Burton and Dorothy Perkins to stay closed after buyout

The loss of about 2,450 jobs is expected overall following the agreement, which includes all of the e-commerce and digital assets and associated intellectual property rights, including customer data, related business information and inventory of the stores, including Wallis, only. It does not include any of the chains’ 214 shops, such as those on the High Street here and three in Jersey, and all are due to close.

Administrator Deloitte said some staff would be kept on during a month-long transition period. However, only about 260 employees who work in areas such as design, buying and digital would transfer to Boohoo permanently.

Boohoo CEO John Lyttle said they were pleased to purchase the brands, which saw more than two million active customers last year.

‘Acquiring these well-known brands in British fashion out of administration ensures their heritage is sustained, while our investment aims to transform them into brands that are fit for the current market environment,’ he said.

‘We have a successful track record of integrating British heritage fashion brands onto our proven multi-brand platform and we are looking forward to bringing these brands on board.’

Executive chairman Mahmud Kamani agreed.

‘This is a great acquisition for the group as we extend our market share across a broader demographic, capitalising on growth opportunities as more and more customers shop online,’ he said.

‘We continue to grow our portfolio of brands and customer base, strengthening our position as a leader in global fashion e-commerce.’

The brands were previously part of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group.

The Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge outlets also closed after the online parts of these business were sold, along with Burton performance and leisurewear range HIIT, to ASOS last week as part of a £295m. deal, while Evans, which had been on the High Street, was sold to Australia’s City Chic in December for £23m.

Arcadia had been one of the biggest hitters on the UK high street, though had struggled in recent years over a shift in shopping behaviour, and following the Covid-19 pandemic the group was dealt a final blow.

In December, it entered administration, putting thousands of employees’ jobs on the line, most of whom had been on furlough.

n Founded in Manchester in 2006, Boohoo owns more than 15 brands, including its self-named brand and boohooMAN, as well as Warehouse since last year, Coast the year before and the recently acquired Maine and Mantaray brands.

Two weeks ago it also acquired the intellectual property assets of British retail giant Debenhams for £55m., with the goal of transforming the previously leading UK fashion and beauty retailer into an online marketplace.