Rumours resurface of a potential Estée Lauder/YSL Beauté acquisition – 21/06/05

“Second sight”; The Moodie Report, January 2005
Earlier this year Chairman and CEO of YSL Beauté Chantal Roos told The Moodie Report:
Earlier this year Chairman and CEO of YSL Beauté Chantal Roos told The Moodie Report: “We have an excellent relationship [with PPR management]. We have presented our one-year and three-year plans; we have a clear vision; and we are well organised.”
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FRANCE/US. Neither The Estée Lauder Companies nor PPR (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute) has commented on speculation that the former may be poised to purchase Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, the Gucci Group’s beauty division.

The rumour was resurrected in a report carried by the La Lettre de L’Expansion publication, subsequently picked up by news agency AFX.

According to the article, the entire YSL division is up for sale, although Lauder is reportedly interested only in the fragrances and cosmetics business.

However, a report in today’s Women’s Wear Daily claimed that “knowledgeable market sources” had dismissed the possibility of such an acquisition.

YSL Beauté’s brands include the flagship Yves Saint Laurent, plus Zegna, Alexander McQueen, Oscar de la Renta, Van Cleef & Arpels, Stella McCartney and Boucheron, and would bring critical mass within fragrance to the Lauder portfolio, particularly within Europe.

Interestingly, the Lauder group recently announced a new partnership – and plans for a stand-alone brand – with the Gucci Group’s former Creative Director, Tom Ford.

Gucci Group’s beauty business is a profitable one, however, and therefore not considered to be “on watch”.

Earlier this year Chairman and CEO of YSL Beauté Chantal Roos told The Moodie Report: “We have an excellent relationship [with PPR management]. We have presented our one-year and three-year plans; we have a clear vision; and we are well organised.

“We are not a problem [financially]”¦we are number two in terms of turnover right after Gucci, and number two in terms of profit, so we are not in any way a concern.”

MORE STORIES ON ESTEE LAUDER/YVES SAINT LAURENT

YSL unveils summer look and the new masculine fragrance from Ermenegildo Zegna – 16/06/05

Estée Lauder signs multi-year licensing deal with Milan fashion house Missoni – 19/05/05

Tairo International takes on YSL Beauté – 25/04/05

Estée Lauder joins forces with designer Tom Ford – 12/04/05

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