London (AFP)

The bankrupt Debenhams department stores will close their doors in the UK for good with thousands of layoffs, as online clothing group Boohoo has announced the takeover of the only website and brand.

Meanwhile, the rival of Boohoo, c, confirmed Monday to be in exclusive discussions with the group Arcadia to take over the famous brand of "fast fashion" Topshop.

Boohoo will take over £ 55 million worth of "intellectual property," including "customer data," branding and other information such as certain contracts, a statement said Monday.

The directors of Debenhams estimate that "the liquidation of stocks will continue in stores for several weeks (...). Unfortunately, all stores in the United Kingdom will then close their doors" which will result in the loss of their jobs for them. nearly 12,000 employees.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the multiple lockdowns and restrictive measures on trade and activity have accelerated the fall of this British commerce institution, which was already in trouble before, in the face of the rise of online commerce and the changes consumption patterns.

In mid-January, Debenhams had already announced that 6 of its 124 stores, including the main one on Oxford Street in London, would close their doors.

- Large maneuvers -

This "strategic acquisition allows us to accelerate our goal of becoming number one not only in fashion e-commerce but in new categories such as beauty, sports and home wear", commented Mahmud Kamani, President. executive of Boohoo.

Debenhams is expected to relaunch its online platform in the first quarter of 2022, said Boohoo, whose name has been linked in recent months with accusations of abusive working conditions against employees of certain suppliers.

"It is a blow to people who were waiting for news for their future," Labor and Pensions Minister Therese Coffey told BBC radio, adding that the government would be "there to help people at this difficult time" .

The department store chain filed for bankruptcy in April and announced in December that it would begin a liquidation process after talks broke down for a takeover by sporting goods chain JD Sports.

With origins dating back to the late 18th century, it was one of the last department store chains still in operation, after the demise in recent years of BHS or House of Fraser.

The British group Frasers of businessman Mike Ashley remains in the running to buy out certain activities of the group, in particular part of its stores, but they would not reopen under the Debenhams banner.

The health crisis has accentuated the migration of purchases to online stores and the fall of big names from shopping streets.

Asos is in discussions for the acquisition of the flagship brand Topshop and other brands of Arcadia, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT.

"The board believes that this would represent a good opportunity to acquire strong brands in harmony with (our) customer base. However, at this stage, a transaction is not certain," Asos said in a statement on Monday. .

Like Boohoo, the inexpensive ready-to-wear group was one of the few pandemic winners in a clothing industry devastated by the pandemic.

The two groups "are trying to establish their positions in what remains a very competitive market," comments Russ Mold, analyst at AJ Bell.

The acquisition "represents a turning point for Boohoo which started out as a low-cost clothing brand and has grown into an empire," adds Susannah Streeter, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

The redemptions of the victims of the crisis are accelerating.

Marks & Spencer has just acquired the Jaeger clothing brand, while the Edinburgh Woollen Mill tartan sweaters and Ponden Home decoration stores have been acquired by investors.

© 2021 AFP