Bloomberg Britain’s troubled PizzaExpress chain announced a rescue plan that’s likely to close scores of restaurants, put hundreds of pizza chefs and waiters out of work and hand control of the business to creditors. As part of the proposals, the company will implement a legal process known as a company voluntary arrangement that may permanently close about 15% of UK ...
Read More »Retail
Creditors at odds over Seven & i deal
Bloomberg The debt market is showing concern about Seven & i Holdings Co’s $21 billion deal to buy Marathon Petroleum Corp’s gas-station business, even as equity investors grew more positive on the purchase. The credit rating of the world’s largest convenience store operator was cut by Moody’s Investors Service from A1 to A2, the sixth-highest level, citing “an expected spike ...
Read More »Tyson replaces CEO after two years, warns of slowdowns
Bloomberg Tyson Foods Inc is replacing its top boss just as the pandemic boosts costs and clouds the outlook for America’s top meat producer. Noel White, 62, will step down as chief executive officer after just two years on the job, but will remain at the company as executive vice chairman, Tyson said in a statement. He will be replaced ...
Read More »Hugo Boss seeks financing support
Bloomberg Clothing retailers, including department stores, have raised $36 billion from banks to help weather store closures and lost revenues during the coronavirus pandemic. German apparel brand Hugo Boss AG has joined more than 100 similar companies from Europe and US in seeking financing support. Boss has drawn down part of its existing credit line, borrowed additional funds supported by ...
Read More »UK’s DW Sports collapse puts 1,700 jobs ‘at risk’
Bloomberg DW Sports, founded by former English soccer player David Whelan, filed for administration after the company had to close dozens of its gyms and retail stores due to the Covid-19 pandemic. BDO LLP was appointed administrator of the UK retailer and said all the company’s approximately 1,700 jobs are “at risk of redundancy,†according to an emailed statement. DW ...
Read More »Seven & i Holdings beats out rival with $21bn bet on US
Bloomberg Seven & i Holdings Co, the world’s largest convenience store operator, is betting $21 billion on the future of quick-stop shopping in the US, reviving a once-abandoned deal to make sure the target didn’t fall into the hands of a competitor. The global operator of the 7-Eleven franchise agreed to buy Marathon Petroleum Corp’s gas-station business, adding 3,900 Speedway ...
Read More »HK’s City’super owner nears sale to Chinese-led group
Bloomberg A group led by China Resources Capital Management Ltd is close to buying a majority stake in City’super, valuing the high-end Hong Kong supermarket chain at almost $300 million, people with knowledge of the matter said. CR Capital, the alternative investments arm of state-owned conglomerate China Resources Holdings Co, and its co-investors plan to acquire 65% of City Super ...
Read More »Shoprite sees better South African trade with gains
Bloomberg Shoprite Holdings Ltd’s second-half sales climbed as it gained market share, even as the main lower-income customers of Africa’s largest food retailer battle with the impact of an economic slowdown. Sales in its core South African business rose 9.4% in the last three months of the fiscal year through June, the Cape Town-based supermarket operator said. Still, the grocer ...
Read More »Under Armour’s road ahead looks bumpy
Bloomberg Under Armour Inc managed to reach more customers than expected last quarter, even with most of its stores closed — but the road ahead is looking bumpy. The athletic-goods maker’s second-half revenue is likely to fall 20% to 25%, with its recently improved gross margin coming under new pressure, executives warned on a call with analysts. The volatile stock ...
Read More »Covid-19: Walmart is eliminating hundreds of corporate jobs
Bloomberg Walmart Inc might be one of the few big winners in the pandemic, having posted surging sales month after month, but that isn’t stopping the company from tightening its belt. The world’s biggest retailer has laid off hundreds of workers in units including store planning, logistics, merchandising and real estate, according to people familiar with the matter. It is ...
Read More »