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A decade ago, the high prices for Wild North and Canada Goose coats (seen above) might have seemed exorbitant, but the parade of Canada Goose insignia down any city street proves people are willing to make an investment in staying warm.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail

Canada Goose Inc. is planning to go public as soon as next month, people with knowledge of the matter said, in an initial public offering that could value the company at about $2-billion.

The Toronto-based retailer, backed by Bain Capital and known for its trademark $900 parkas with coyote fur-lined hoods, is aiming to go public in February or March, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.

Canada Goose is planning on selling 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the company to the public in both the U.S. and in its home country, said one of the people, implying an IPO size of $200-million to $300-million.

In 2013, when Bain acquired a majority stake in Canada Goose, the company was valued at about $250-million, the person said. Terms weren't disclosed at the time.

The last retail company to go public on a U.S. exchange was rugged apparel maker Duluth Holdings Inc. in November, 2015, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Canadian retailer Aritzia Inc. raised $460-million in September, including an overallotment, the largest Canadian IPO of the year amid a dearth of listings.

In the past decade, only a dozen apparel or shoe companies have listed shares in the U.S. and Canada combined, the data compiled by Bloomberg show. The biggest such IPO was from yoga-pants maker Lululemon Athletica Inc., which raised $377-million in 2007, including an overallotment.

Representatives of Canada Goose and Bain declined to comment.

In recent years, buyers have flocked to the luxury brand, lending cachet to wearers sporting the brand's trademark circular label. In November, Canada Goose opened a flagship store in New York.

Canada Goose hasn't always targeted the luxury winter-weather buyer. The company was founded in a small warehouse in Toronto in 1957 as Metro Sportswear Ltd., specializing in woollen vests, raincoats and snowmobile suits.

The company employs more than 1,000 people worldwide, according to its website. Dani Reiss, the company's chief executive officer and grandson of its founder, Sam Tick, retained a minority position in the company at the time of the Bain deal.

Credit Suisse Group AG, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. are leading the offering, people familiar with the matter said in November.

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Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 28/03/24 4:00pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
ATZ-T
Aritzia Inc
-0.51%37.4
DLTH-Q
Duluth Holdings Cl B
-0.61%4.9
GS-N
Goldman Sachs Group
+0.59%417.69
LULU-Q
Lululemon Athletica
+0.31%390.65

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