Dragons' Den judge bids for Blacks Leisure
Dragons' Den star Peter Jones has launched a bid for outdoor clothing retailer Blacks Leisure.
The entrepreneur is one of four potential buyers that are also thought to include Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley's Sports Direct and sportswear business JD Sports.
The outdoor clothing retailer, which owns 98 Blacks outlets and 208 Millets stores and employs 3,600 staff, is likely to be sold under a pre-pack administration deal after it failed to secure funding to turn the business around.
Blacks said it has accountancy firm KMPG in mind to organise the pre-pack deal – a process where the insolvent company is immediately sold as soon as it enters administration – which will allow the company to write off its £36m debts. The retailer’s worst performing stores will also close.
The BBC’s longest-standing Dragon hopes to add the outdoor clothing company to his business portfolio which includes mobile phones, television, media and leisure.
Blacks Leisure is expected to announce the deal in the next few days.
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