Another suitor has entered the race to snap up The Body Shop, the British-based moral cosmetics chain which has been put up on the market.

Sky News understands that Aurelius Group, which owns companies together with the Lloyds Pharmacy chain, is among the many bidders for the corporate based by Anita Roddick and her husband, Gordon.

Banking sources mentioned that Epiris, the non-public fairness agency, and Elliott Advisors, the proprietor of bookseller Waterstones, additionally remained in competition to purchase The Body Shop.

It was unclear whether or not Alteri Investors, one other bidder, remained within the course of.

Owned by Natura, a Brazilian group, since 2017, The Body Shop employs about 10,000 individuals and operates roughly 3,000 shops in 70 nations.

Although it has struggled for worthwhile development for years, it retains a outstanding presence on British excessive streets.

Natura is working with bankers at Morgan Stanley on the sale and is known to be eager to achieve a provisional settlement on a sale by the top of this month.

Founded in 1976 by Roddicks, The Body Shop’s opposition to animal testing received it an enormous shopper following, however has in recent times seen its environmental and social duty credentials matched by many rivals.

It was owned by L’Oreal, the cosmetics large, previous to its sale to Natura.

Aurelius couldn’t be reached for remark.