PAI Partners, the French equity fund that bought Vivarte in 2004, is rumored to be ready to sell the big French retail group now, as long as it can fetch a price in the region of €2.5 billion. The report is said to have been only a trial balloon to attract potential investors, but one at least told us that he is not interested. Vivarte is the parent company of André, Minelli and other big chains of footwear and apparel stores in France. In 2003, prior to its acquisition, it had a turnover of more than €1.9 billion.