LA SENZA OWNER PONDERS SALE
The parent company of La Senza says it is pursuing “alternatives” for the beleaguered Canadian lingerie retailer after about a decade of ownership. News of L Brands Inc.’s possible search for a buyer boosted its shares by 11.7 per cent to an intraday high of nearly US$32 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. By Friday’s close, the Ohio-based company traded up at US$31.38. L Brands, which also owns Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, forecasts La Senza will post an operating loss of US$40 million and sales of about US$250 million this year. It has been battling competition from American Eagle Outfitters’ Aerie as well as newer lingerie rivals such as Adore Me. Its shares have plunged by about 68 per cent since October 2015, when they hovered at around US$96. L Brands bought La Senza, which was founded in Quebec, for about US$700 million in 2007.