Debenhams : Restructuring of Irish business

DEBENHAMS PLC - RESTRUCTURING OF IRISH BUSINESS
12 May 2016

DEBENHAMS PLC

Restructuring of Irish business

Debenhams plc (Debenhams) has today announced that the Directors of Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd (DRIL), a wholly-owned subsidiary, have applied to the High Court in Dublin seeking the appointment of an Interim Examiner. Under Irish Law the examinership process provides court protection to enable the Examiner of Irish companies to put together a Scheme of Arrangement with creditors, with a view to allowing the company to trade as a sustainable business into the future. It is estimated the process will last up to 100 days.

Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd has applied for examinership with the objective of restructuring its operations to create a competitive and sustainable business in Ireland. The decision to seek examinership follows several years of financial losses at DRIL culminating in a financial loss of €6.7m in the last financial year ended 29 August 2015. This reflects disproportionately high operating costs, such as above-market rents and other overheads.

John Bebbington, Director, DRIL commented: 'The Directors of Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd will work hard to secure the long term future of the business in Ireland, enabling us to continue to serve our customers well, to provide sustainable jobs for our colleagues and to support the Irish economy. A key element of the examinership would be to protect as many jobs as possible. We believe this will be in the best long term interests of all our stakeholders. During the examinership process it will be business as usual for all of our 11 stores and online trading in the Republic of Ireland.'

Enquiries

Analysts and Investors:

Debenhams plc

Katharine Wynne, Director of Investor Relations +44 20 3549 6304

Media (ROI)

Drury Porter Novelli

Billy Murphy, Paddy Hughes +353 1 260 5000

Media (UK)

Brunswick Group

Simon Sporborg, Helen Smith +44 20 7404 5959

Notes to Editors:

Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Debenhams plc. It operates 11 department stores, a local website, www.debenhams.ie, and employs 1,415 people in the Republic of Ireland.