French Connection has announced it is in talks with four interested parties regarding a potential sale of the business.

The retailer, which confirmed earlier this month it is mulling a sale, said in a strategic review update on Friday (19 October) it has commenced preliminary discussions with four parties and has had conversations with several others regarding the company’s plans.

US firm Neuberger Berman, which bought Marquee Brands, the owner of British shirt maker Ben Sherman and Italian shoe brand Bruno Magli, in February, is understood to be among the interested buyers, as is a mix of European and US private equity firms.

The retailer said that while there can be no certainty that an offer will be made for the company, nor as to the terms on which any offer will be made, its board expects the strategic review – including the formal sale process – to conclude during the first half of 2019.

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