Bloomberg Boutique women’s clothing chain Francesca’s Holdings Corp filed for bankruptcy after the pandemic eroded the company’s already flagging sales. The Houston-based company sought Chapter 11 protection in US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware with plans to sell the business, according to a statement. TerraMar Capital LLC or an affiliate has agreed to become the stalking-horse bidder in a court-supervised auction, …

Bloomberg The European Union’s top trade official held out the prospect of a long-sought deal with the US on aircraft subsidies before President Donald Trump leaves office. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said “it’s possible” that both sides will reach an agreement by January 20 governing aid to Boeing Co and Airbus SE. He reiterated an offer to remove EU …

Bloomberg South Africa isn’t just in talks with potential buyers of a stake in the country’s insolvent state-owned airline, it’s also seeking partners for subsidiaries such as low-cost airline Mango and catering unit Air Chefs. The result will be a number of private-sector entities working with various parts of South African Airways (SAA) whenever it resumes operations, according to Public …