00:01Poundland founder Steve Smith says he's prepared to invest in the Walsall based retailer as
00:07its owners consider rescue offers ahead of a November 5 deadline.
00:11Smith who founded the business in 1990 says he was surprised by the threat of administration
00:18because sales were 11% higher than a year earlier.
00:21Smith originally founded Poundland with the help of his father Kevin in Walsall.
00:26He says he's tried to contact owner Gordon Brothers about putting money into the company.
00:32Those Gordon Brothers bought Poundland from Polish retail group Pepco for £1 in 2025 but
00:39has stopped funding the business.
00:41It says it's evaluating interest in the whole company alongside formal and indicative offers
00:48for significant viable parts of the retailer.
00:51An offer from Ireland's Martin Property Group has been rejected.
00:55The BBC understands business minister Kate Dearden is due to meet senior Poundland executives
01:00to discuss the threatened insolvency and potential impact on jobs.
01:06Government sources have indicated the meeting will be mainly fact finding with limited scope
01:10for ministers to intervene in a commercial transaction.
01:14Smith meanwhile says he believes the business can still be saved and has publicly offered to invest
01:20with staff, suppliers and communities across the country waiting to see whether a deal can be reached
01:26and administration avoided.
01:28the covered insolvency and they had the eleventh broadband cable
01:29the member made Tudel
01:2920m Trail
01:29and Priceジェクセル
01:29If the company does not know, the A-Get
01:30metal lantern works open but they are websiteائent as well, as a subject of an executive
