The owner of Laura Ashley is considering a bid for Wilko as the homewares retailer teeters on the brink of administration.
The investment and restructuring firm Gordon Brothers is in talks about a possible funding agreement for Wilko, but its chances of sealing a deal are “relatively low”, according to Sky News.
Wilko filed for creditor protection last week as it struggled to restore its finances using a £40 million loan from the retail investor Hilco.
It filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators in a move that puts 12,000 jobs at risk. The firm is now sounding out buyers willing to rescue it as a going concern in a process run by advisers at PwC.
If a buyer cannot be found, it is