Poundland’s management team is reportedly in advanced talks over a potential buyout deal that could safeguard up to 11,000 jobs.
The group, which includes Poundland boss Barry Williams, is understood to be negotiating with an unnamed financial backer as it looks to take control of the business. Former Asda chief and ex-Poundland boss Andy Bond is also reportedly involved in the talks.
The discussions come after Poundland owner Gordon Brothers appointed Alvarez & Marsal last month to oversee a sale of the retailer, with a reported £30m price tag.
Other interested parties are thought to include Poundstretcher owner Fortress and Modella Capital, which owns Hobbycraft and TG Jones. Neither is involved in the management-led proposal.
Poundland currently employs around 11,000 people across approximately 600 stores.
It has shown signs of an improving performance in recent months, reporting 3.3 per cent like-for-like sales growth in its latest quarter and saying profitability was on a “strongly improving trajectory”.
It expects pre-tax earnings to be around £80m better than last year, when it posted an £85m pre-tax loss for the year to the end of September 2025.
Gordon Brothers acquired Poundland from Pepco Group for £1 in June 2025 and committed £80m to its turnaround.
The chain subsequently embarked on a major restructuring programme, which resulted in around 149 store closures and approximately 2,200 job losses.
Poundland has since refocused its offer around £1 products and relaunched its Pep & Co clothing range after changes to its fashion proposition had weighed on sales.
The retailer said it had more than £30m in cash and access to a £95m lending facility from Gordon Brothers, of which £50m had been drawn.
However, uncertainty surrounding its ownership has reportedly led an insurer covering some Poundland suppliers to withdraw credit, raising concerns over potential disruption to product supplies.
First-round bids for the company were submitted earlier this week, with prospective buyers understood to be weighing up both whole-business and partial offers.
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