Shop Direct Group is planning to acquire the brand and website of Comet Group Plc. Comet will begin closing some stores next week. B&M Retail Limited, 99p Stores Limited and Dunelm Group plc are also looking to acquire parcels of Comet's shops on short and long-term leases from the administrator, Deloitte. On November 8, 2012, a Shop Direct spokesman said, "We are always looking at new opportunities." The Independent said that the spokesman declined to comment on Comet.

The Lalani family is hoping to raise up to £60 million by selling 99p Stores Limited, according to the reports. Electra Partners LLP is said to be the fore-runner to buy 99p, but a number of other private equity firms are also reported to be interested. If a buyer is found it is believed that Managing Director Hussein Lalani and Buying Director Faisal Lalani will stay on to run the company.

Barclays Corporate has extended banking facilities of over GBP 20 million to 99p Stores Limited to double the size of the business and support European expansion into Ireland. As a result, the retailer has moved all of its operational banking across to Barclays Corporate in recognition of the bank's support for its ambitious growth plans. The facilities will support the opening of between 40-50 new stores a year, the first of which have already opened the doors to customers in Letchworth, Stowmarket, Swindon, Weston-Super-Mare, Yeovil, Bishops Stortford and Colchester. The first of two Irish stores under the new brand 'Euro 50 Stores' opened in Dublin on September 9, 2011 and a second in Balbriggan is due to open later this month. A further 20 are planned in the next 12 months.