Debenhams Share Discussion Threads

[simon templar qc] 19/2/2018 18:49

Philip Green denies Arcadia is up for sale, I find it hard to believe the Times got this all wrong and PH denial is because he is miffed about the press speculation and Frank Field comments.

The article indicates Arcadia is in-borrowed at the "operating level" whatever that means, and they have substantial property assets. if that is correct the Arcadia group may be in a better place than some other bricks and mortar stores.

All that said, the competition will still get fiercer until such time a large retailer goes belly up. All the current large retailers cannot continue as they are with too much shelf space and less money in consumer pockets. Something has to give!

[qantas] 19/2/2018 13:44

S Your link £500m




However, it recently announced plans to “streamline” its TopShop/TopMan stores and in recent reports retail experts estimated that a sale of Arcadia might fetch just £500m given the potential cost of overhauling its store estate


Please do your own research.

[simon templar qc] 19/2/2018 13:16

Q

Aquascutum was a brand, Debenhams is tied into billions of leases it cannot get out of. But with regards to Arcadia, I don't think it will be that easy to sell Frank Field is already seeking clarification over a potential sale of Arcadia and wants to know the group pension deficit.

Philp Green wouldn't be selling if the company wasn't in trouble imo.

Most large department stores are struggling at the moment.


edit:
Frank Field looking to prevent sale of Arcadia pending pension questions...

[qantas] 19/2/2018 13:02

No he is not going to sell his Crown Jewels for £1.00

The Chinese company bought Acquascutum last year for £95m.

[simon templar qc] 19/2/2018 10:40

You mean like £1 for BHS, you can do the maths on the current exchange rate and come back to me!

[simon templar qc] 18/2/2018 14:54

Press say Philip Green looking to exit Arcadia group, and in talks with a Chinese buyer, but one potential buyer talks ended.

Rumour is things still deteriorating at Arcadia, it doesn't surprise me one bit PH wanting to exit, even Arcadia is at risk at the moment with consumers tightening their belt and he will not want blaming again for the loss of jobs after BHS and even more pension trouble.



It isn't the time to buy any large retailer at the moment as I expect some massive closure in the not too distant future, a recession would tip the balance for numerous retailers.

A cut in business rates could help bricks and mortar retailers but the lost revenue for the government would have to be made up elsewhere and its unlikely any online retailer would be able to withstand the total revenue needed.


edit:

Retail apocalypse say the Guardian as there is 20% too much retail space..

[qantas] 16/2/2018 22:14

Pure cream...

[simon templar qc] 16/2/2018 11:36

Consumer inflation currently 3% versus retail sales yoy growth of 1.5% equates to less money for retailers.

These things aren't difficult to work out to the average British public.

Seems Sport wear did well!

[simon templar qc] 16/2/2018 11:15

Retail sales have missed all expectations and expected to get worse...



Market expectations month on month 0.6 actual 0.1

Core retail yoy expectations 2.5 actual 1.5

Dismal !

edit:

Guardian comments

[justiceforthemany] 16/2/2018 10:07

Non-food retail sales UP 0.5% in Jan

[simon templar qc] 15/2/2018 12:32

Laura Ashley the home furnishings retailer said like-for-like sales fell 0.5% for the 26 weeks to 31 December, while pre-tax profit nearly halved to £4.3m.
Chairman Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Peng said trading conditions have "continued to be challenging", with the slide in sterling blamed for the weaker profits.
The only bright spot was Laura Ashley's two boutique hotels in the UK have performed well, prompting the company to expand the concept in both domestically and abroad.

Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital, has no sympathy with Laura Ashley's plight.
He says the struggling company is "yet another retailer under the cosh because it's not really kept pace with changing consumer trends or managed to stay terribly relevant".

[simon templar qc] 15/2/2018 12:23

Laura Ashley profit warning today shares fell over 255 at one point, but currently down about 5%.

LA see profits halving.

[cbr60000] 14/2/2018 19:58

Simon...was it you who purchased those 2m shares today?

[simon templar qc] 14/2/2018 14:02

Higher inflation CPI for the US announced today is set to knock markets yet again. Higher interest rates are forecast in the US will weaken the £.

UK retailers going nowhere at the moment, Debs been bobbing around this level for a week or two, there is bound to be a far wider move soon !

[ltcm1] 14/2/2018 12:03

The big council tax rises coming in April are going to hit the Debenhams clientele hard.

[qantas] 14/2/2018 09:25

Latest broker views

Date Broker New target

Recomm.

14 Feb Deutsche Bank 33.00 Hold

[simon templar qc] 13/2/2018 20:06

Selfridges opens an in store "world first" boxing gym in one of its stores as a customer experience to draw the public in store...



A novel idea but most the shoppers are female, the idea has flaws.

[qantas] 13/2/2018 15:39

Game Digital’s esports arena division, Belong, sounds rather more needy than computer-game players might wish.

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has no such qualms.

The retailer has doubled down on last year’s investment in the ailing British computer games company by purchasing half of Belong for £3.2m and offering to lend another £55m for further expansion — including concessions within Sports Direct.

Please do your own research,

[simon templar qc] 13/2/2018 11:38

John Lewis partnership weekly sales data out, non food up 1.7% on this time last year. 2 weeks sales comparison +0.8%



My overall take on figures is consumers tightening their belts, no growth in sales when inflation is taken into account. I suspect margins are under pressure at JL.

Waitrose looks to be losing market share.

The partnership will publish its figures the second week of March, I predict profits are expected to be well down on last year.

[kazoom] 13/2/2018 10:59

no ricer93 - he's just an altruistic fellow, leading a campaign to save investors from themselves.