Amateur Photographer (AP) understands that retail restructuring specialist Hilco is among around half a dozen parties in the frame to take over the Jessops brand.
Yesterday, it was reported that Hilco has taken control of music retailer HMV, buying the chain’s debt.
It is now the most likely of all the prospective buyers to take over the Jessops brand as negotiations continue over the name and online business of the 78-year-old camera chain, according to a well-placed source.
In a statement, Rob Hunt, partner at Jessops’ administrator, PwC, said: ‘We have a number of people interested in the [Jessops] brand but we will not disclose or confirm individual parties as this is confidential information.’
Retail Week was first to report that Hilco is considering setting up ‘branded camera concessions’ within HMV stores.
A spokesperson for Hilco’s London office confirmed to AP that Hilco is in discussions with PwC regarding Jessops, but declined to elaborate.
AP understands, from a separate source close to the discussions, that it is too early to say whether HMV will house in-store, Jessops-branded, camera concessions.
This is not a deal that has been agreed to, at this stage, said the source.
A PwC spokesperson was not in a position to comment.
HMV chief executive Trevor Moore was a former boss of Jessops.
Moore left the camera chain last year.
Jessops shut down its 187 stores on 11 January.
Earlier this week, AP reported that North-West-based retailer Wilkinson Cameras has declared an interest in buying more than one Jessops store.