At least four groups have submitted final bids for either all or parts of Blacks Leisure, the largest operator of outdoor sporting goods stores in the United Kingdom. British press reports that the two known bidders are JD Sports and Sports Direct. A third is Peter Jones, one of the stars of U.K. reality TV show Dragons' Den. The fourth is unknown.
According to the Guardian, Mountain Warehouse, which were interested in acquiring only small numbers of stores, have dropped out of the bidding process.
Accountant KPMG, which is organizing the bidding process, set up a deadline of Thursday for accepting bids. It will consider the offers before announcing a preferred bidder as early as Friday. The process will see Blacks put into formal insolvency before emerging soon after under new ownership, following a pre-arranged sale.
Blacks Leisure owns 98 Blacks outlets, 208 Millets branches and the Peter Storm and Eurohike brands.
Accountant KPMG, which is organizing the bidding process, set up a deadline of Thursday for accepting bids. It will consider the offers before announcing a preferred bidder as early as Friday. The process will see Blacks put into formal insolvency before emerging soon after under new ownership, following a pre-arranged sale.
Blacks Leisure owns 98 Blacks outlets, 208 Millets branches and the Peter Storm and Eurohike brands.
