Italian restaurant chain Prezzo bought by private equity firm Cain International December 2, 2020 Italian restaurant chain Prezzo has been bought by private equity firm Cain International, the companies announced this afternoon. Cain International, which also holds stakes in Competitive Socialising – the owner of Swingers crazy golf – and women’s private members club The Allbright, said Prezzo has outperformed the struggling casual dining sector over the last 12 [...]
Countrywide rejects £82m takeover bid by rival estate agent firm Connells December 2, 2020 Estate agent chain Countrywide has rejected an £82m offer from rival firm Connells, and announced it has received an improved proposal from private equity investor Alchemy Partners. The company said today that it had considered the 250p per share cash offer from Connells – a subsidiary of Skipton Building Society – but has unanimously rejected [...]
Bonmarche hires administrators in further blow to UK high street December 2, 2020 Budget fashion retailer Bonmarche has fallen into administration for the second time, putting 1,500 jobs at risk, in a further blow for the UK high street after days of grim announcements. RSM Restructuring Advisory has been appointed as administrator to BM Retail Limited, which operates the Bonmarche brand from 225 stores in the UK. No [...]
Leon launches restructuring plan due to steep drop in sales during pandemic December 2, 2020 Healthy fast food chain Leon has launched a restructuring plan to reduce rents following a sharp drop in sales during the pandemic. The company has appointed business advisory firm Quantuma to launch a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) after its stores, which are in city centre and transport hub store locations, suffered a sharp drop in [...]
Cath Kidston returns to the high street with flagship Piccadilly store December 2, 2020 Cath Kidston has this morning opened a flagship store in Piccadilly, which will be its only physical branch after the retro-inspired retailer fell into administration earlier this year. The retailer closed all of its 60 UK stores in April, resulting in the loss of 900 jobs, after its Hong Kong private equity owner Baring appointed [...]
Canary Wharf redevelopment gets green light as landlords seek Covid-friendly offices December 1, 2020 Redevelopment plans for a Canary Wharf office block have been given the green light, as property owners seek to capitalise on demand for Covid-19 secure office space. Real estate asset management firm Quadrant and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management have secured planning permission to redesign 30 South Colonnade in the east London financial district. [...]
Landlords approve Caffe Nero rescue deal December 1, 2020 Landlords have approved Caffe Nero’s rescue deal, allowing the coffee shop chain to renegotiate rental agreements for its 800 UK stores. The company said this afternoon that more than 90 per cent of creditors, including landlords, had given the green light to the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) proposals. It will allow Caffe Nero to move [...]
Debenhams closure: What next for struggling retail landlords? December 1, 2020 Retail landlords are set to take a multimillion pound hit following the collapse of Debenhams and Arcadia’s fall into administration, and could struggle to fill the space left by closed flagship stores. Many property owners, which have already been impacted during the pandemic due to a spike in retail restructurings and renegotiated rents, will lose [...]
Debenhams closure: Timeline of department store chain’s collapse December 1, 2020 Department street chain Debenhams announced this morning that it is preparing to close down after failing to attract a buyer, but the former high street giant’s problems stretch back over several years. Earlier this year the struggling retailer entered administration for the second time in 12 months, even before Covid-19 forced it to close its [...]
Debenhams set to close putting 12,000 jobs at risk December 1, 2020 Beleaguered department store Debenhams is set to close down after administrators were unable to find a buyer, putting around 12,000 jobs at risk in the latest blow to the struggling UK high street. Administrators FRP Advisory announced this morning that they have commenced a wind-down of Debenhams UK, while continuing to seek offers for all [...]
