BHS administrators “continue to seek sale as going concern”

This is contrary to the opinion of many analysts, who expect BHS to be broken up and the name to disappear from the high street.

Duff & Phelps administrator Philip Duffy said in a statement today: “Over the last few days we have been working hard to stabilise the business and are pleased to have received a number of expressions of interest. We continue to seek a sale as a going concern.”

Retail Week understands that Bhs’s store estate has attracted around 50 expressions of interest, including that of retailers such as B&M Bargains.

Duffy added: “We appreciate the hard work of staff that have ensured that stores have continued to trade as normal. Staff have been paid over the course of yesterday and today and we want to reassure them that they will continue to be while the group remains in administration, as a priority payment.”

BHS owner Retail Acquisitions and former owner Sir Philip Green have attracted criticism from MPs over the collapse of the business and its £571m pension deficit.  

Meanwhile, Retail Acquisitions director Dominic Chappell has said he wants to try and repurchase the chain.

Retail Acquisitions directors are expected to be called before MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills committee, while Sir Philip Green may be grilled by the Work and Pensions Committee over BHS’s pensions black hole.