// Toys R Us and Ben Sherman owner WHP Global is among rival suitors for takeover of Hunter
// Earlier this month, Reebok and Ted Baker owner Authentic Brands Group had entered the bidding for Hunter
Toys R Us and Ben Sherman owner WHP Global is among rival suitors weighing up offers for footwear brand Hunter.
WHP Global, which owns the toy retailer, and Marquee Brands, owner of Ben Sherman, have both shown interest in Hunter ahead of a bid deadline this week.
Baozun, a Chinese digital commerce group which owns Gap’s Greater China operations, was also among the interested parties, Sky News reported.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
Earlier this month, Reebok and Ted Baker owner Authentic Brands Group had entered the bidding for Hunter.
The auction of the business is reaching a critical stage weeks after Hunter secured a multimillion pound funding lifeline, with existing shareholders injecting £5m into the business and lenders contributing a further £2m.
Hunter is working with advisers at AlixPartners on the auction.
The company was last saved in 2020 through a £16.5m capital injection, part of which came from Pall Mall Legacy, a fund backed by Goldman Sachs and Three Hills Capital Partners, an existing shareholder.
Pall Mall Legacy owns the majority of Hunter’s shares, with Searchlight Capital Partners, a private equity firm, and Pentland Group, the sportswear giant behind brands such as Speedo, holding the remainder.
