Clarins has once again become the focus of intense speculation over an imminent bid from a major cosmetics or consumer group. One report has named the PPR group as keenly interested in a link-up of Clarins with its subsidiary Yves Saint Laurent Beauté. Speculation mid-month pushed Clarins' share price up by over 13% and the company is now valued at about €2.7bn.
Some market experts have warned that speculation of a takeover have rumbled on for months and Isabelle Enos-Letellier of B-Capital in Paris said Clarins was far from being an easily affordable prospect. However, the share price has improved by 187% over the past five years compared with 21% for L'Oréal, though L'Oréal's market growth in the past 12 month at 19% has outpaced Clarins with 10%.
Analysts at Credit Mutuel say that any future bidder will have to pay between €3bn and €3.4bn for the company in order to persuade the Courtin family to sell. There is also a suggestion that any purchaser would be likely to review the future of the perfumes production plant in Strasbourg with its staff of 500.