A private investment firm advised by former Home Retail boss John Walden and ex-Lidl chief Karl-Heinz Holland is among potential buyers circling Holland & Barrett.
Retail Week understands that L1, whose retail team is headed by Russian retailer X5 chairman Stephan DuCharme and boasts Dunnhumby founder Clive Humby on its advisory board, is running its slide-rule over the health-food chain.
As previously reported, Holland & Barrett has also attracted the interest of Asian health and beauty giant AS Watson, owner of Superdrug, and other potential bidders.
L1’s investment focus is on energy, technology, health and retail, but so far it does not have any retail investments.
L1 Retail describes its aim as “to buy and build 21st-century retail stars. We are leveraging our strong track record in retail to invest in and build the next generation of retailers internationally”.
Its website says that it intends to invest up to $3bn in “a few retail businesses that we believe can become leaders by moving with and leading long-term trends”.
The initial focus will be on retailers in Europe, including the UK, and emerging markets.
In the retail sphere it has identified “health and wellness” as a key consumer trend.
L1 was not immediately available for comment.
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