Who could buy Wilko? Full list of retailers racing to save discounter’s shops and jobs
WILKO'S rivals are eyeing up making a bid to rescue the bust chain from collapse.
Private equity firm M2 Capital made an eleventh-hour offer of £89million to buy Wilko last Friday (August 25).
But Wilko administrators PWC are skeptical about the credibility of the firm.
PWC has therefore given M2 until 5pm today (August 30) to provide evidence that it has proof of funds to complete a rescue of the bust retailer.
The surprise offer puts it against competition from Doug Putman, owner of HMV, who has said he will keep stores, jobs and the brand name.
Administrators, working to find a saviour for Wilko under the codename Project Falcon, also have offers to buy some of Wilko’s stores from discount retailers.
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These include B&M, The Range, Poundland and Home Bargains.
Sky also reported that Discounter chain The Range could acquire Wilko's online operations if a deal with Doug Putman falls through.
The insolvency process means that a buyer can pick and choose the bits of a business.
This means that a rival competitor could choose to save both the stores and the brand.
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Or it may choose to buy no stores at all and instead buy up the remaining stock or brand name.
It is understood that early expressions of interest are mixed with some retailers making offers for as many as 300 stores, which would preserve the most jobs.
The majority of offers are for between 40 to 50 stores.
A source said that one of the bidders would be keen to keep the Wilko name.
But sources cautioned that no deal was guaranteed.
Here we explain which businesses are (and are not) in the running to buy all or part of the chain beloved by shoppers.
M2 Capital
M2 Capital is a relatively unknown firm.
It made an offer of £89million at the final moment last Friday.
Sources say administrators at PwC are sceptical about the credibility of M2 Capital, which styles itself as a Anglo-Canadian buyout shop.
It is run by Robert Mantse, who has previously worked in Russia as a metals and mining banker and now claims to have interests in films and hotels.
Mr Mantse told The Sun he is in talks with a “British-born billionaire who lives in the US” about financing for the Wilko offer.
Mr Mantse confirmed to The Sun that while M2 Capital claims to be the owner of Como Hotels Group, the firm was yet to build a single hotel but was on the cusp of getting $1 billion funding.
Wilko’s workers union GMB have urged administrators to explore all offers by potential bidders, especially M2 Capital’s which says that it would preserve all 12,500 jobs and stores.
B&M
Sources told The Sun that B&M has an interest in saving parts of Wilko's business but a spokesman refused to comment on the matter.
The bargain discounter was founded in 1978 and is now dubbed one of the leading variety retailers in the UK.
The chain's first store opened in Blackpool, Lancashire and its estate has grown to over 700 stores nationwide.
The brand employs more than 35,000 staff.
B&M is in the middle of opening another 30 new stores by the end of the year - with a focus on retail parks.
But the chain has succeeded in out of town locations in big retail parks which puts into question as to whether Wilko's estate would prove valuable for B&M's growth.
Most of Wilko's stores are located on the high street, where shoppers tend to buy less and rents are higher, making them less appealing to any potential buyer.
Retail analyst Richard Hyman told The Sun: "I'm not sure any of the string discounters would want the stores - they have generally avoided high streets to focus on retail parks, which are better locations for this kind of retailing."
Dunelm
A Dunelm insider said that the home furnishings retailer rarely made big acquisitions and would take a "wait and see" approach to any stores that came up, rather than making a bid for Wilko or for a package of stores.
Founded in 1979, Dunelm is now the UK's leading home furnishings retailer selling everything from blinds to rugs and beds to lighting.
The chain operates across 177 stores and employs over 11,000 staff.
It stocks over 50,000 products mainly sold under the Dunelm brand or exclusive brands that aren't available elsewhere.
Frasers Group
Sources close to Frasers Group, which was founded by Mike Ashley in 1982, said that the retail empire had "little interest" in making a bid to save Wilko.
This comes despite a string of other deals which saw the firm swoop in on bust retailers.
In recent years Frasers Group has bought House of Fraser, Jack Wills, Evans Cycles, Findel and Gieves & Hawkes out of administration.
The chain operates several big brands across more than 950 UK stores and employs 30,000 employees.
