House of Fraser rescue plans approved

Creditors have backed department store chain House of Fraser’s plans to close more than half its stores.

The troubled retailer will now go ahead and shut 31 of its 59 shops nationwide and impose big rent cuts on 10 others that it intends to keep through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), a form of insolvency proceedings.

It came up with the rescue package last month, aimed at saving the company from collapse.

All stores identified for closure are anticipated to trade until early 2019.

Up to 6,000 jobs will go as a result of the store closures.

House of Fraser said it is “absolutely committed” to supporting staff affected.

Frank Slevin, chairman of House of Fraser, said: “The approval of the CVAs is a seminal moment in House of Fraser’s history. We must now continue with the implementation of our restructuring plan. This is also an important milestone in the transaction with C.banner and moves us toward the completion of the capital injection first announced in May.”

Its chief executive Alex Williamson added: “The CVA proposals have been approved by our creditors and we are grateful for their ongoing support and belief in the future of House of Fraser. This was clearly a difficult decision to take but is, ultimately, the only one to secure our future. Our focus is on supporting all of our affected colleagues and we are exploring every opportunity available to them working alongside the Retail Trust and the wider retail community.”

The stores earmarked for closure are:

Altrincham, Aylesbury, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Camberley, Cardiff, Carlisle, Chichester, Cirencester, Cwmbran, Darlington, Doncaster, Edinburgh Frasers, Epsom, Grimsby, High Wycombe, Hull, Leamington Spa, Lincoln, London Oxford Street, London King Willam Street, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Skipton, Swindon, Telford, Wolverhampton, Worcester.

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