HINGHAM, Mass. (AP) -- Talbots Inc. is extending for a second time its talks with Sycamore Partners about an acquisition offer, the retailer said Wednesday.

Talbots says it has extended the period of time during which it will talk solely with the private equity firm about its $211 million takeover offer until Thursday.

The first time Talbots extended the exclusivity period was a week ago, when it announced that the talks would continue until Wednesday.

Earlier this month Sycamore offered to buy Talbots for $3.05 per share. That's up from its prior offer of $3 per share for the Hingham, Mass. company, which it made in December.

Talbots, which sells women's clothing and accessories, has struggled for some time and posted annual losses for four of the five past years.

The company tried to reverse its downward spiral by cutting jobs, closing stores, lowering inventory, limiting marketing spending and trimming employee hours. But Talbots continues to look for other solutions to its woes. Its management has said it is considering all its strategic alternatives and is seeking a new leader for the company.

Talbots had 517 stores in 46 states and Canada at the end of fiscal 2011.

Its shares finished at $2.32 in trading on Tuesday. Over the past year, its shares have traded in a range of $1.46 to $4.80.