YANKEE COS <YNK> UNIT TO SELL ASSSETS Yankee Cos Inc's Eskey Inc <ESK> subsidiary said it reached an agreement in principle to sell its Eskey's Yale E. Key Inc subsidiary to a new concern formed by Key's management and a private investor for about 15.5 mln dlrs. As part of sale, Eskey said the buyers will assume the 14.5 mln dlrs of publicly held Eskey 10-3/4 pct debentures due 2003. It said the debentures will continue to be converted into Yankee preferred. The remainder of the price will be a one mln dlr note to Eskey. Yankee said the sale will result in a loss of 1.5 mln dlrs.