Debenhams to be wound down - 12,000 jobs at risk following failed rescue talks
The chain is to go into liquidation but will remain open for now as buyers are sought for all or parts of the business.
Tuesday 1 December 2020 14:20, UK
Debenhams is to be wound down after JD Sports pulled out of talks on a rescue takeover, placing 12,000 jobs at risk in a horror week for UK retail.
The decision was taken after a sale process, initiated by administrators when the troubled 242-year old department store collapsed in April, was officially concluded.
It comes after 13,000 roles were placed at risk through the collapse of Sir Philip Green's Topshop empire.
Debenhams says it will continue to trade, for now, to clear stock as administrators seek a buyer for all or parts of the UK business.
Its statement read: "The sale process has not resulted in a deliverable proposal.
"Given the current trading environment and the likely prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outlook for a restructured operation is highly uncertain.
"The administrators have therefore regretfully concluded that they should commence a wind-down of Debenhams UK, whilst continuing to seek offers for all or parts of the business."
Sportswear chain JD was spooked by the demise on Monday night of Debenhams' biggest supplier, Sir Philip's Arcadia Group, while there was also unease over a deal among JD's shareholders.
Sky News had reported in August that the hedge fund owners of Debenhams had drafted advisers from Hilco, a restructuring specialist, to work on a possible liquidation if administrators judged it was unable to trade solvently.
A liquidation of the UK business will take place if no buyer is found, resulting in 124 UK stores closing and the workforce being lost.
Administrators assured suppliers and other creditors, including landlords, that all contractual obligations would be met in full.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs the government "stands ready" to help workers affected by job losses at Arcadia and Debenhams after the "deeply worrying" announcements.
Debenhams' problems precede the coronavirus crisis that has devastated the high street with a Sky News tracker showing the retail and hospitality sectors taking the biggest hits in terms of employment.
The decision to wind the company down presents an opportunity for rivals to snap up at least some of the stores and Debenhams' online operation.
House of Fraser and Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley would be a likely candidate to seek a deal - potentially saving some of the threatened jobs.
His Frasers Group was the biggest shareholder in Debenhams when it collapsed in the spring of last year after spurning Mr Ashley's bid to take control of the business.
His holding was ultimately wiped out.
The billionaire has also expressed an interest in Arcadia.
Sir Ian Cheshire, who was ousted as chairman of Debenhams during a tussle with Mr Ashley in January last year, told Sky News he was sure stores would trade through the Christmas season and it was a "sad day" for the company.
"The whole challenge of Debenhams has been, from the time I was there, is there's a fantastic business inside it - probably 70 stores and a very good website which I'm sure someone will be buying because I don't think all these jobs are going - but you can't have the other... stores with long leases when you can't make it work and you can't invest in them.," he said.
The whole trick is how do you get a great business out of the existing business and, unfortunately, it looks like it's taking liquidation to get to that end point."
The union movement argued that the announcements of the past 24 hours proved the need for more Treasury support.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The government must not watch from the side lines as thousands of high street jobs are lost.
"We need urgent and targeted action to save livelihoods in badly-hit industries - like retail- before it's too late."
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