{ "edition": 9, "date": "2026-10-29", "time": "05:00", "lede": "Poundland’s directors are reported to be preparing to appoint administrators after its owner rejected the only bid for the whole chain, and Paris’s BHV Marais has asked a court for a rescue.", "denmark_title": "Recent falls and rescues", "denmark_note": "One Danish company with more than 50 staff fell since the last edition: HAMMEL Møbler af 2009 A/S, a furniture maker, declared bankrupt on 27 October. The others are this autumn’s falls and rescues, so we can learn from them.", "denmark": [ { "rank": 1, "company": "HAMMEL Møbler af 2009 A/S", "country": "Denmark", "what": "Furniture maker", "score": null, "trend": "new", "status": "HAMMEL Møbler af 2009 A/S was declared bankrupt on 27 October, Danish company register data show.", "verdict": "A furniture maker with between 50 and 99 staff. It is the largest Danish bankruptcy I found since the last edition.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Declared bankrupt (konkurs); 50–99 staff, about 50 full-time equivalents", "date": "27 Oct 2026", "url": "https://ownr.dk/konkurser" } ], "watch": "Whether anyone buys the business or its machines.", "about": "A Danish company that made furniture.", "meter": 100 }, { "rank": 2, "company": "Humac", "country": "Denmark", "what": "Apple shops", "score": null, "meaning": "The old company went into reconstruction", "trend": "same", "status": "Rescued. Closed on 13 August, reopened on 16 September under a new owner.", "verdict": "Eight years of losses in a row. Now the man who sold it in 2024 has bought it back.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Went into reconstruction and closed every shop and the webshop", "date": "13 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.recordere.dk/2026/08/humac-lukker-alle-butikker-og-webshop-konkurs-eller-rekonstruktion/" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Lost DKK 27 million in 2025, its eighth losing year in a row", "date": "2025 accounts", "url": "https://www.recordere.dk/2026/08/humac-lukker-alle-butikker-og-webshop-konkurs-eller-rekonstruktion/" } ], "watch": "Whether the new owner can make the shops pay.", "story": "/story/humac", "about": "Sells Apple products in Denmark, with advice, set-up and repairs, through its own shops.", "meter": 90 }, { "rank": 3, "company": "Velkommen group", "country": "Denmark", "what": "Electricity suppliers", "score": null, "meaning": "Bankruptcy requested", "trend": "same", "status": "The grid companies asked the court to declare the four companies bankrupt. More than 32,000 customers were moved to new suppliers on 30 June.", "verdict": "Customers waited too long for money they were owed, and the companies lost the right to sell power.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Late with refunds in most cases checked by the regulator", "date": "30 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.sn.dk/art6599121/koebenhavn-kommune/indland/energinet-flytter-over-32000-kunder-til-nye-elleverandoerer" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Grid companies Cerius and Radius asked for bankruptcy", "date": "2026", "url": "https://www.tv2kosmopol.dk/koebenhavn/omstridte-elselskaber-begaeres-konkurs-og-politianmeldes-7d13e" } ], "watch": "How much customers get back.", "about": "Sold electricity to Danish homes under several brand names.", "story": "/story/velkommen", "meter": 92 }, { "rank": 4, "company": "Hamiconsult", "country": "Denmark", "what": "Engineering advisers, Herning", "score": null, "meaning": "Bankrupt", "trend": "same", "status": "Declared bankrupt by the court in Herning on 15 September.", "verdict": "The warning was in its own accounts: the last annual report already doubted the company could carry on.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Declared bankrupt; a sister company was asked into bankruptcy the same day", "date": "15 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.licitationen.dk/article/view/1246572/konkurs_breder_sig_i_radgiverkoncern" } ], "watch": "What happens to the rest of the group.", "about": "An engineering consultancy in Herning that advised on building and construction projects.", "story": "/story/hamiconsult", "meter": 100 }, { "rank": 5, "company": "CPH Steel", "country": "Denmark", "what": "Steel work for construction firms", "score": null, "meaning": "Bankrupt", "trend": "same", "status": "Reconstruction in July failed. Declared bankrupt on 5 August.", "verdict": "A few building jobs that went wrong emptied the till. More than 1,300 suppliers were left unpaid.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Rescue attempt failed within weeks", "date": "5 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.metal-supply.dk/article/view/1239140/rekonstruktion_fejlede_nu_er_stor_smedevirksomhed_konkurs" }, { "level": "red", "text": "More than 1,300 creditors unpaid when reconstruction began", "date": "31 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.building-supply.dk/article/view/1238320/leverandor_er_okonomisk_nodlidende_og_gar_i_rekonstruktion" } ], "watch": "Whether anyone buys the business.", "about": "Made and fitted steel structures for Danish building projects.", "story": "/story/cph-steel", "meter": 100 }, { "rank": 6, "company": "Nimbus", "country": "Denmark", "what": "The motorcycle brand, revived", "score": null, "meaning": "Bankruptcy requested", "trend": "same", "status": "Asked into bankruptcy in June, according to its own website.", "verdict": "Twelve years of trying to bring back a Danish legend ended before the electric motorcycle reached the road.