Sir Philip Green loses his billionaire status May 12, 2019 Sir Philip Green has lost his billionaire status, rounding off a torrid 12 months for the scandal-hit fashion mogul. For the first time since 2002, Green can no longer count himself a member of the billionaires club after seeing his personal fortune halve over the course of the last year. The Topshop tycoon and his [...]
Short-sellers smell blood at embattled shopping centre firm Intu May 12, 2019 Short-sellers have been stepping up their bets against Intu in recent months, as they look to cash in on the embattled shopping centre owner’s current retail woes. City punters have been circling the FTSE landlord, which recently appointed Matthew Roberts as its new boss, amid downbeat forecasts that the group’s rental income will slide as [...]
Debenhams to remain under control of investors after no appropriate buyer found May 9, 2019 Debenham’s will remain under the control of its investors after no alternative buyer was found for the struggling department store. The retailer entered a pre-pack administration in April and ownership was passed into the hands of its investors, however, administrators FTI consulting launched a marketing process to sell the company. Read more: Debenhams versus Mike [...]
Debenhams versus Mike Ashley: Something has gone horribly wrong May 9, 2019 Magpies are among the world’s cleverest animals. Prone to cunning theft from other nests, they enjoy a surprising degree of protection. Foiled Debenhams suitor Mike Ashley won’t miss the irony that while his Newcastle United Football Club is nicknamed after these swooping robbers, a marauding band of debtholders have led a planned effort to steal [...]
Debenhams to close 22 stores in 2020 as lenders warn of 1,200 job losses April 26, 2019 Debenhams revealed its store closure plan this morning, with up to 22 stores expected to be shuttered in 2020. Around 1,200 jobs are at risk due to the two Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs), one for property and one for retail, the company said today. Read more: Debenhams owners to outline plans to shut 20 stores The [...]
Carpetright shares soar as restructuring plan starts to pay off April 25, 2019 Shares in Carpetright soared almost 25 per cent this morning after it reported a “significant” improvement in sales as its restructuring plan begins to pay off. The London-listed carpet specialist said like-for-like sales were up in the fourth quarter in a sign of renewed customer confidence. Read more: Carpetright sales drop but pace of decline [...]
Debenhams owners to outline plans to shut 20 stores April 23, 2019 Debenhams is poised to outline plans this week to bring forward the closure of 20 of its stores, according to Sky News. The new owners of the department store chain, which include Barclays and hedge fund Silver Point, will launch a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in the next 48 hours that will allow it to [...]
Debenhams chief executive Sergio Bucher steps down after lenders take control April 19, 2019 Debenhams chief executive Sergio Bucher has stepped down, nine days after the embattled department store's lenders took control. The group’s non-executive chairman Terry Duddy has been appointed interim executive chairman until a permanent replacement is found, Reuters reported. Read more: Mike Ashley among Debenhams shareholders wiped out Duddy will oversee a major store closure programme, which is expected [...]
Mike Ashley among Debenhams shareholders wiped out April 18, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. One of the most intriguing City soap operas is over for investors as lenders seize control of Debenhams. The fight for survival at Debenhams (LSE:DEB) stores goes on, but for investors the suspension of shares signalled the final act in a grim 13 years of stock market trading. The [...]
Activist investors turn their backs on troubled retailers April 15, 2019 While activist investors are known for their interest in underperforming businesses, there is one sector in the UK so troubled that even opportunistic shareholders are now turning their backs: high street retailers. Such are the difficulties facing Britain’s bricks-and-mortar retail giants that many have become "too distressed to attract activist interest", according to a new [...]