Inter Parfums SA (ITP.FR) is interested in buying Hermes International SCA's (RMS.FR) 45% stake in fashion house Jean-Paul Gaultier, the French perfume company's Chief Executive Philippe Benacin told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

"We're interested," Benacin said in a telephone interview. He added he did not have information on the other candidates and isn't sure his company would be selected to purchase the stake.

Inter Parfums would be a "French solution" for the stake in Jean-Paul Gaultier, which is seeking a partner to accelerate development. As a company that doesn't have any activity in fashion, it would leave broad artistic freedom to the designer, Benacin said.

Hermes Friday said it had entered negotiations with several potential acquirers for its stake in the fashion house.

Jean-Paul Gaultier has an haut couture business as well as perfume, licensed to Beaute Prestige International, a subsidiary of Japan-based Shiseido Co. LTD. (4911.TO).

According to recent press reports, Spanish group Puig Beauty & Fashion; Suiss luxury goods group Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA (CFR.VX); and Chinese Li & Fung LTD. (0494.HK) are also interested in buying the stake.

-By Amelie Baubeau, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40 17 17 57; amelie.baubeau@dowjones.com
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