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Bankruptcy requested", "date": "12 Jun 2026", "url": "https://ugebrev.dk/flashnews/legendarisk-transportmiddel-var-kendt-fra-post-og-forsvar-ikonisk-dansk-virksomhed-gaar-konkurs/" } ], "watch": "Whether someone buys the name.", "about": "Tried to bring back Nimbus, the classic Danish motorcycle, as an electric motorcycle.", "story": "/story/nimbus", "meter": 92 } ], "world": [ { "company": "BHV Marais", "country": "France", "what": "Department store, Paris", "score": 17, "meaning": "In a court process", "trend": "new", "status": "BHV Marais has filed. On 27 October it asked a French commercial court for a redressement judiciaire, a court-led rescue. The court has not yet ruled; a hearing is reported for Friday 30 October.", "verdict": "In its 170th year, the store opposite Paris City Hall stays open while a judge decides. It says its landlord owes it money for space it handed back; the landlord denies owing anything.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Asked a court for a court-led rescue; the store stays open and old debts are frozen", "date": "27 Oct 2026", "url": "https://fr.fashionnetwork.com/news/Le-bhv-marais-demande-son-placement-en-redressement-judiciaire,1879608.html" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Its owner since 2023 sold it to four managers in June at a negative price", "date": "16 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.cbnews.fr/node/101742" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "BHV says unpaid indemnities hurt it; the landlord, Brookfield, denies owing any sum", "date": "27 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/redressement-judiciaire-du-bhv-le-bailleur-brookfield-dement-devoir-des-sommes-a-l-enseigne-b9939a9c31976e48566620222441065d" } ], "watch": "Whether the court opens the rescue, and who funds the months that follow.", "story": "/story/bhv-marais", "about": "A department store on the rue de Rivoli in Paris, open since 1856, selling mostly home, DIY and decoration.", "meter": 95, "rank": 1 }, { "company": "sonnen", "country": "Germany", "what": "Home batteries", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "sonnen GmbH has filed. It filed an insolvency application on 22 October, two months after Shell sold it to the investor TIVEN. No court has opened proceedings, and no administrator has been named.", "verdict": "About 400 staff in Wildpoldsried were told that morning. The company says service for its more than 150,000 customers will continue.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Filed an insolvency application; about 400 staff at headquarters were told that morning", "date": "22 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.zfk.de/energie/erneuerbare/sonnen-stellt-insolvenzantrag-nur-zwei-monate-nach-verkauf" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Sales of the German company fell from about €264m to about €78m in 2024, with a loss of about €107m", "date": "2024 accounts", "url": "https://www.lobbyregister.bundestag.de/media/ad/39/623695/SBG_Bilanz_2024_DRAFT_250703-kombiniert.pdf" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "Shell sold it to TIVEN in August, two months before the filing", "date": "28 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.ess-news.com/2026/08/28/shell-sells-sonnen-to-tiven/" } ], "watch": "Whether a court opens proceedings, and whom it names to oversee them.", "story": "/story/sonnen", "about": "Makes home batteries that store solar power, in Wildpoldsried in southern Germany.", "meter": 95, "rank": 2 }, { "rank": 3, "company": "GiFi", "country": "France", "what": "Discount bazaar shops", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "GiFi has filed. It asked the Toulouse commercial court for a redressement judiciaire, a court-led rescue, and its boss Patrick Puy appeared before the court on 23 October. The court has not yet ruled; a decision is expected on 3 November.", "verdict": "A computer change in 2023 disrupted its stock for months, and its banks reportedly would not lend another €50 million. Its shops stay open while the court decides.