Esprit aiming to offload US and Canadian operations

Assets are likely to be shown to a number of private-equity companies

New York - Esprit Holdings Ltd, the biggest Hong Kong-listed clothier, is exploring the sale of its US and Canadian operations, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Rothschild in New York has been hired to advise Esprit, said the people, who declined to be identified because the process isn't public.