Private equity firm KKR & Co. (KKR) has entered into exclusive talks to buy a majority stake in French fashion brands Maje, Sandro and Claudie Pierlot, Reuters reported on its website Saturday citing a person familiar with the transaction.

The brands are partially owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (MC.FR) Chief Executive Bernard Arnault and have an enterprise value of 650 million euros, the report cited the source as saying.

KKR rival Carlyle Group LP (CG) was the runner-up in the process, in which French private equity firm Eurazeo (RF.FR) and Hong Kong-based holding company Swire Pacific Ltd. (0019.HK) were also contenders, the source said.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/30/us-sandro-kkr-idUSBRE92T05Q20130330

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