Pepe Jeans Said to Hire Morgan Stanley to Sell Business

Pepe Jeans Group, the clothing retailer known for its denim and sportswear brands, hired Morgan Stanley to explore the sale of the business, according to people familiar with the matter.

The sale will include both the Pepe Jeans and Hackett brands and could fetch as much as 700 million euros ($941 million), the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. The company has attracted interest from buyout firms including KKR & Co., Permira Advisers LLP, CVC Capital Partners Ltd. and PAI Partners SAS as well as strategic companies, the people said.