Marquee Brands and Baozun Also Eyeing Acquisition of Iconic Footwear Company

  • Toys R Us owner WHP Global among potential bidders for Hunter Boots
  • Marquee Brands, owner of Ben Sherman, also interested
  • Baozun, a Chinese e-commerce group, expresses interest
  • Authentic Brands Group, behind Reebok and Ted Baker, also in the mix
  • Auction reaches critical stage with bid deadline this week
  • Hunter Boots secured £5m in emergency funding recently

WHP Global, the owner of Toys R Us, is reportedly among several potential buyers vying for iconic footwear brand Hunter Boots. Marquee Brands, the owner of Ben Sherman, and Baozun, a Chinese e-commerce group that owns Gap’s Greater China operations, have also expressed interest in acquiring the company. Authentic Brands Group, an American firm behind Reebok and Ted Baker, was reported earlier this month to be among the interested parties. Sky News said the auction is reaching a ‘critical stage,’ with a bid deadline set for the end of the week. This comes after Hunter Boots secured £5m in emergency funding from existing shareholders and an additional £2m from lenders just weeks ago. The company was saved in 2020 through a £16.5m capital injection, which included funds from Pall Mall Legacy, a Goldman Sachs-backed fund, and private equity firm Searchlight Capital Partners. Hunter Boots, advised by AlixPartners on the auction, is known for its wellington boots and holds two royal warrants.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the potential takeover of Hunter Boots by various companies, including Toys R Us owner WHP Global, Marquee Brands, and Baozun. It also mentions the involvement of Authentic Brands Group and the auction’s bid deadline. The article briefly explains Hunter Boots’ history and its royal warrants. However, it lacks some details about the financial situation of Hunter Boots and the exact amount of interest from potential buyers.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about potential takeover bids for the Hunter Boots brand by various companies, including Toys R Us owner WHP Global, Marquee Brands, and Baozun. It also mentions the current financial situation of the company with recent funding and ownership details. However, it lacks in-depth analysis or exploration of long-term trends or consequences of these decisions.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Hunter Boots, Marquee Brands, Baozun, Authentic Brands Group, Pall Mall Legacy, Searchlight Capital Partners, and Pentland Group
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses a potential takeover of Hunter Boots by various companies, which impacts the financial situation and value of these brands and their respective stakeholders.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text.

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