WH Smith bidder Modella mulls Hobbycraft restructuring

One of many two remaining bidders for WH Smith’s excessive avenue empire is exploring a restructuring of Hobbycraft, the crafts chain it purchased simply seven months in the past.

Sky Information has learnt that Modella Capital has drafted in advisers from FRP, the skilled providers agency, to look at potential choices together with an organization voluntary association (CVA).

CVAs – a broadly used instrument within the retail and hospitality sectors in recent times – are steadily utilised to facilitate retailer closures and hire cuts from landlords.

Sources near the Hobbycraft course of mentioned on Wednesday that FRP’s work was at a really early stage and that no choices about restructuring measures had been taken.

A spokesman for Modella mentioned that Hobbycraft traded from 124 shops and had a workforce numbering roughly 2,400 individuals.

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Modella, which specialises in shopping for challenged retailers, is vying with rival agency Alteri to purchase WH Smith’s complete excessive avenue property, with a deal anticipated within the coming months.

The agency’s executives have backed chains together with Paperchase and Tie Rack, and the agency final month acquired The Authentic Manufacturing facility Store.

Modella purchased Hobbycraft, which was based in 1995, from the personal fairness agency Bridgepoint final summer time.

A spokesman for Modella declined to touch upon the choices it was exploring, whereas FRP additionally declined to remark.