Sports Direct International Plc, the United Kingdom’s largest sporting goods chain, is in discussions to become the stalking horse bidder in a bankruptcy auction of Eastern Outfitters LLC, the parent of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, according to a report from Reuters. A Chapter 11 filing is expected in coming days.
Eastern Outfitters emerged from bankruptcy proceedings in July 2016.
Last June, Sports Direct and Modell’s Sporting Goods were reportedly weighing an 11th-hour bid for up to 200 of Sport Authorities stores leases just before the chain moved to liquidate. Sports Direct also bid for Sports Authority’s intellectual property but lost out to Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc.
Photo courtesy Eastern Mountain Sports
