Dive Brief:

• Ann Inc. has been working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. for months and is now actively exploring a sale and seeking a potential buyer, sources have told Bloomberg.

• The retail company has been under pressure from investors since late last summer to consider a sale.

• The New York-based Ann Inc. has seen sales at its mainly mall-based Ann Taylor, Loft, and Lou & Grey stores slumping.

Dive Insight:

Beleaguered Ann Inc. has been struggling along with other mall-based apparel retailers, and in November also said it was hurt by the West Coast port slowdown. But the fact that its offerings haven’t quite connected with its customers is a big picture problem, and the company probably needs a deal.