Del Boy billionaire’s empire returns to profit after rescue deals Retail The retail empire owned by the so-called ‘Del Boy billionaire’ and behind The Range and Wilko, returned to the black before rescuing the Homebase brand, it has been revealed. Chris Dawson’s Norton Group Holdings has reported a pre-tax profit of £10.5m for the year to 2 February, 2025, new accounts filed with Companies House show. [...]
Will we mourn the loss of WH Smith from the high street? Retail So long then, WH Smith, a firm which has graced our high streets for more than a century – even though it never intended to. Founded as a small newspaper kiosk in Mayfair in 1792, the business grew massively in the mid-19th century, spurred by the rapid expansion of the railways, which allowed consumers up [...]
Cross-party politicians urges Starmer to prioritise audit watchdog reform Politics The Prime Minister has been urged by 66 MPs and Lords in a cross-party alliance to prioritise the long-overdue Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill that was promised last year. In the King’s Speech in July 2024, the newly elected Labour government unshelved the Bill that would reform the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) into a [...]
Homebase racked up debts of over £730m ahead of collapse November 23, 2024 The company behind Homebase owed more than £730m when it collapsed into administration before the brand was partially saved by the owner of The Range, it has been revealed. Retail group CDS, which also owns Wilko, took on 70 stores and secured the future of up to 1,600 jobs at the troubled DIY and garden [...]
The Range owner confident of sales success but Homebase rescuer struggles to return to profit November 19, 2024 The owner of The Range has forecasted a continued rise in its sales as it carries on taking advantage of “high profile retail casualties” after rescuing Wilko and Homebase. CDS (Superstores International) hit the headlines again recently when it snapped up part of strike DIY chain Homebase out of administration. The move came after the [...]
Homebase sold in rescue deal to CDS but 2,000 jobs still at risk November 13, 2024 Homebase has been sold in a rescue deal to retailer CDS in a move securing up to 1,600 jobs and 70 stores, administrator Teneo has said, but around 2,000 workers and 49 shops still remain at risk.
What Homebase staff and shoppers need to know as ‘Del Boy billionaire’ behind The Range nears rescue deal November 13, 2024 Staff at DIY chain Homebase and its customers have been issued advice as the so called ‘Del Boy billionaire’ behind The Range edged closer to a rescue deal. It emerged this morning that Chris Dawson is in talks to snap up around 70 Homebase stores as part of a pre-pack administration. Speaking to The Telegraph, [...]
The Range is eyeing up Homebase – but do the brands go together? July 25, 2024 Six years after initially rescuing Homebase, Hilco Capital has had an expression of interest from The Range over a potential sale. While talks are at an early stage, data from YouGov BrandIndex suggests that, if the acquisition does eventually go through, it may be a well-built match. Firstly, both are well regarded, and each might [...]
Shopping centre giant Capital & Regional pushes back takeover deadline June 20, 2024 Shopping centre giant Capital & Regional has delayed the bidding deadline for its potential takeover by Newriver REIT.
Discount retailer B&M beats ‘lockdown peak’ but shares slip as analysts left with ‘more questions than answers’ June 5, 2024 Bargain retailer B&M has exceeded its “lockdown peak” as the firm reveals it is trading at the higher end of its guidance thanks to Brits sniffing out a bargain