NEXT plc (LSE:NXT) is reportedly eyeing a takeover of British handbag brand Radley (Radley + Co. Limited), just months after its acquisition of footwear brand Russell & Bromley as part of an insolvency process. The British high street retailer is said to be in discussions with advisers to Radley?s owner, the private equity firm Freshstream, about a potential deal to acquire the brand and intellectual property assets.
This could mark the latest strategic acquisition for NEXT, following a spree of other high-street name acquisitions, such as FatFace, Joules, Cath Kidston and Seraphine, where the focus is often on brand and intellectual property rather than physical stores. The retailer is not the only one in the race to secure Radley, as it is also reportedly in talks with the US-based Gordon Brothers, which also purchased the value retailer Poundland in 2025 and is the former owner of Laura Ashley. Industry sources have told Sky News that a deal will likely be executed through a pre-pack administration package, although the sales process for Radley is far from complete.
It was announced in March that Radley was the subject of a strategic review. The news follows a challenging period for the brand, which has been undergoing a transformation strategy under its CEO Nick Vance for the last three years. Radley had set out its plan to transform itself into "a modern British icon of accessible luxury" following the publication of its financial results for 2024.
