Brazil's Natura explored divesting cosmetics group Avon International - FT

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura has explored selling most of its Avon brand's international businesses, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Natura rapidly grew through high-profile acquisitions in recent years, including the purchases of The Body Shop, Aesop and Avon International, but ended up struggling with profitability.

It sold its subsidiary The Body Shop last month to private investor Aurelius Group in a deal with an enterprise value of 207 million pounds ($260.84 million).

In May, Natura said it would combine the operations of its Natura and Avon brands in Latin America to help expand its products portfolio and reduce costs.

Natura, which does not own Avon in the United States, is considering exit strategies for Avon International including a divestment, FT said.

Avon International has operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific, the newspaper report added.

Natura did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

($1 = 0.7936 pounds) (Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)