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The future of struggling low cost retailer Poundworld is in the balance after the primary contender to purchase the chain pulled out talks.
Alteri Investors, whose web site says it specialises in "challenging retail situations", was in superior talks with Poundworld's proprietor TPG.
Sky News, which first reported Alteri's transfer, mentioned TPG is speaking to different potential patrons.
About 100 of Poundworld's 355 retailers had been already below menace of closure.
That restructuring was placed on maintain by TPG, a US non-public fairness agency, after it acquired expressions of curiosity in the firm.
A source advised the BBC that Poundlworld's founder Chris Edwards was making an attempt to rearrange a rescue proposal and is presently the solely critical bidder in talks with TPG.
Poundworld, which employs about 5,300 individuals, is amongst many shops on the High Street which have been struggling.
Like many retailers, it has been hit by falling shopper confidence, rising overheads, the weaker pound and the progress of on-line purchasing.
The chain imports a lot of its inventory and is having to pay extra for it due to the fall in the worth of the pound.
Retailers Maplins, Toys 'R' Us, Mothercare, Carpetright, plus a string of restaurant chains, have hit the headlines this yr due to trading bother.
Department retailer chain House of Fraser is near unveiling a restructuring, which may come as early as Wednesday.
Poundworld, which has its headquarters in West Yorkshire, was shaped in 2004, however it says it may well hint its origins "back to 1974 and a market stall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire".
TPG, which purchased a majority stake in Poundworld in 2015, additionally controls the restaurant chain Prezzo whose landlords and collectors agreed a restructuring final month.