Debenhams
This coverage examines Debenhams’ trajectory, strategies, and impact within the UK retail sector. Reporting focuses on store operations, online developments, financial performance, brand repositioning, product ranges, and executive changes. Designed for retail professionals, it offers analysis of commercial decisions, market challenges, and opportunities relevant to department store management and broader apparel and homeware retailing.
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Apr- 2019 -15 AprilDepartment Stores
Debenhams CEO expected to step down
Debenhams CEO Sergio Bucher is expected to step down in the next few days, after lenders took control of the embattled department store’s chain last week. A source close to Bucher told the BBC: “Having stayed on and got the refinancing in place, Sergio thinks now would be the right…
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12 AprilAdvice
Top four golden benefits of dropship
With the inexorable rise of e-commerce, consumers have become increasingly discerning and demanding. The key battle grounds for retailers have become focused around product choice, convenience and speed. Whilst almost all retailers recognise the urgency to improve their multichannel offerings, only a few are effectively delivering. Most retailers, in trying…
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12 AprilHigh Street
March sees first YOY non-food footfall rise
March saw the first year-on-year rise in footfall in non-food stores for over two years rising by 1.6% since February, according to Ipsos’ Retail Performance Retail Traffic Index. Average weekly footfall was also up on the previous month, by 4.4% and was up across all parts of the UK. Ipsos…
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10 AprilDepartment Stores
Mike Ashley promises to ‘save’ Debenhams
Mike Ashley has made a promise to “save as many Debenhams stores and jobs” as he can similarly to House of Fraser, following the department store going under the control of its lenders. Sports Direct released a statement after Debenhams was placed into administration saying it was a “national scandal”…
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9 AprilDepartment Stores
Debenhams enters pre-pack administration
Debenhams has entered pre-pack administration and gone into the control of its lenders following the department store’s rejection of Sports Direct’s offer to underwrite £150m equity issuance. The pre-pack administration will see all of the company’s shareholders – including Sports Direct which has a 30% stake – wiped out and…
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8 AprilDepartment Stores
Sports Direct makes Debenhams £150m offer
Sports Direct has made an offer to Debenhams to underwrite £150m equity issuance in Mike Ashley’s latest attempt to take control of the embattled department store. The proposal is subject to the conditions that Ashley is appointed CEO of Sports Direct and Debenhams’ lenders agree to write-off (in aggregate) £148m…
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4 AprilShopping Centres
Intu appoints finance boss as new chief exec
Following a nine month search Intu has appointed its current chief financial officer, Matthew Roberts, as its new chief executive with effect from Monday 29 April 2019. Roberts, who has been CFO since May 2010, will succeed David Fischel who will be standing down from the board and leaving intu…
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1 AprilDepartment Stores
Debenhams shareholders back Mike Ashley becoming CEO
Sports Direct has said a number of other shareholders in embattled department store Debenhams have expressed support in Mike Ashley becoming CEO of the company. Ashley’s retail company Sports Direct has an almost 30% stake in Debenhams and as the department store has been seeking funding to help with its…
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Mar- 2019 -29 MarchDepartment Stores
Debenhams advisors should be ‘put in prison’, says Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley has hit out at Debenhams after the department store agreed on a refinancing scheme which could see its shareholders’ stakes wiped out. Debenhams released a statement yesterday (28 March) saying its bondholders were expected to back a £200m restructuring loan. In response, Ashley said “if there were any…
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28 MarchClothing & Shoes
Debenhams bondholders to back £200m restructuring loan
Debenhams bondholders are expected to back a £200m restructuring loan, with a statement today claiming a majority had “provided consent to the amendments sought to the existing notes”. The deadline for bondholders to accept the loan is 5pm tonight (28 March). News of a loan will come as a blow…
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