Intellectual asset specialist Metis Partners has been appointed by joint administrators MCR to sell off the brand assets of Vergo Retail, which went into administration in May last year.
The retail group ran several iconic independent department stores including Lewis's of Liverpool, Owen Owen, Joplings of Sunderland and Derrys of Plymouth.

It also operated from several other stores throughout England using its own 'Vergo' brand, as well as smaller local stores under the brands 'Vergo at Home' and 'Vergo Fashion, Home & More!'.

Stephen Robertson of Metis Partners said: "A wide range of intangible assets which include several registered trade marks protecting the brands as well as rights in a number of unregistered trade marks are available for purchase. Several domain names relating to Vergo Retail's portfolio of brands are also included in the sale.

"We expect there to be keen interest given the iconic status and heritage attached to many of the Vergo brands."