Celebrity favourite lingerie brand Agent Provocateur is set to be put up for sale with a £200million price tag.
Its owners, private equity firm 3i, are seeking to appoint bankers to manage the sale. The company initially took a majority stake in the business in 2007, paying £60million.
The brand is well known for its marketing campaigns using glamorous supermodels such as Helena Christensen and Kate Moss.
The company has 88 boutiques worldwide after opening shops in Milan, Hong Kong, Sydney and Montreal,
The women’s lingerie company has further plans for boutiques in Chengdu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto and Calgary.
The brand was founded by Joseph Corré, the son of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and his then wife, Serena Rees in 1994.
Mr Corré stepped down in 2009 but maintains a minority stake in the firm.
Agent Provocateur’s profit before tax more than doubled last year to £3.7million as it expanded its global business.
Total sales for the women’s lingerie retailer increased by 24.5% to £39million.
