House of Fraser partner threatens legal action over store’s debt against administrators EY October 8, 2018 A House of Fraser concession partner is considering legal action against the company’s administrator EY, claiming its classification of his business will cost him hundreds of thousands of pounds. Ehab Shouly, who runs three tea rooms in House of Fraser stores, says he is owed over £300,000 from the company – the equivalent of two [...]
Former House of Fraser directors dismissed amid calls for an investigation October 1, 2018 The former directors and senior management of House of Fraser have been dismissed following the department store's collapse. Sports Direct, which bought the beleaguered high street chain for £90m in August, announced that it has sacked the former top team amid calls for an investigation into the company's spiral into administration. Read more: Mike Ashley blames landlords [...]
Too little too late – why the Debenhams rebrand is a frivolous deckchair rearrangement October 1, 2018 According to the press stories that announced a rebrand of Debenhams at the beginning of September, the objective of the exercise was to put “joy” back into the brand. Six days later, the company announced that it was calling in KPMG to help it restructure, which doesn’t sound too joyful. It’s quite farcical really. [...]
Mitie sheds pest control business amid efforts to restructure October 1, 2018 Outsourcing group Mitie revealed plans to offload its £40m pest control business this morning, as it ramps up efforts to restructure the business in the wake of several profit warnings. The FTSE 250 firm said it would sell its pest control arm to business services giant Rentokil Initial as it seeks to plough more of [...]
More construction firms are entering insolvency since Carillion’s collapse October 1, 2018 The number of construction firms entering insolvency has jumped six per cent following the collapse of Carillion. The construction giant's liquidation caused knock-on effects for the whole industry supply chain in the UK, top 10 accountancy firm Moore Stephens said. Read more: Carillion redundancy payouts to hit £65m Figures from the government's insolvency services showed [...]
Business secretary Greg Clark orders competition watchdog to carry out review of audit sector September 29, 2018 Business secretary Greg Clark has ordered the competition watchdog to carry out a sweeping review of the UK's audit sector. In a year when the Big Four audit firms have been hit by numerous scandals, Clark has told Andrew Tyrie, head of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to carry out the review into competition in [...]
Powerleague scores own-goal as it announces closure of 13 sites September 28, 2018 Five-a-side footie pitch operator Powerleague has today tabled a rescue plan which will result in it closing 13 sites and axing 109 jobs. It currently runs 440 pitches on 50 sites, but has struggled with falling revenues and has struggled to pay the leases on its properties. The firm wants to make the changes through a [...]
City Moves for 27 September 2018 – who’s switching jobs at CBRE, Invesco and Redridge? September 27, 2018 Today's City Moves cover property, fixed income and due diligence. Take a look at these movers and shakers: CBRE The world’s leading real estate adviser, CBRE, has appointed Chiara Zuccon as a senior director to spearhead debt origination within its market leading development and residential investment team. Chiara is joining from the Royal Bank of [...]
Online-only retailers outpace their bricks and mortar rivals as fresh evidence of high street troubles emerge September 26, 2018 Online-only retailers’ sales have grown 24 times faster than those of bricks and mortar firms in the last five years, according to new data which underlines the current woes facing high street shops. A report out today from data specialist GBG Loqate shows that pure-play online retailers have grown their sales by 281 per [...]
Debenhams looks to shore up investor panic with unveiling of its ‘store of the future’ September 24, 2018 Debenhams is gearing up for the unveiling of its “store of the future” later today, as the beleaguered retail giant looks to reassure both shoppers and investors after a challenging summer. The department store chain is also expected to reveal more details of its turnaround plans at the event in Watford today, having denied [...]