The American-based company which owns a portfolio of brands such as Reebok, Ted Baker and also holds a stake in David Beckham's branded products portfolio is said to be very well positioned to add to the list the famous royal warrant-holding footwear brand Hunter Boots.

It is being reported that Authentic Brands Group has been named the preferred bidder for Hunter Boots in a sale process that has been running for some months. The deal can end up valuing Hunter at as much as 100 million British pounds (roughly 115 million euros).

In March, Hunter secured some funding as existing shareholders injected 5 million British pounds (5.75 million euros) into the business, adding to a 2 million British pounds (2.3 million euros) contribution from lenders. Hunter, which was founded in 1856 as the North British Rubber Company, was last saved in 2020 through a 16.5 million British pounds (19 million euros) capital injection, part of which came from Pall Mall Legacy, a fund supported by Goldman Sachs.