Private equity investor AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (LSE:0W1D) is in talks to buy beauty products chain The Body Shop International Limited, which has been put up for sale by its Brazilian owner Natura &Co Holding S.A. (BOVESPA:NTCO3), a source familiar with the talks told Reuters. If completed, the deal is expected to value The Body Shop at a lower price than the GBP 400 million ?

GBP 500 million ($485.20 million-$606.50 million) suggested in some media reports, the source, who did not wish to be identified, said. Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura said in August that its board of directors had authorized the company to search for "strategic alternatives" for its subsidiary The Body Shop, including a potential sale of the business. Natura bought The Body Shop from L'Oréal S.A. (ENXTPA:OR) in 2017.

Natura and Aurelius declined to comment while The Body Shop did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The talks were first reported by Sky News.