Victoria’s Secret owner sells La Senza to private equity firm

L Brands has sold La Senza to put a renewed focus on Victoria’s Secret and other major brands.

The Columbus-based company will sell 100 percent of La Senza’s assets to an affiliate of Regent LP, a global private equity firm, in exchange for the company’s agreement to assume La Senza’s operating liabilities and consider L Brands upon a future sale of the brand.

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Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Bath & Body works are L Brands biggest brand. There are dozens of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works locations in Ohio but only 11 La Senza’s locations in the United States, including in Columbus. The brand was stronger in Canada with 118 stores.

The company, which operates a call center that employs thousands at its Kettering location, also recently announced closure of its Henri Bendel handbag and accessory brand after the holiday season. There is a Henri Bendel store in Columbus.

The moves are part of L Brands focus shift to larger brands. Most of the company’s sales come from its leading lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret, with stores in the Dayton Mall, Mall at Fairfield Commons, The Greene Town Center, Kettering, Upper Valley Mall and Liberty Center.

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