The retail sector’s performance as a whole reflects consumer confidence.
Overall, trends are similar to those in the food, beverage and tobacco sector, with consumers trading down and spending less on non-essential items. Food retailers have been the most resilient, and large retailers of household and electronic goods have been under particular strain. Many household names in the UK and within Europe in particular have closed down and the sector’s fortunes are closely linked with the real estate sector.
Food retailers, metros, supermarkets, cosmetic companies, electronic consumer goods companies and luxury retailers come to Linklaters for strategic advice on real estate transactions, M&A corporate, competition and antitrust, IP and brand protection issues and restructuring and insolvency. Many are pan-European and global companies and have a presence in the high street and business parks.
In an economic downturn, many retailers are struggling to pay off debt or to refinance. Linklaters restructuring and insolvency experts are advising a range of retailers on dealing with distressed assets and extracting maximum value from the business.
Our experience of complex transactions coupled with our strong local law capacity in key jurisdictions in Western and Eastern Europe, China and the rest of Asia means that we are ideally placed to assist retailers who are looking to develop their business both domestically and internationally.
Contact us
To discuss legal issues with Linklaters’ global retail team, please contact sector leaders Patrick Rignell, Mark Stamp or Julia Woolf.
You can find out more about Linklaters’ retail capabilities from sector manager Paul Taylor on (44 20) 7456 2492.
Recent insurance transactions include advising:
- Deloitte on the administration of UK Woolworths’s retail arm as well as its lenders, Burdale and GMAC
- Deloitte on the administration of UK china and crystal company Waterford Wedgwood
- L’Oreal on the aquisition of The Body Shop
- Violet Acquisitions Limited on its takeover by way of LBO of Somerfield plc
- Alfa Group on the merger of the major Pyaterochka and Perekrestok Russian retail groups
- GUS on its demergers of Burberry, Argos and Experian
- Carrefour on its merger with Promodes
- Casino on its acquisition of Laurus and on its acquisition of twelve shopping galleries in Poland and Candover on the acquisition of Picard in France
- De Beer on its joint venture with LVMH
- Remy Cointreau on a global distribution joint venture with Highland Distillers
- Jim Beam and Vin & Spirit AB and Karstadtquelle on its financial services joint venture with Ergo
