Next Explores Acquisition of LK Bennett Following Seraphine Buyout

Next is considering the acquisition of LK Bennett. The British fashion distribution company is considering buying LK Bennett, a luxury fashion company founded in London in 1990, which is going through a critical economic moment.

According to local media reports, LK Bennett filed an application with the courts in the last days of last year to appoint insolvency administrators. Next would be preparing a reduced price offer for the brand.

Industry sources say it is unlikely that Next will also try to acquire LK Bennett’s physical store network, which consists of nine UK stores and several franchises. The company is looking for a new buyer, advised by consultancy Alvarez&Marsal (A&M), and has filed for receivership.

LK Bennett has filed for receivership and is seeking to appoint insolvency administrators

The retailer has closed several acquisitions in recent months and has some others on the table. In this sense, Next acquired in July last year the brand Seraphine, also British, of maternity fashion, which was immersed in an insolvency proceeding. The deal was closed for 600,000 pounds (around $805,000).

In December, it was also announced that Next was considering acquiring or investing in Russell & Bromley, another British luxury brand specializing in footwear and handbags. The company, which began trading in 1880, reportedly turned to outside advisors in the face of a complicated financial situation.

According to the latest information published, Next continues to grow. The company achieved a profit of 1.375 billion pounds ($1,850 billion) in the first half of 2025, around 150 million pounds more than in the same period of the previous year.

Next’s sales stood at 2,779 million pounds ($3,739 million), while in the same period of 2024 they stagnated at 2,469 million pounds ($3,322 million). The company expects sales growth of 4.5% for the second half of the year.