Fashion house Chanel parades its independence as profits rise

PARIS (Reuters) - Luxury fashion group Chanel, whose star designer Karl Lagerfeld passed away in February, on Monday reaffirmed commitment to its independence after reporting higher annual sales and profits.The French company's move last year to publish financial results for the first time since it was founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel has fuelled speculation about a sale.But Chanel's Chief Financial Officer Philippe Blondiaux told Reuters on Monday: "In the most solemn and firm way that no IPO or..