Administration
This coverage explores retail administrations and insolvencies within the UK market, examining the circumstances, decisions, and consequences for businesses, employees, and creditors. Reporting highlights notable cases, restructuring efforts, store closures, and leadership actions aimed at recovery or winding down. Designed for executives and managers, it offers insights into risk, resilience, and lessons from commercial failures.
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Dec- 2018 -3 DecemberDepartment Stores
House of Fraser Manchester store saved from closure
The House of Fraser Kendal’s store in Manchester has been rescued from closure, saving roughly 570 jobs. New terms have been reached with the store’s landlord, allowing trading to continue, with the Manchester city council playing an “instrumental” role in discussions. The council leader, Sir Richard Leese, said: “Today’s announcement…
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3 DecemberHigh Street
240 Crawshaw jobs saved following £1.4m deal
As many as 240 jobs at meat retailer Crawshaw have been saved following a £1.4m deal which will see its last 19 stores sold to butchery chain Tom Cribbin for £1.4m. Last month, Crawshaw announced it has entered administration, putting 600 jobs at risk across its 42 stores. A Crawshaw…
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Nov- 2018 -19 NovemberHigh Street
Evans Cycles to close stores despite ‘almost all profitable’
Evans Cycles is set for store closures despite a recent administrators proposals document by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) claiming “almost all the stores were profitable”. In the document, PwC found that the company’s financial woes mainly stemmed from being “burdened” by costs at its head office. Last month it was…
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14 NovemberClothing & Shoes
Blue Inc ‘close to administration’
Blue Inc is reportedly looking for a buyer to help the men’s fashion chain avoid falling into administration. The chain has appointed insolvency practitioners Begbies Traynor to sell the business and according to Sky News, sources said the retailer needed an immediate injection of capital in order for it to…
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12 NovemberAdvice
How high street retailers can make it as ‘bricks and clicks’ companies
Next year Amazon is set to celebrate its 25th birthday, although much of the high street won’t be joining the party, with an estimated 38,900 UK retail jobs being lost or affected this year alone. The roll call of businesses that have entered administration, from House of Fraser to Poundworld…
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6 NovemberDepartment Stores
Debenhams ratings downgraded by Moody’s
Debenhams has had its ratings downgraded for a second time in two months by ratings agency Moody’s. Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the long-term corporate family rating (CFR) of the UK’s largest department store group Debenhams to Caa1 from B2. It has also downgraded Debenhams probability of default rating (PDR) to…
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1 NovemberEconomy
600 jobs at risk as Crawshaws enters administration
Meat retailer Crawshaws has announced it has entered administration, putting 600 jobs at risk across its 42 stores. A Crawshaws spokesperson told Retail Sector that the company blamed its financial woes on “increasing competitor pressures on the high street”, namely “discount activity from the likes of Aldi and Lidl”. According…
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Oct- 2018 -30 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Sports Direct to rescue Evans Cycles with half of its stores to shutter
Sports Direct is to rescue Evans Cycles after it fell into administration on 7 September, with owner Mike Ashley saying the retailer will have to shutter half of its stores to save the business. The closures would result in hundreds of job losses with Evans Cycles, which has been running…
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16 OctoberSport & Leisure
American Golf bought by Endless saving 900 jobs
American Golf has been purchased by private equity investor Endless after it entered administration last Friday (12 October), saving 900 jobs and 112 stores. The investor bought the retailer immediately after it entered administration, after it previously rescued shoe retailer Jones Bootmaker in the same fashion last March. As many…
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12 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Karen Millen buys Coast’s UK operations out of administration
Karen Millen has agreed to buy certain parts of the Coast’s UK business out of administration. Under Karen Millen, Coast will trade primarily across its various websites, in concessions across the UK and through wholesale and franchise partners. Coast’s solus stores and the concessions on mainland Europe are not included…
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