Clinton Cards management has approached City banks with a plan to buy the company from the Stock Exchange.

The greetings card’s management, including founder Don Lewin and his son Clinton, own about a third of the business.

Shares in the retailer have slumped 60% in the last year, closing at 15.75p on Friday. The business is now valued at £33m.

It has issued two profit warnings this year.

Clinton Cards declined to comment but one source told the Mail on Sunday:  “The company seems to feel it would be better placed to weather the consumer downturn away from the glare of the stock exchange.”

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