
Pepco's German unit files for insolvency to restructure stores
Pepco Germany filed for the proceedings at a Berlin court. The unit operates 64 stores and employs around 500 people. All stores will remain open until further notice.
The company has appointed Christian Stoffler as Chief Restructuring Officer to oversee the process.
"We see good opportunities to realign the store network in Germany so that it can prosper, despite the challenging German retail market," Stoffler said in a statement.
Pepco said its German network had experienced challenges since entering the market in 2022 and is currently making a loss.
The variety discount retailer's parent company has pledged its support for the restructuring process and to provide financing.
Pepco Group was established in 2015. The business specialises in value retail and its products include children's clothing and home decor.
© Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
10 hours ago
- France 24
Trump says to name new labor statistics chief this week
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated -- without providing evidence -- that Friday's employment report "was rigged." He alleged that commissioner of labor statistics Erika McEntarfer had manipulated data to diminish his administration's accomplishments, drawing sharp criticism from economists and a professional association. "We'll be announcing a new (labor) statistician some time over the next three-four days," Trump told reporters Sunday. He added Monday: "I will pick an exceptional replacement." US job growth missed expectations in July, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed, and sharp revisions to hiring figures in recent months brought them to the weakest levels since the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump ordered the removal of McEntarfer hours after the figures were published. "We had no confidence. I mean the numbers were ridiculous," Trump told reporters Sunday. He charged that McEntarfer came up with "phenomenal" numbers on his predecessor Joe Biden's economy before the 2024 election. Hiring slowdown Even as he called for more reliable data Monday, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett conceded that the jobs market was indeed cooling. But Hassett maintained in a CNBC interview that this softening did not reflect the incoming effects of Trump's flagship tax and spending legislation -- signed into law early last month. US employment data point to challenges as companies took a cautious approach in hiring and investment while grappling with Trump's sweeping -- and rapidly changing -- tariffs this year. The United States added 73,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent, the Department of Labor reported. Hiring numbers for May were revised down from 144,000 to 19,000. The figure for June was shifted from 147,000 to 14,000. These were notably lower than job creation levels in recent years. During the pandemic, the economy lost jobs. Over the weekend, Hassett defended McEntarfer's firing in an NBC News interview: "The president wants his own people there so that when we see the numbers they are more transparent and more reliable." But Trump's decision has come under fire. William Beach, who previously held McEntarfer's post, said the move set a "dangerous precedent." The National Association for Business Economics condemned her dismissal, saying large revisions in jobs numbers "reflect not manipulation, but rather the dwindling resources afforded to statistical agencies." German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Monday emphasized the importance of supporting "independent, neutral and proven institutions." He said: "It is right that independent institutions remain independent and that politics do not interfere with them."


Fashion Network
3 days ago
- Fashion Network
Burberry tops list of UK M&A targets in new Bloomberg survey
In Burberry's case, there are signs that the brand is beginning to deliver on its turnaround plan under Chief Executive Officer Joshua Schulman. After back-to-back annual declines of 30%, the stock has risen 32% in 2025. According to Emmanuel Valavanis, an equity sales specialist at Forte Securities in London, Burberry's brand equity could be attractive to a larger luxury group 'not afraid to pay up for bolt-on growth and an iconic label.' However, the transformation is not yet complete. 'Burberry's renewal effort still needs more work,' said Graham Simpson of Canaccord Genuity Quest, adding that a potential suitor would likely focus on extracting synergies. BP Plc and Anglo American Plc also featured among the leading UK takeover candidates, consistent with their inclusion in a similar January survey. Rightmove Plc, the online property portal, received four mentions after drawing multiple bids last year from Rupert Murdoch's REA Group. UK dealmaking 'roared back' in the second quarter, said Patrick Sarch, head of UK public M&A at law firm White & Case LLP, in July. 'We anticipate more bids for UK companies from US and corporate bidders, and that the financial services, infrastructure, natural resources, and tech sectors will continue to be active,' Sarch added. Outside the UK, the recent trade agreement between the European Union and the United States is expected to 'encourage corporates to go ahead with planned transactions,' according to Eric Meyer, head of RBC Capital Markets in Paris. Among continental names, Carrefour SA was a frequently mentioned target, cited four times by respondents. The supermarket chain is currently reviewing its portfolio to improve its valuation and recently divested its struggling Italian business. European banking M&A also remains active, continuing a trend from 2024. Commerzbank AG was again a popular name in the latest survey. UniCredit SpA, which has expressed interest in acquiring Commerzbank, increased its stake to about 20% this month. The move makes UniCredit the bank's largest shareholder, overtaking the German government, which remains opposed to a takeover. 'Bank deals are becoming more complicated,' said Nicolas Marmurek, co-head of special situations at Square Global Markets. 'Successful bidders will need strategy, timing, and just the right dose of political finesse.'


Fashion Network
3 days ago
- Fashion Network
Burberry tops list of UK M&A targets in new Bloomberg survey
In Burberry's case, there are signs that the brand is beginning to deliver on its turnaround plan under Chief Executive Officer Joshua Schulman. After back-to-back annual declines of 30%, the stock has risen 32% in 2025. According to Emmanuel Valavanis, an equity sales specialist at Forte Securities in London, Burberry's brand equity could be attractive to a larger luxury group 'not afraid to pay up for bolt-on growth and an iconic label.' However, the transformation is not yet complete. 'Burberry's renewal effort still needs more work,' said Graham Simpson of Canaccord Genuity Quest, adding that a potential suitor would likely focus on extracting synergies. BP Plc and Anglo American Plc also featured among the leading UK takeover candidates, consistent with their inclusion in a similar January survey. Rightmove Plc, the online property portal, received four mentions after drawing multiple bids last year from Rupert Murdoch's REA Group. UK dealmaking 'roared back' in the second quarter, said Patrick Sarch, head of UK public M&A at law firm White & Case LLP, in July. 'We anticipate more bids for UK companies from US and corporate bidders, and that the financial services, infrastructure, natural resources, and tech sectors will continue to be active,' Sarch added. Outside the UK, the recent trade agreement between the European Union and the United States is expected to 'encourage corporates to go ahead with planned transactions,' according to Eric Meyer, head of RBC Capital Markets in Paris. Among continental names, Carrefour SA was a frequently mentioned target, cited four times by respondents. The supermarket chain is currently reviewing its portfolio to improve its valuation and recently divested its struggling Italian business. European banking M&A also remains active, continuing a trend from 2024. Commerzbank AG was again a popular name in the latest survey. UniCredit SpA, which has expressed interest in acquiring Commerzbank, increased its stake to about 20% this month. The move makes UniCredit the bank's largest shareholder, overtaking the German government, which remains opposed to a takeover. 'Bank deals are becoming more complicated,' said Nicolas Marmurek, co-head of special situations at Square Global Markets. 'Successful bidders will need strategy, timing, and just the right dose of political finesse.'