Private equity firm Apax Partners has been reported to be behind a bid approach for retailer House of Fraser. The department store chain revealed on Friday it had received a tentative bid approach from an unnamed party.
The company, which operates about 60 department stores in the UK and Ireland, said it was not certain a formal bid offer would be made.
Several UK newspapers are reporting that Apax Partners was weighing up a possible bid.
Shares boost
Apax is reportedly pondering an offer of more than �300m in the next few days while stressing that negotiations were at a very early phase.
House of Fraser was the subject of takeover interest in 2003 when retail entrepreneur Tom Hunter considered making a bid at 85 pence per share but ultimately backed off.
News of the latest approach pushed the retailer's shares 4.2% higher to 118p on Friday, giving the business a stock market value of �279m.
Like many other High Street firms, House of Fraser has found trading difficult amid tough competition and a slowdown in consumer spending.
The firm made a �3m loss in the first six months of the current financial year, but experienced an improvement in sales in the run-up to Christmas.
House of Fraser has boosted its store portfolio in the past year buying the Beatties chain as well as landmark Edinburgh store Jenners.
It has also closed a number of stores including Dickins & Jones on London's Regent Street.
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