Hunter Boots, which sold its intellectual property rights to Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) in early June, has gone into administration, the equivalent of bankruptcy in the U.K.
According to The Herald, filings at Companies House show Hunter, known for its Original Wellington boot, went into administration on June 5, with a subsequent filing showing that it changed its name to HBL Realisations Limited on June 14.
Authentic reported that it had acquired Hunter’s intellectual property on June 2.
The filings show that the Edinburgh-based company went through a combination of supply chain problems, Brexit, inflation, and unseasonably warm weather which led to its move into administration. Papers filed by the company’s administrator, AlixPartners, said the company had faced “significant challenges since 2019,” according to Bloomberg.
Debts are listed at about £115 million ($146 million).
Hunter Boot’s only store in the U.K. in Oxfordshire closed, and its e-commerce operations were disabled. A message on the company’s website reads, “We’re creating a new experience for you. Sign up below to be notified when we launch!”
