Retail group Maxeda is first trying to sell its V&D department stores and the La Place restaurant chains before it looks for potential buyers for its other fashion outlets, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Tuesday.

Maxeda announced it was undertaking a strategic review of its fashion business which includes the Bijenkorf, Hunkemöller and M&S Mode as well as V&D in February.
The paper bases its claims on talks with a number of people close to the sale. Maxeda itself declined to comment on the rumours but did say more than 10 different parties have come forward.

Private equity
Sources told the paper the sale may take place in stages because potential buyers for V&D and La Place are not interested in the other retail outlets.
In particular, private equity groups are interested in the 62 V&D department stores and 122 La Place restaurants, the paper said.
Maxeda is owned by private equity groups KKR, Cinven, Alpinvest and Permira. They bought, delisted and rebranded the Vendex KBB group in 2004. The paper said Maxeda’s fashion business booked turnover of €1.7bn last year.