Fast Retailing, E.Land Interested in Buying J.Crew

Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing and South Korean fashion conglomerate E.Land Group are separately exploring a deal for large U.S. apparel chain J.Crew Group Inc, people familiar with the matter said. J.Crew, which was taken private by TPG Capital LP and Leonard Green & Partners LP for $2.8 billion in 2011, believes it should fetch at least $5 billion in any sale, one of the people said. It wasn't yet clear whether either Japan's Fast Retailing or Korea's E.Land have held any substantial discussions with J.Crew about a deal.