EDOB Abwicklungs AG (Escada) has reportedly held merger talks to acquire St. John Knits International Inc. from Vestar Capital Partners. Rothschild is running the auction of St. John Knits. Officials at Escada and Rothschild couldn't be reached for comment and Vestar officials declined to comment, New York Post reported. Other prospective bidders for St. John Knits are The Jones Group Inc. and Lion Capital LLP. Insiders said St. John Knits could fetch as much as $300 million.

Vestar Capital Partners has put St. John Knits International Inc. up for sale. Vestar owns a majority stake in St. John. Vestar has appointed Rothschild Group to seek a buyer. St. John has annual revenues of about $400 million, according to reports. Vestar and St. John refused to comment on the reports, Carol Makovich, spokeswoman for Vestar, said.

Ralph Toledano, former chairman and chief executive officer of Chlo International, has been named chairman of the board at St. John Knits International Inc. Toledano, who has been on St. John's board since earlier 2011, succeeds James P. Kelley, who has served as chairman since 2003 and has been on the board since 1999. Kelley will remain a board member. He is a founding partner and president of St. John's majority shareholder, Vestar Capital Partners. Toledano, a well-respected executive, headed Chlo, a unit of Compagnie Financiere Richemont, for 11 years before stepping down last August. Glenn McMahon, ceo of St. John, will continue in his role and will report to Toledano. McMahon joined St. John as ceo in 2007, having been president of Dolce & Gabbana USA. The company announced another shop-in-shop is planned for Tsum in Moscow later 2011.