Carpetright's biggest shareholder has bought the retailer's debts and vowed to engage with the business to provide longer-term, stable funding.

Meditor will now control Carpetright's revolving credit facility of £40.7 million, instead of previous lenders NatWest and AIB, although a day-to-day overdraft of £6.5 million with NatWest and Ulster Bank will remain.

Carpetright has been struggling with a huge debt pile for several years and had to turn to Meditor for two short-term loans last year.

The first in March was £12.5 million, with an arrangement fee of £1.9 million and 3% interest. The second - a £15 million loan in May - came with a £2.3 million fee and interest of 18%.

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On Tuesday the high street flooring specialist said debts have been falling following the sale of two properties in Amsterdam.

Carpetright said: "Meditor has confirmed it now intends to engage with the company with a view to providing a more stable and longer-term funding platform."

It added: "In connection with the arrangements, Meditor did not seek any assurances from the company, did not propose board representation and did not request structural changes in the business."

Distribution and outsourcing giant Bunzl is in talks with "a number of acquisition targets" as it looks to accelerate growth for the rest of 2019.

The FTSE 100 firm reported a 1.6% rise in pre-tax profits to £200.5 million for the six months to June 30, while revenues were also higher.

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However, Bunzl said it hopes to boost its finances for the rest of the year through "additional deals" and is currently holding "active discussions" with possible acquisition targets.

The company saw revenues for the period rise 4.3% to £4.5 billion, although this growth was only 1.2% at constant exchange rates, as it benefited from weakness in the pound.

Chief executive Frank van Zanten hailed Bunzl's performance considering the "background of slowing macroeconomic and market conditions" across some of its regions and sectors.

He added that its "resilient" operations and "high cash conversion" allowed it to post an increased dividend, continuing a 26-year streak.

He said: "Despite continuing economic uncertainties, the board believes that the combination of our strong competitive position, diversified and resilient businesses and ability to consolidate our fragmented markets will lead to further progress.

"Looking forward, the group's expectations for 2019 remain unchanged."

The boss of the company behind footwear brands Vans and Timberland has said the UK will still be central to its strategy after Brexit.

Martino Scabbio Guerrini, group president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at VF Corporation, told the PA news agency the company's recent signing of two new shops in the capital showed "a lot of commitment to London and the UK in a time when there's questions around that".

"In this case we are sticking to our long-term strategy and the UK's a really important market," he said.

VF, which owns a host of brands including The North Face, Eastpak and Kipling, said last month it will be opening a new flagship Vans store at the former Miss Selfridge in Oxford Street.

A few weeks later it was revealed the group had secured a site in Carnaby Street for a new Timberland store.

Despite the challenges facing the UK retail sector and the uncertainty posed by Brexit, Mr Scabbio Guerrini said the company's plans for its UK operations would help it to weather the storm.

"To a certain extent there's a little bit of an overlap in our work to invest into the marketplace, to improve the customer experience and the preparation for various Brexit outcomes."