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Patrick Puy appeared before the Toulouse court with staff representatives; a decision is expected on 3 November", "date": "25 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.varactu.fr/gifi-pourrait-il-fermer-des-magasins-dans-le-var-une-date-importante-vient-detre-annoncee/" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Asked the Toulouse commercial court for a court-led rescue; decision due on 3 November", "date": "23 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/gifi-a-demande-son-placement-en-redressement-judiciaire-decision-le-3-novembre-5c5dcb2742a3909403334c41d0236dfd" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Banks refused another €50m; about three months of cash left, the Journal de l’Économie reports", "date": "20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.journaldeleconomie.fr/?p=49883" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "Staff representatives raised a formal alarm over the company’s finances", "date": "6 Oct 2026", "url": "https://lexpress-franchise.com/actualites/gifi-serait-en-cessation-de-paiements/" } ], "watch": "The Toulouse court’s decision on 3 November.", "story": "/story/gifi", "about": "Sells low-priced decorations, craft supplies and seasonal goods in more than 500 shops across France.", "meter": 95 }, { "rank": 4, "company": "Galeria", "country": "Germany", "what": "Department stores", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "Galeria filed an insolvency application on 2 October, its fourth in six years. The Düsseldorf court ordered provisional proceedings on 5 October and named Frank Kebekus provisional administrator. Full proceedings have not been opened.", "verdict": "It has signed a loan to keep goods flowing during the procedure, and an adviser is looking for a buyer. Its administrator expects that not all 83 stores can continue.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Fourth insolvency application in six years; provisional proceedings since 5 October. 83 stores, about 12,000 staff", "date": "8 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cash-online.de/a/galeria-insolvenz-2026-727229/" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "Signed a loan for the insolvency period with Gordon Brothers; goods are flowing and vouchers can be used again", "date": "20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.infranken.de/deutschland/galeria-bekommt-wichtigen-kredit-deutlich-mehr-spielraum-art-6404859,PRINT" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Provisional administrator Frank Kebekus said not all 83 stores will probably continue", "date": "16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.zdfheute.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/galeria-kaufhof-insolvenz-verwaltung-hoffnung-konzept-100.html" } ], "watch": "Whether a buyer appears; candidates are due in early January.", "about": "A German department-store chain with 83 stores.", "meter": 95, "story": "/story/galeria" }, { "rank": 5, "company": "Homeplus", "country": "South Korea", "what": "Hypermarkets", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "Homeplus is in court-led rehabilitation, and the court approved its plan on 2 September. Its 67 stores, head office and online arm are for sale, with letters of intent due by the end of October.", "verdict": "Sales fell to about 30% of target in early October, and suppliers now ask for cash up front, its chief executive told parliament. No serious bidder has come forward so far, Korea Times reports.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "No serious bidder so far, with letters of intent due by the end of October, Korea Times reports", "date": "20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20261020/homeplus-recovery-falters-as-sales-slump-buyer-search-stalls" }, { "level": "red", "text": "In court-led rehabilitation; letters of intent for 67 stores, the head office and the online arm due by end-October", "date": "15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.ajunews.com/view/20261015132810082" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Sales fell to about 30% of target in early October", "date": "18 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.fnnews.com/news/202610181816555764" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Can only trade on advance payment and cash, its chief executive told a parliamentary audit", "date": "12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://biz.sbs.co.kr/amp/article/20000339475" } ], "watch": "How many offers arrived by the end of October.", "about": "A South Korean chain of large supermarkets.", "meter": 95, "story": "/story/homeplus" }, { "rank": 6, "company": "Casas Bahia", "country": "Brazil", "what": "Home appliance and furniture shops", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "A São Paulo court let its court-led rescue go ahead on 21 October. It wants to renegotiate about R$17bn of debt.", "verdict": "Brazil's best-known home store chain asked for a court-led rescue in August. The court has now let it begin, which is not yet approval of a plan.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Court let its recuperação judicial (court-led rescue) proceed", "date": "21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-justica/justica-autoriza-recuperacao-judicial-da-casas-bahia/" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Filed to renegotiate about R$17.3bn of debt", "date": "16 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.migalhas.com.br/quentes/467016/justica-autoriza-processamento-da-recuperacao-judicial-das-casas-bahia" } ], "watch": "Whether creditors back its rescue plan.", "story": "/story/casas-bahia", "about": "Sells appliances, furniture and electronics across Brazil, in shops and online.", "meter": 95 }, { "company": "Tongaat Hulett", "country": "South Africa", "what": "Sugar", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "Tongaat Hulett has been in business rescue, a formal rescue under South African law, since 27 October 2022. Its shares leave the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 3 November.", "verdict": "Its shareholders voted down a rescue plan in 2024, and the exchange now says no value is expected for them. The sale of its businesses to the Vision consortium had not been confirmed as complete on 12 October.