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The owner of Toys R Us, WHP Global, is reportedly one of several potential buyers eyeing a takeover of iconic footwear brand, Hunter Boots.
According to Sky News, Marquee Brands, the owner of Ben Sherman, and Baozun, a Chinese e-commerce group which owns Gap’s Greater China operations, have also expressed an interest in acquiring the brand.
Authentic Brands Group, an American company behind Reebok and Ted Baker, was also said to be amongst the interested parties, Sky reported earlier this month.
Sky said the auction of the business is reaching a “critical stage”, with a bid deadline set for the end of this week. It comes only weeks after Hunter Boot secured £5m in emergency funding from existing shareholders and a further £2m from lenders.
The company was last saved in 2020 through a £16.5m capital injection which in part came from Pall Mall Legacy, a fund backed by Goldman Sachs and Three Hills Capital Partners.
Pall Mall Legacy currently owns the majority stake in Hunter, while private equity firm Searchlight Capital Partners and Pentland Group, a sportswear company behind brands including Speedo, hold the remainder.
Hunter, which is being advised by AlixPartners on the auction, is best known for its range of wellington boots. It is one of only 10 companies to hold two royal warrants.
Hunter and WHP Global have been contacted for further comment.
