Molton Brown, the maker of fashionable luxury consumer products sold in more than 70 countries, is on the verge of being sold to Kao Corporation, the Japanese cosmetics giant, in a £170m deal.

Molton Brown products including bath, body, skin and hair care products as well as cosmetics, leather goods and homeware, are sold in leading international department stores such as London's Selfridges and New York's Barneys. It also trades from 37 standalone sites in the UK.