Body Shop considers takeover bids

Body Shop is reportedly in takeover talks with bidders interested in snapping up the £200m business.

Unilever is reportedly among the contenders seeking to buy the entire group or the 25% stake owned by co-founders Gordon and Anita Roddick.

It's thought Body Shop directors are preparing to discuss the approaches at a board meeting planned for today.

A statement to the Stock Exchange should follow.

The interest comes after the collapse in June of talks with potential purchase Grupo Omnilife of Mexico, which had been considering a bid valuing Body Shop at around £290m.

Omnilife, having said it may make a bid, subsequently failed to start due diligence work on Body Shop's accounts or even to appoint advisers.

Since the Omnilife talks foundered, several other potential buyers have expressed interest in Body Shop, believed to include another British health and beauty chain, Lush.

The Roddicks founded Body Shop in Brighton in 1976 and rapidly grew it into an international chain, selling natural health and beauty products.

They set a precedent by refusing to stock products tested on animals. It has around 1,800 shops in 49 countries.