Coty and Interparfums deny report of talks regarding Boss, Burberry perfume licenses

LONDON/PARIS, April 16 (Reuters) – Coty on Thursday said it is not in talks to sell any ​of its prestige brand ‌licenses, denying a report by luxury news site Miss Tweed that the U.S. beauty company was discussing selling its Hugo ‌Boss ​and Burberry licenses ⁠to Paris-based Interparfums.

“Any ⁠suggestion that Coty is in talks to transfer or sell prestige brand licences is categorically false and ​without merit,” a Coty spokesperson said in a statement to ⁠Reuters.

Interparfums CEO Philippe ⁠Benacin also denied that any ​talks were taking place.

“There are currently ​no discussions whatsoever underway,” he said.

U.S.-listed ‌Coty, which withdrew its full-year guidance in February and warned on its third-quarter profits, had said ⁠it would focus on core brands under interim CEO Markus Strobel who has been ⁠tasked ‌with turning around the ⁠company’s performance.

Those include the Hugo ​Boss ‌and Burberry fragrance lines ​which are ⁠among Coty’s “prestige” brands and not part of a strategic review underway for its makeup brands.

(Reporting by Helen Reid in London and Dominique Patton ​in Paris)