Fears are mounting that retail tycoon Mike Ashley will gatecrash the sale of Patisserie Valerie with a fresh swoop at the eleventh hour.
Administrator KPMG has given bidders until lunchtime on Wednesday to make best and final offers for the stricken coffee and cake chain.
With February’s payroll looming, the accountancy firm wants to wrap up “Project Pippen” – the codename for Patisserie Valerie’s sale – in short order. Suitors have been told they must be in a position to complete the acquisition by Thursday.
