Stevens exec outlines buyout hints

The president of Chas. A. Stevens Co. says employees of itsCHAS subsidiary are interested in a possible buyout of thecareer-clothing unit, and several retailers, including one fromChicago, have looked at the troubled women's-clothing chain.

"One local retailer is interested in doing something with me tosave the (Stevens) name," John W. Lee II said Tuesday. RegardingCHAS, Lee said, "There's two entities, an out-of-town retailorganization, and an employee group that's interested in puttingtogether an investment package to take the CHAS stores off of us."The employee group "is working with attorneys and accountants" toprepare their bid, said Lee. Lee would not disclose …