Bookseller Borders UK was poised to be sold as Retail Week went to press.

WHSmith is out of the running and entrepreneur Luke Johnson’s private equity business, Risk Capital Partners, is expected to lead the purchase. Johnson is understood to be backing Borders UK and Ireland chief executive David Roche.

Roche remained tight-lipped about details of the deal, but said he is “very excited about the future prospects for the group”. Johnson declined to comment.

The original sale timetable of the bookseller has run late, leading to speculation that Borders UK might have attracted a lower-than-hoped-for price tag.

Previously, speculation had linked Ottakar’s founder James Heneage and Irish retailer Hughes & Hughes to a potential bid, but both dropped out of the running.

Borders’ international sales in the second quarter – including the UK – soared 31.2 per cent to US$169.9 million (£84.4 million), driven by record sales of the final Harry Potter novel. The retailer does not provide like-for-like figures or specific figures for the UK and Ireland, where it has 70 stores, including 26 Books Etc.

Borders Group sales rose 10.4 per cent to US$945.1 million (£469.3 million) over the period.

Borders US is also understood to be considering a merger with its deadly rival, US bookselling giant Barnes & Noble.

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