TORONTO - Two prominent Canadian families are collaborating on an $18 million bid for the royal charter that established Hudson’s Bay. Recent court documents reveal that holding companies owned by the Weston and Thomson families have united to increase their previous individual offers for the historic document.

The charter, dating back to 1670, originally facilitated the fur trading business that evolved into the well-known department store. David Thomson, a media mogul, and his firm, DKRT Family Corp., had initially proposed $15 million for the charter. This followed an earlier offer of $12.5 million from the Westons, associated with Loblaw Companies Limited, through their company, Wittington Investments Limited.

The joint bid aims to secure the charter for donation to a consortium of four public institutions: the Archives of Manitoba, the Manitoba Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Royal Ontario Museum. If the court approves the auction, the families plan to contribute an additional $5 million to support conservation, education, and tours related to the charter.

Hudson’s Bay intends to seek court approval for the auction on November 21. This follows a previous mystery offer received in late September, which delayed the company's request for permission to sell the charter. The identity of the mystery bidder was never disclosed.

Should the Westons and Thomsons win the auction, they will donate the charter to the aforementioned institutions. The Archives of Manitoba and the Manitoba Museum already house a significant collection of Hudson’s Bay artifacts. In 1994, Hudson’s Bay donated numerous historical items to the Archives, including maps, videos, and extensive textual records.

The Manitoba Museum also holds a vast collection related to Hudson’s Bay, with 27,000 items, including furnishings from the company’s former London office and a birchbark canoe from the early 20th century. The new joint offer combines elements of the families' previous bids, with the Westons originally proposing to donate the charter to the Canadian Museum of History and offering $1 million for its preservation. The Thomsons had expressed interest in donating the document to the Archives of Manitoba, pledging $2 million for its safety and public access.

In addition to the Westons and Thomsons, the Desmarais Family and Power Corporation of Canada, along with The Hennick Family Foundation, have also committed to supporting the museums' efforts related to the charter.