New Look, the privately-owned UK fashion retailer, may be put up for sale by its private equity owners Permira and Apax.

Permira and Apax had planned to float New Look on the stock market over the next six months. However, sources predict that they may be influenced by the disappointing performance of Debenhams following its flotation, and opt for a sale instead. 

New Look was first floated on the LSE in 1998, before CEO Phil Wrigley took the company private in 2004.

Any buyer would be expected to come from a fellow private equity group. 

New Look provides up to date fashion trends at low prices and is the UK's fourth largest retailer for womenswear. In 2006, the company also opened new stores in Belgium and France. 

For the past financial year, New Look reported group sales of £862m and profits of £174m.