Home-decor chain Bouclair to be acquired by investor group, including current CEO

By The Canadian Press

MONTREAL — Bouclair Inc. says it plans to file for bankruptcy as part of a plan to be acquired by a new investor group that includes its chief executive.

The Montreal-based home-decor retailer says it and Bouclair International filed notices of intention to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

The move is part of a proposed transaction through a court-supervised process that is expected to close before the end of the year.

The transaction will see Alston Investments Inc. acquire a substantial portion of Bouclair’s assets and maintain more than 60 of its shops, its Pointe-Claire, Que., head office, and much of its employee base.

Alston, which announced the acquisition offer Tuesday, is made up of Canadian investors, including Bouclair’s CEO Peter Goldberg.

The company says it will close some of its stores, and will seek an order authorizing a liquidation process for the assets in certain stores that will not be part of the transaction.

Bouclair says it will focus on converting up to 24 of its stores and locating new sites for its experiential retail concept over the next 24 months.

The company launched the concept on the south shore of Montreal in November 2018.

Alston also plans to invest in Bouclair’s e-commerce platform and expand efforts to promote the retail chain internationally.

Goldberg says retailers like Bouclair have faced significant challenges in recent years and had to reinvent themselves.

“This proposed transaction would allow a new Bouclair to reorganize and focus on the enterprise’s strengths and to expand e-commerce and digital capabilities.”

 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2019.

The Canadian Press

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