Is P&G Courting Clarins?

Procter & Gamble Co. has been named among several potential buyers of the luxury skin-care firm Clarins SA, an acquisition that would further fortify its global position in the beauty business, according to an article in the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Other possible suitors of the French company, whose chairman died March 23, include L’Oreal SA, Estee Lauder Cos. and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vitton SA. The firms were listed by HSBC Holdings Plc in a note, according to Bloomberg.

Chairman Jacques Courtin-Clarins’ death fueled takeover speculation that caused Clarins’ shares to climb at their highest rate in four years — 11.6 percent over two days. That said, HSBC surmised the company’s CEO, Christian Courtin-Clarins, and his brother Oliver will likely continue to run the company. If they do decided to sell, however, there would be many interested parties.

For Procter, based in Cincinnati, Clarins would strengthen its presence in the luxury skin-care market, an arena it has been entering organically through enhanced development of its Olay line.

Procter declined comment on a potential purchase.