Evans fashion chain sold to Australian firm by administrators

The administrator also revealed “significant expressions of interest” from other parties in the rest of Sir Philip's Arcadia business, with further updates due in the new year

Philip Green’s retail empire Arcadia has gone into administration

Graeme Evans, Markets reporter

21 December 2020

Women's plus-size fashion chain Evans today became the first part of Sir Philip Green's collapsed retail empire to be sold by administrators.

Deloitte's £23 million disposal of Evans to Australia's City Chic Collective includes the brand, e-commerce and wholesale business but not its five standalone stores.

The administrator also revealed “significant expressions of interest” from other parties in the rest of Sir Philip's Arcadia business, with further updates due in the new year. Potential bidders for brands such as Topshop and Dorothy Perkins are reported to include Next.

Evans, which has been trading since 1930, is now a more digital-focused business after generating £23 million of sales from 19 million website visits in the year to August.

It trades from about 100 locations, with most being Arcadia multi-sites or concessions within department stores. Annual sales topped £60 million prior to Covid-19.

City Chic chief executive Phil Ryan wants to use Evans as a launchpad to develop a third major operating region beyond Australia and New Zealand and the United States. His company previously used Evans as a sales channel for its clothing ranges in the UK.

He added: “The acquisition meets our strategic objective of growing through global customer acquisition, digitally, and in the $50 billion curvy apparel market.”

Arcadia, which traded from more than 400 stores, went into administration at the end of November, putting more than 13,000 jobs at risk. The Evans store network will continue to operate in order to dispose of remaining stock.

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Evans fashion chain sold to Australian firm by administrators

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