Begbies Traynor revenues pass £60m for first time as insolvencies rise July 9, 2019 Begbies Traynor shares rose three per cent this morning as it announced revenues passed the £60m milestone for the first time last year. The corporate restructuring specialist enjoyed rising pre-tax profit, amid a year in which it made four acquisitions. The firm benefited from an increase in insolvencies across the UK. Read more: UK company [...]
Sports Direct set for Game Digital takeover after securing shareholder backing July 9, 2019 Sports Direct said today that it has wrapped up enough support for its takeover offer of Game Digital, paving the way for Mike Ashley’s latest high street acquisition. The retailer has said its offer for Game Digital is now unconditional, as its own 38.5 per cent stake and backing from other shareholders takes its support [...]
Debenhams urges Sports Direct to drop legal action over restructuring plan July 8, 2019 Debenhams has urged Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct to drop its lawsuit over the department store chain’s controversial insolvency plan after a key landlord withdrew its legal action. Sports Direct has filed a complaint against the company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which will allow Debenhams to close some 50 stores in a bid to stay afloat. Read [...]
JPI Media in talks to sell i newspaper and regional titles July 8, 2019 The hedge fund owners of the i newspaper and hundreds of regional titles are reportedly in talks to break up the publishing group and sell its assets. JPI Media, the company formed last year to buy out Johnston Press, has set a deadline of Monday for preliminary offers for papers including The Scotsman and The [...]
It shouldn’t take someone like Philip Green to reform corporate governance July 5, 2019 No one has done more for corporate governance in the UK than Sir Philip Green. The man formerly known as “the King of the High Street” may not be a beacon of business stewardship, but hear me out. Over recent years, a number of significant developments to the UK’s renowned corporate governance system have come [...]
Pensions Regulator boss to face questions from MPs over Arcadia deal June 23, 2019 The boss of the Pensions Regulator (TPR) is set to face a grilling from an influential committee of MPs later this week over the watchdog’s deal with Sir Philip Green to help save his fashion empire from collapse. Charles Counsell, the chief executive of TPR, is to appear before politicians just weeks after Green agreed [...]
French rail giant in talks to buy British Steel division June 22, 2019 A major French engineering firm is reportedly in talks to buy part of British Steel, as potential suitors look to carve up the collapsed company. Systra, which specialises in transport infrastructure, is mulling a bid for wholly-owned subsidiary TSP Projects, Sky News reported. Read more: British Steel inquiry delayed amid fears findings could affect sale [...]
Hilco eyes up struggling retailer Bathstore June 21, 2019 Restructuring fund Hilco is set to pounce on UK retailer Bathstore as it teeters on the edge of collapse, it is reported. Hilco, which has already taken over struggling high street names like HMV and Homebase, is in the process of preparing for a take over of Bathstore, according to Sky News. Read more: Now [...]
Domino’s picks a Rennie after Wild excess June 21, 2019 A Rennie is a long-held cure for indigestion. Domino’s Pizza Group’s franchisees, who have been complaining that they have had as much as they can swallow of boss David Wild, should, then, welcome the fact that a Rennie is exactly what they’re in line to get. Having acknowledged in March that searches were underway for [...]
Monsoon asks landlords to back rent cuts as part of rescue plan June 20, 2019 Monsoon Accessorize is planning to slash its rent bill for more than half of its stores, as it becomes the latest troubled retailer to turn to a controversial rescue plan in a bid to avoid collapse. The high street fashion chain is hoping landlords will back its planned rent cuts on 135 stores after offering [...]