Restaurant chain Prezzo is reportedly looking for a buyer as it comes out of lockdown.
FRP Advisory, the professional services firm, has been appointed to lead an auction of the business as it prepares to reopen dozens following four months closed thanks to coronavirus, Sky News is reporting.
Since lockdown began both Carluccio's and Chiquito's crashed into administration, while other restaurants have struggled.
ASK Italian and Zizzi - both part of Bridgepoint-backed Azzurri Group - are also reported to be close to a sale, while burger chain Byron is in talks with three potential buyers.
Prezzo, which has 180 restaurants and employs about 3,000 people, has had interest from a number of potential buyers, according to Sky News.
The chain said it was performing well ahead of the nationwide shutdown, and is looking to reopen 35 branches on Saturday with "a phased approach for the rest" over the following weeks.
The chain is part-owned by American buyout giant TPG, along with a number of other funds.
The attempt to sell the business comes less than two years after it shut dozens of outlets using a financial restructuring that included a debt-for-equity swap.
Most Prezzo employees have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
