Lion Capital Is Said to Push American Apparel to Consider Sale

By Nick Turner

Lion Capital, the hedge fund that formerly backed American Apparel Inc. (APP), urged the clothing chain to consider strategic alternatives such as a sale of the company, a person with knowledge of the matter said.
American Apparel received a letter from Lion on Sunday asking the retailer to form a special committee to review its options, the person said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private. Lion also said it plans to name founding partner Lyndon Lea to American Apparel’s board instead of previous nominee Gene Montesano, one of the entrepreneurs behind Lucky Brand Jeans, the person said.
The move adds pressure to a company already reeling from an acrimonious split with Dov Charney, its founder and former chief executive officer. Lion has been a longtime ally of the controversial Charney, who is trying to reassert his influence at the retail chain after he was fired this month.
Lion, which already has another director at American Apparel, has the power to appoint board members under an earlier financing agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported
on the letter earlier today, citing unidentified people.
Charney, 45, is working with private-equity firm Irving Place Capital on a deal to buy American Apparel that would involve the executive returning to American Apparel in some capacity, a person with knowledge of the matter said earlier. American Apparel’s board confirmed last week it received a takeover proposal for as much as $1.40 a share, though it said it remains focused on turning the company around.

Source: Hicks, Muse, Tate & First Inc. via Bloomberg

Lion Capital also said it plans to name founding partner Lyndon Lea, pictured, to... Read More

The board views the bid as significantly too low for a retailer on the verge of a comeback, the person said today. No other bidders have emerged, and the board is unlikely to form a special committee on the basis of the offer supported by Charney, the person said.
Lion was an investor in American Apparel from 2009 to 2013 and more recently provided credit to the retailer. As part of a rescue deal earlier this year, investment firm Standard General bought out a $10 million loan that Lion had made to American Apparel.
American Apparel, based in Los Angeles, declined to comment while Lion didn’t respond to a request for comment.