Waterstones is poised to buy rival bookseller Blackwell’s in a deal that will see it take over the smaller firm’s 18 stores.
Under the deal, expected to be for “low, single-digit millions”, Blackwell’s will continue to operate as its own brand, in the same way Foyles has since it was acquired by Waterstones in 2018.
Waterstones, which has been owned by US hedge fund Elliot Advisors since 2018, has 291 stores in the UK, Ireland, Amsterdam and Brussels.
