JD Sports has held talks about running Topshop stores in partnership with Asos as a sale of the fashion brand inches closer.
Online giant Asos is due to clinch a deal to buy collapsed Topshop imminently but it is likely that the deal with administrators Deloitte will not include Asos running any shops directly – raising the prospect of mass store closures and staff layoffs.
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However, it is understood both JD Sports and US brand conglomerate Authentic Brands have discussed maintaining a high street presence for Topshop under licence from Asos once it completes any deal to buy the business.
Those close to the negotiations warned that the discussions have reached only a ‘very preliminary’ stage.
It is not yet clear whether Asos wants shops run by a third-party in the short-term as it plans the brand’s relaunch.
Nor is it known whether an agreement could be reached that links the stores to the online business, which is regarded by some as vital to any deal.
JD is understood to be creating a fighting fund to pursue acquisitions after examining deals to buy both Topshop and Debenhams.
Both JD and Asos declined to comment.
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