Hawkpoint, the London-based corporate finance boutique, has been hired to examine strategic options for the sale or flotation of Hobbs, a UK women's fashion retailer that Barclays Private Equity acquired in December 2002 for £30m (€44.4m).

There are over sixty private equity firms actively stalking the UK mid-market and Hobbs will also generate interest from trade bidders in what is expected to be a keenly fought competitive auction that could value the retail chain at over £110m.