All Germany articles – Page 21

  • News

    Praktiker chief exec expects German economy to pick up soon

    2009-06-05T00:00:00Z

    Wolfgang Werner, chief executive of DIY chain Praktiker, has called the bottom of the market in Germany and said he expects the economy there to be picking up soon. Werner said sales had “distinctly stabilised” over April and May, meaning it has “largely” compensated for the sales decline in the ...

  • News

    Future of Arcandor remains unclear

    2009-06-05T00:00:00Z

    The future of Karstadt owner Arcandor remains unclear after rival group Metro proposed that it acquire and merge Karstadt’s stores with its own Kaufhof fascia.But Arcandor chief executive Karl-Gerhard Eick remains confident of a state-backed solution after lobbying for a €650m (£564m) loan. Arcandor argues that Metro’s idea could cost ...

  • News

    Arcandor says Metro merger is no alternative to Government aid

    2009-05-29T00:00:00Z

    Retail group Arcandor said that talks with Metro over a possible merger of the Karstadt and Kaufhof department store chains is no alternative to government aid. Arcandor spokesman Gerd Koslowski said: “Metro would have to bring the money we need for survival and it really doesn’t look like that at ...

  • News

    Metro seeks government intervention for rival's state support request

    2009-05-22T00:00:00Z

    Metro has called on the German government to reject a request by its rival Arcandor for state support as it seeks to acquire the latter’s department store chain, Karstadt.Metro chief executive Eckhard Cordes wrote to the government outlining a “commercial solution” that would not need state intervention. Cordes has denied ...

  • metro
    News

    Metro profits halve in first quarter

    2009-05-05T09:08:00Z

    First quarter operating profits at German grocer Metro have halved due to currency devaluations.

  • News

    Interest in Woolworths Germany

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Several parties have expressed an interest in Woolworths Germany after the retailer filed for insolvency last month.The department store group, which was backed by British investor Argyll Partners, has received interest from local parties as well as some foreign investors. Administrator Ottmar Hermann is said to be in talks with ...

  • News

    Refinancing package for Escada

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Luxury fashion group Escada has arranged a E30m (£27m) refinancing package to help secure its survival. The company said it needed to raise the capital to cover liquidity demands and described the initiative as “urgent and unavoidable”.As well as raising funds, Escada plans to cut its debt and replace a ...

  • News

    Praktiker continues to suffer

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Home improvement group Praktiker’s first-quarter losses widened from €20.8m (£18.7m) to €49.2m (£4.4m), and group sales dropped 8 per cent to €795.6m (£713.4m).The retailer said the performance was “materially attributable to its international business” as currency depreciation hit. However, Praktiker expects “adequate, positive EBITA” for the full year.Domestic sales in ...

  • News

    Otto’s entry into Turkey won’t bring quick wins

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    At the end of this month German home shopping giant Otto Group will take its first steps into Turkey by testing newly acquired private shopping site Limango there.

  • News

    Tengelmann to relaunch online store Plus

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Grocer Tengelmann plans to relaunch its non-food online store Plus later this year, according to reports. The project will extend the online shop’s product range to around 10,000 items by the end of this year.New product ranges will include electronics, DIY and furniture. The site will also feature innovations such ...

  • News

    Arcandor to restructure

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Arcandor, operator of department store chain Karstadt and home shopping group Primondo, is to restructure its business at a cost of €900m (£800.4m) over the next five years.Karstadt will form part of a new management board-level division called Atrys. Arcandor aims to save 5 per cent of its €7bn (£6.23bn) ...

  • Fair play? Regulator
    News

    German discounter merger in danger as regulator acts

    2008-04-10T11:34:00Z

    The German grocery regulator could block a landmark merger that would shake up the discount grocery market in the country.