Insistent rumors indicate that Prada is considering again a stock...

Insistent rumors indicate that Prada is considering again a stock market introduction, but probably not before the 2nd half of 2007. A similar project was shelved in 2000, but this time Prada looks in much better shape, having shed most or all of its loss-making activities. The high stock market valuation of Hermès, whose core business is in leathergoods as in the case of Prada, is whetting appetites. Prada’s main banker, Banca Intesa, may acquire a shareholding of about 5 percent in Prada prior to its flotation.