High & Mighty administration likely as sale looms

A deal is being concluded today and directors have filed notice of intention to appoint administrators.

Founded in 1956 by entrepreneur Bernard Levy, the family-owned retailer originally traded as The Outsize Manshops and was one of the first to cater for the growing market for large-size clothes.

But the retailer, in which venture capital firm 3i once held a 25% stake, has struggled in recent years as the internet offered shoppers greater choice and other retailers, such as home shopping giant N Brown, muscled in on the market.

The identity of High & Mighty's buyer is unknown at present but the retailer has held discussions with a number of parties, thought to include SKG Capital, a private equity firm specialising in turnaround situations.

US specialist retailer Rochester, which caters for a similar market to High & Mighty and has a store on London's Brompton Road opposite Harrods, is also thought to be among the contenders.

High & Mighty has 23 UK stores and shops in Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. No comment was available from High & Mighty chief executive Judith Levy.