Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,884.73
    +74.07 (+0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    743.26
    +1.15 (+0.15%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1706
    +0.0012 (+0.11%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2642
    +0.0020 (+0.16%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    55,633.02
    -444.26 (-0.79%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.40
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,369.44
    +201.37 (+0.50%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,205.81
    +1.00 (+0.01%)
     

Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia faces legal battle over restructuring

Landlords and creditors voted last month to approve a raft of rent reductions for the retail group.

Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group is facing a court battle over its plans to reduce rents through a restructuring process.

Landlords and creditors had previously voted to approve a raft of rent cuts to secure the future of the Topshop owner’s retail empire.

However, US property giant Vornado is now challenging two of the seven Company Voluntary Agreements (CVAs).

The legal challenge by the New York-based property group concerns the two CVAs relating to Topshop and Topman stores.

Acadia chief executive Ian Grabiner has dismissed the challenges, describing them as “without merit” and said Sir Philip’s group would “vigorously defend” itself.

ADVERTISEMENT

Arcadia – which also owns Burton, Miss Selfridge and other high street brands – received backing from landlords for its restructuring plans last month.

It meant that landlords would receive smaller amounts of rent on certain properties, with some reduced to half the original price.

The approval of the CVAs confirmed plans to close 23 stores, putting around 1,000 jobs at risk.

Another 11 Topshop and Topman stores in the US were also earmarked for closure.

Mr Grabiner said: “These challenges are entirely without merit and we will vigorously defend them.

“The CVAs are a vital part of our restructuring, putting the business on a firm financial footing and enabling significant investment as part of our growth plans which will ultimately benefit all our stakeholders.

“Our group continues to trade as normal and we remain focused on delivering our turnaround plans.”

Last month, a group of US property companies, including Vornado, contested Arcadia’s decision to put its US subsidiary into administration.

The landlords reportedly claimed that Arcadia “manipulated and gerrymandered” its CVA in the UK to affect the “complete forfeiture and deprivation” of their rights.