Frasers Group is also the parent company of Sports Direct and Flannels.
Hilco Capital
Hilco Capital which invested £40million pounds in the business in January won't be bidding to save Wilko, according to .
The restructuring and refinancing firm previously rescued Clintons and Homebase out of administration.
The firm still owns Homebase which now operates across 150 stores and employs 5,600 people.
Hilco Capital previously oversaw the liquidation process of both British Home Stores and Woolworths.
Home Bargains
Home Bargains has expressed an interest in making an offer for Wilko.
The retailer which is owned by TJ Morris and established in 1976 now boasts over 500 stores across the UK.
The chain employs 22,000 staff and has plans to grow to 1,000 and double its number of staff.
Like with B&M, Home Bargains has succeded in out-of-town retail parks so it would appear unlikely that the brand would wish to invest in stores that are mostly located on the high street.
Iceland
Iceland, which also owns Big Food Warehouse, is unlikely to be interested in making a bid for Wilko.
But the frozen foods retailer could buy a handful of stores that become vacant as a result of the hardware chain collapsing.
Founded in 1970 by Malcolm Walker, Iceland opened its first store in Shropshire selling loose frozen food.
The budget frozen food supermarket now operates over 900 in the UK and employs over 26,000 people.
But Iceland has closed more than half a dozen stores this year.
Next
Next told The Sun that it has no interest in rescuing Wilko out of administration.
Next operates a chain of over 550 retail branches in the United Kingdom and more than 180 stores abroad.
It also operates Next Directory - a home shopping catalogue and website with more than three million active customers.
The chain has previously been known to step in and help rescue brands that have collapsed into administration including Made.com, Joules and Cath Kidston.
Poundland
Last week, PwC administrators were said to be in advanced talks to sell parts of the chain, with Poundland's owner, Pepco Group, in discussions to take on around 100 stores, according to .
Poundland recently took on some stores from M&Co, the fashion chain that went bust at the start of the year.
Poundland opened its first store in Burton upon Trent in 1990.
The discounter now operates more than 800 stores across the country and is opening 50 more this year.
Poundstretcher
The Sun previously revealed that Poundstretcher is not one of the big names considering the rescue of Wilko.
The discount chain currently operates 308 stores across UK high streets and in big retail parks and only recently emerged from a CVA (compulsory voluntary arrangement), which is a form of insolvency.
Sources at Poundstretcher told The Sun it has "no interest" in rescuing Wilko from administration.
The insider said that Wilko's business model is "unprofitable" and for that reason "has no interest whatsoever".
It would be "irresponsible" to take on new risk now that Poundstretcher has bounced back into profit, they added.
Savers
It's unclear if Savers has plans to make a bid to save Wilko.
Founded in Luton in 1988 Savers sells a variety of health, beauty and household goods.
The company grew to 176 stores before it was sold to A.S. Watson - a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings which also owns Superdrug.
The chain now operates over 500 stores and employs over 5,000 members of staff.
The Range
Sources at The Range have not denied an interest in making a bid to rescue Wilko.
But Chris Dawson, owner and founder of The Range, told The Sun he would "give no comment on Wilkinsons."
"I don't want to be famous," the billionaire said.
As noted above, The Range has since been reported to be interested in Wilko's online operations if a deal with Doug Putman falls through.
The Plymouth-based self-made retail tycoon has a DE11 BOY number plate on his Rolls Royce and has previously likened himself to Derek Trotter for his entrepreneurial ways.
Founded in Plymouth in 1989, The Range now operates more than 200 stores which stock more than 140,000 products across 16 different departments, from homeware and furniture to DIY and art supplies.
What about the big supermarkets?
Asda told The Sun that it has no interest in making a bid to save Wilko from administration.
Discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl are looking to open new locations around the country as they both expand.
But one expert believes this wouldn't result in an offer for Wilko.
Dr Amna Khan, a senior lecturer in consumer behaviour and retailing at Manchester Metropolitan University said: "Wilkos, locations are often in areas that have higher costs to run than discount retailers would be interested in.
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"I don't think any of the discount supermarkets would consider an offer either."
It's unclear if Morrisons, Sainsbury's or Tesco is considering a bid for the firm.