Its first everlasting store opened in 1995.
TG Jones newsagent retailer, previously WH Smith (Picture: Getty)
A preferred excessive road retailer with 80 shops throughout Britain might quickly be purchased by the non-public fairness agency behind TG Jones. Flying Tiger Copenhagen, identified for its vibrant homeware, presents, toys and stationery, is reportedly near being taken over by Modella Capital. The London-based funding agency is known to be nearing a cope with the retailer’s present house owners, Danske Financial institution and Nordea.
Metropolis sources have steered an announcement could possibly be made imminently, GB Information studies. If accomplished, the deal would place round 900 Flying Tiger shops worldwide underneath Modella’s management, together with its UK property. The takeover would additionally give Modella entry to the retailer’s franchise partnerships in international locations together with Israel, Vietnam and the Philippines.
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Flying Tiger is a well-liked homeware retailer (Picture: Getty)
Flying Tiger operates in almost 30 international locations by means of a mixture of owned shops and franchise agreements. In 2024, the retailer generated revenues of 5.2 billion Danish krone, which is round £600 million, and employs 1000’s of individuals globally, together with lots of within the UK.
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Modella has expanded quickly throughout the British retail sector lately. The agency purchased WH Smith’s excessive road enterprise in 2025 earlier than rebranding it as TG Jones. It has additionally acquired Hobbycraft and The Unique Manufacturing unit Store. Final yr, Modella took management of Claire’s Equipment, which later entered administration for a second time.
The corporate’s retail investments have confronted stress amid troublesome buying and selling circumstances on the excessive road. Claire’s Equipment and The Unique Manufacturing unit Store have each entered administration in current months, resulting in lots of of job losses.
TG Jones can be going by means of a significant restructuring course of, with Modella searching for hire reductions and the closure of as much as 150 former WH Smith shops. The restructuring plan, which requires Excessive Courtroom approval, might put lots of extra jobs in danger.
TG Jones boss Alex Willson has described the previous WHSmith excessive road chain as “virtually utterly damaged”, the Monetary Occasions studies.
Modella has argued the measures are wanted to forestall the chain from collapsing and has pledged to speculate tens of millions right into a turnaround technique if the proposal is authorised.
A Modella Capital spokesman stated: “We do not touch upon market hypothesis.”
Flying Tiger was based in Copenhagen within the Eighties by Lennart and Suz Lajboschitz, who initially offered umbrellas at a flea market.
Its first everlasting store opened in 1995, with each merchandise initially offered for 10 Danish krone.
The retailer underwent a significant monetary restructuring in early 2025, which included a £160million capital injection.
Flying Tiger was beforehand owned by Treville & Co earlier than being taken over by a gaggle together with former executives and the banks Danske Financial institution and Nordea after the restructuring.
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