and home fragrances.
 

Controlled by ZLZ Holding, Horizon Pharma also took over the Parashop network in 2020 at the Marseilles court. In its offer, the company proposes to take over 28 businesses and 105 of the 238 jobs on May 27 for €3. The buyer also indicated that it wanted to take over the stocks. Horizon Pharma also wants to set up shops-in-shops in Parashop shops.  
 
The second candidate for the takeover is Berger International, the holding company of the Emosia group, which specialises in candles and home fragrances with its My Jolie Candle and Maison Berger Paris brands, and which is already a supplier and creditor of The Body Shop through one of its subsidiaries, Bougies La Française.

The company wants to take over 17 commercial leases and maintain 21 jobs for €200,000. The company, which boasts sales of €110 million and 500 employees, and which took over My Jolie Candle in July 2022, when it was in receivership, intends to transform some of The Body Shop shops into a new multi-brand format, including My Jolie Candle and Maison Berger Paris.
 
In turmoil since the takeover by German investment fund Aurelius at the end of 2023, the British cosmetics chain, which filed for insolvency in France on March 19 this year, has 51 shops in France, including 13 in the Paris region, 38 in other regions and six franchises, according to the announcement published by the receivers. As a reminder, the company has been granted a six-month observation period to implement a recovery plan.

Across the Channel, The Body Shop’s parent company is also looking for a buyer. Next and retail giant Marks & Spencer are said to be in the running.