THE DAILY BRIEFING

US DEAL

Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has taken control of two US outdoor chains.

Sports Direct has bought Eastern Outfitters, the parent company of discount chain Bob’s Stores and outdoor retailer Eastern Mountain Sports.

Eastern Outfitters, which has about 90 shops, filed for bankruptcy protection in February. Before it went under, Sports Direct bought the debt to stop it from going into liquidation.

BIG SLICE

Pizza Hut’s British business could soon be sold to a US investment fund for £100m.

Pricoa, a debt investor owned by American insurer Prudential Financial, is in discussions with private equity firm Rutland Partners to buy the 260-restaurant chain, according to reports.

Rutland Partners paid £1 for Pizza Hut’s UK arm in 2012.

TAX ROW

Tax adviser KPMG is embroiled in a row with the tax man over its own payments – which could lead to its partners being landed with bills for thousands of pounds each.

The accountancy giant is disputing a backdated bill from HM Revenue and Customs from 2010, which means partners may have to return some of their pay.

SPACE RACE

Student property search engine University Cribs is launching in London this week.

It works with letting agents, developers and private halls of residences, and has more than 120,000 rooms listed.

TECH FLOAT

Clean technology firm Verditek will announce tomorrow a plan to raise £3.5m in a stock market flotation on AIM.