Ralph Lauren May Launch an IPO for His Fashion Empire
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Ralph Lauren, scion of U.S. fashion designers for men and women, could take his empire public in an initial offering led by Goldman, Sachs & Co. as soon as April, a trade publication reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
The IPO would probably be for about a 15% to 20% stake in the company, which had revenue last year of $4 billion to $5 billion, analysts said, adding that the financial health of the company would ultimately determine how well the IPO would fare.
The proposed offering would be a way for Goldman Sachs to cash out on a $135-million 1994 investment that gave it a 28% stake in the New York-based fashion company, Women’s Wear Daily reported.
Polo/Ralph Lauren and Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
Word of a Lauren IPO has been spreading in fashion circles for the last two months, said Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard’s Retail Marketing Report.
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