Exclusive-Buyout firm Sycamore vies to take Nordstrom private, sources say

By Anirban Sen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sycamore Partners is one of the buyout equity firms that have expressed interest in taking U.S. department store Nordstrom private, according to people familiar with the matter.

Nordstrom said last month that CEO Erik Nordstrom and his brother Pete, the company's president, were exploring options to take the retailer private, confirming a Reuters report that had been published in March.

Negotiations will take several weeks and there is no certainty that Sycamore, which owns regional U.S. department store operator Belk, or any other private equity suitor will reach a deal, the sources said, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential.

Sycamore declined to comment while representatives for Nordstrom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.