Ralph Lauren May Launch an IPO for His Fashion Empire

Ralph Lauren, scion of U.S. fashion designers for men and women, could take his empire public in an initial offering led by Goldman, Sachs & Co. as soon as April, a trade publication reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

The IPO would probably be for about a 15% to 20% stake in the company, which had revenue last year of $4 billion to $5 billion, analysts said, adding that the financial health of the company would ultimately determine how well the IPO would fare.

The proposed offering would be a way for Goldman Sachs to cash out on a $135-million 1994 investment that gave it a 28% stake in the New York-based fashion company, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

Polo/Ralph Lauren and Goldman Sachs declined to comment.

Word of a Lauren IPO has been spreading in fashion circles for the last two months, said Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard’s Retail Marketing Report.