The French group L'OREAL (turnover of EUR 10.7 billion in 1999) will be buying the American group CARSON (sales of USD 176 million for 1998/99), world leader in "ethnic" cosmetics (hair relaxers) for USD 250 million. The operation will involve two phases: to start, COSMAIR, L'OREAL's American subsidiary, will buy the shares of DNL PARTNERS and other shareholders in CARSON; a bid will then be launched on all CARSON shares listed on the New York stock exchange, at 5.20 dollars a share.