Bloomberg Ascena Retail Group Inc, the owner of mall brands that occupy almost 3,000 stores in the US, is preparing to file for bankruptcy and shutter at least 1,200 of those locations, according to people with knowledge of the plan. The company, which owns brands such as Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant, could enter Chapter 11 as soon as this …

Bloomberg South African Airways (SAA) cleared another hurdle needed to ensure the state-owned carrier’s survival when most labor groups agreed to sweetened severance packages for retrenched workers. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the South African Airways Cabin Crew Association, which were fiercely opposed to plans to cut the workforce to 1,000 staff from about 4,700, agreed …

Bloomberg United Airlines Holdings Inc notified 36,000 employees, or 45% of its US workforce, that their jobs are at risk after federal payroll aid expires at the end of September. The final layoff tally hasn’t been finalised and may be smaller as workers weigh offers to leave voluntarily, United told employees. The planned furloughs include about 15,000 flight attendants, 11,000 …