LONDON: British department store Debenhams warned on profit for the third time in six months on Tuesday, blaming poor trading on increased competitor discounting and weakness in key markets.
The firm said it is now forecasting a pretax profit for the 2018 financial year of 35-40 million pounds ($46-$53 million) compared to current market expectations of 50.3 million pounds.
It is planning for “a material reduction” in capital expenditure in the 2019 financial year and also intends to conduct a strategic review of non-core assets, having already committed to 20 million pounds of cost savings.
Debenhams said group like-for-like sales fell 1.7 percent in the 15 weeks to June 16.
“It is well-documented that these are exceptionally difficult times in UK retail, and our trading performance in this quarter reflects that,” said Chief Executive Sergio Bucher.
“We don’t see these conditions changing in the near future and, because it is our priority to maintain a robust balance sheet, we are making very careful choices about how we deploy capital.”
Bucher, a former Amazon and Inditex executive who joined Debenhams in 2016, is one year into a turnaround plan focused on closing some stores, downsizing others, cutting promotions and improving online service, while seeking cost savings.
But his progress has been hampered by changing shopping habits, a squeeze on UK consumers’ budgets, a shift in spending away from fashion toward holidays and entertainment, as well as intense online competition.
UK’s Debenhams warns on profit again, blames weak market
UK’s Debenhams warns on profit again, blames weak market
- Debenhams said group like-for-like sales fell 1.7 percent in the 15 weeks to June 16
- The firm said it is now forecasting a pretax profit for the 2018 financial year of 35-40 million pounds ($46-$53 million)
Second firm ends DP World investments over CEO’s Epstein ties
- British International Investment ‘shocked’ by allegations surrounding Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem
- Decision follows in footsteps of Canadian pension fund La Caisse
LONDON: A second financial firm has axed future investments in Dubai logistics giant DP World after emails surfaced revealing close ties between its CEO and Jeffrey Epstein, Bloomberg reported.
British International Investment, a $13.6 billion UK government-owned development finance institution, followed in the footsteps of La Caisse, a major Canadian pension fund.
“We are shocked by the allegations emerging in the Epstein files regarding (DP World CEO) Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,” a BII spokesman said in a statement.
“In light of the allegations, we will not be making any new investments with DP World until the required actions have been taken by the company.”
The move follows the release by the US Department of Justice of a trove of emails highlighting personal ties between the CEO and Epstein.
The pair discussed the details of useful contacts in business and finance, proposed deals and made explicit reference to sexual encounters, the email exchanges show.
In 2021, BII — formerly CDC Group — said it would invest with DP World in an African platform, with initial ports in Senegal, Egypt and Somaliland. It committed $320 million to the project, with $400 million to be invested over several years.
