Potential bidders for Bell Pottinger have baulked at the high levels of debt the embattled public relations firm has on its balance sheet in the clearest sign the company may be on the verge of collapse.
The PR firm, which put itself up for sale after two damning reports found it ran a “racially divisive” campaign in South Africa, has £15.7m-worth of liabilities, including a £6.8m loan from a UK clearing bank, according to a sales document seen by Financial News.