Debenhams strengthens board as department store implements rescue plan December 10, 2019 Beleaguered department store Debenhams has appointed the former boss of Argos as a non-executive director in order to strengthen its board as it implements a turnaround plan. John Walden, who was chief executive of Home Retail Group until it sold Argos to Sainsbury’s in 2016 and is currently chairman of Naked Wines, has been appointed [...]
Debenhams secures extra £50m funding for Christmas period October 10, 2019 Debenhams has secured an extra £50m from its lenders to support the struggling department store through the crucial Christmas trading period. Last month the retailer approached its investor consortium – which bought the company out of administration – for the additional financing, on top of the £200m secured in March this year. Read more: Debenhams [...]
Debenhams finance chief exits after just 12 months to join Ted Baker September 26, 2019 Debenhams finance chief Rachel Osborne has stepped down in order to join struggling fashion brand Ted Baker. Osborne was appointed chief finance officer at the embattled department store in September last year, and has quit after one year to take on the same role at Ted Baker. Read more: Debenhams wins high court battle to [...]
Sports Direct trying to ‘drive Debenhams into administration’ September 2, 2019 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct is backing a legal challenge against Debenhams’ restructuring plan to “drive it into administration so that it can pick up its assets on the cheap”, a court was told today. The sports retailer is backing a challenge brought by Combined Property Control Group (CPC), which represents the landlords of six Debenhams [...]
Debenhams lines up Deloitte as retailer takes on legal challenge to restructuring plan September 1, 2019 Debenhams has lined up advisers from professional services giant Deloitte as it prepares to fight a legal challenge to its restructuring plan. Deloitte is on standby in case Debenhams loses the case and fails to secure an appeal, an event that could tip the embattled department store into administration. Read more: Debenhams appoints restructuring expect [...]
New Debenhams CEO has ‘clear plan’ to save department store chain August 8, 2019 Restructuring expert Stefaan Vansteenkiste said he has a “clear plan” to save Debenhams after the retailer confirmed his appointment as its new chief executive today. Vansteenkiste, a director at turnaround specialist Alvarez & Marsal, joined the embattled department store in April this year as chief restructuring officer. Read more: Debenhams chairman to step down Previously [...]
Debenhams chairman to step down as restructuring expert appointed chief exec August 7, 2019 Debenhams chairman Terry Duddy is preparing to step down next month as the beleaguered department store’s owners appoint a restructuring expert as its new chief executive. Retail veteran Duddy, who previously ran Argos and Homebase, will leave chief restructuring officer Stefaan Vansteenkiste in charge of the company, Sky News reported. Read more: Debenhams prepares to [...]
Debenhams prepares to ask lenders for extra £50m lifeline July 18, 2019 Debenhams is preparing to ask lenders for an additional £50m lifeline as it approaches the critical Christmas trading period. The department store, which was taken over by its lenders after it fell into administration three months ago, could require access to additional borrowing facilities as soon as this autumn, Sky News reported. Read more: Debenhams [...]
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 [...]
Sports Direct HQ sold to Malaysian pension fund for £120m May 28, 2019 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has confirmed the freehold sale of its headquarters to a Malaysian pension fund. The sportswear retailer, which will continue to occupy the building on a 15-year lease, said this morning that it has sold its logistics centre to Kwasa Logix Sportivo for more than £120m in cash. Read more: Debenhams versus [...]