UPDATE: Notices of intent to appoint administrators have been filed for both Peacocks Group and Bonmarché, placing the clothing retailers into a 10-day moratorium until a solution to its difficulties is found.
Advisor KPMG is understood to be waiting in the wings as administrator if one is appointed.
Peacocks is on the brink of administration as its bank, RBS, walked away from refinancing talks.
The value fashion group, which is poised to offload its clothing chain Bonmarché to private equity firm Sun European Partners, had been in discussions with its bank RBS about a possible debt for equity swap. Bonmarché employs 3,800 staff.
However it is understood RBS is unwilling to commit to a deal, putting the future of the retailer and its 9,600 employees in danger.
Peacocks has been grappling with £240m worth of high interest loans, although the group is profitable.
The 550-store retailer, chaired by retail veteran Allan Leighton, is looking at a range of restructuring options that could include shutting stores and administration. KPMG is understood to be waiting in the wings.
A spokesman for RBS, which is also a lender to HMV and Clintons, said: “Each company restructure is judged on its own merits, but clearly the difficult conditions that retailers face is an important factor. New investors willing to inject sufficient capital could not be found.”
Peacocks is owned by a consortium whose members include hedge funds OchZiff and Perry Capital.
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