Administration
On Thursday 5 May 2011, it was announced that owners Cerberus Capital had placed Focus into administration after failed attempts to find a rescue deal. Ernst & Young placed Simon Allport, Alan Hudson and Tom Jack as joint administrators at midnight.
On Friday 6 May 2011, it was announced that B&Q had bought 31 stores in cash for £23m with a plan to refit the properties and open them as B&Q stores in July, with Focus employees transferring to the stores.
In May 2011 Wickes and B&M Bargains purchased some stores, with interest from The Range and Morrisons.
Ernst & Young announced the closure of the remaining 120 stores which resulted in up to 3,000 job losses.
At the time of the appointment of the Administrators, the 178-strong retail chain collapsed owing businesses, shareholders and funders around £1Bn. The sale of assets has so far generated £70M leaving most creditors including the Inland Revenue out of pocket.
The final store to cease trading was in Gillingham Dorset on Friday 22 July 2011.
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