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "The JSE removes the shares on 3 November, with no offer or payment to shareholders", "date": "12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/879289/jse-delists-one-of-south-" }, { "level": "red", "text": "In business rescue since 27 October 2022; shares suspended since July 2022", "date": "12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://businesstech.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/SENS_20261012_S604697.pdf" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "Sale agreements lapsed in February; a new binding deal with Vision was brokered in June", "date": "12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.billionaires.africa/2026/10/12/south-african-billionaire-robert-gumedes-takeover-target-tongaat-hulett-to-quit-the-jse/" } ], "watch": "Whether the sale to the Vision consortium closes.", "story": "/story/tongaat-hulett", "about": "South Africa’s largest sugar maker, with mills and the country’s only white sugar refinery.", "meter": 95, "rank": 7 }, { "company": "Poundland", "country": "United Kingdom", "what": "Discount shops", "score": 27, "meaning": "Distressed", "trend": "down", "status": "Poundland has not filed. Its directors are reported to be preparing a High Court filing to appoint administrators, City AM and The Telegraph reported on 28 October.", "verdict": "Its owner rejected the only bid for the whole chain, and three independent directors resigned on 27 October. The reported filing moved it from 60 to 88; a deal could still save it.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Directors reported to be preparing a High Court filing to appoint administrators; nothing filed", "date": "28 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cityam.com/poundland-poised-to-appoint-administrators-putting-jobs-at-risk/" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Owner rejected a whole-company bid; the dispute is over a £30m loan it reportedly bought for £1", "date": "28 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2118781-12000-jobs-at-risk-as-poundland-bosses-prepare-to-file-for-administration" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Three independent directors, appointed on 15 October, resigned", "date": "27 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.retail-insight-network.com/news/uk-investigates-poundland-owner/" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "The Business Secretary asked an adviser to establish the facts", "date": "28 Oct 2026", "url": "https://finwire.io/news/business-news/business-secretary-writes-to-poundland-owner-as-administration-fears-build" } ], "watch": "Whether a filing or a revised offer comes first.", "story": "/story/poundland", "about": "Runs about 600 discount shops in the UK and Ireland, where they are called Dealz.", "meter": 88, "rank": 8 }, { "company": "Mercer International", "country": "Canada · Germany", "what": "Pulp and wood products", "score": null, "trend": "same", "status": "Mercer International has not filed. It did not pay $25.8m of interest due on 1 October, and its 30-day grace period ends about 31 October. It is in advanced talks with holders of more than 75% of the notes.", "verdict": "Missing an interest payment is one of the clearest warning signs there is. The next few days show whether the talks end in a deal.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "Did not pay $25.8m of interest due on its bonds; 30-day grace period", "date": "1 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/MERC/8-k-mercer-international-inc-reports-material-event-f5723d9f438d.html" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Reportedly weighing Chapter 11, Bloomberg reports", "date": "21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.lesprom.com/en/news/Mercer_International_may_file_for_Chapter_11_bankruptcy_124812/" } ], "watch": "Whether a deal with noteholders arrives before the grace period ends, about 31 October.", "about": "Makes wood pulp, timber and other wood products in Germany and Canada.", "story": "/story/mercer-international", "meter": 88, "rank": 9 }, { "rank": 10, "company": "Thames Water", "country": "United Kingdom", "what": "Water and sewage", "score": null, "trend": "down", "status": "Thames Water has not filed. Its creditors vote today, 29 October, on £2.4bn more emergency money; the current facility runs out at the end of 2026 or the start of 2027, the company says.", "verdict": "S&P cut its rating to CCC-, with a negative outlook, on 27 October, which moved it from 75 to 80. In my view, today’s vote decides its next year.", "signals": [ { "level": "red", "text": "S&P cut its rating deeper into junk, to CCC-, with a negative outlook", "date": "27 Oct 2026", "url": "https://globalbankingandfinance.com/p-pushes-thames-water-ratings-deeper-junk-territory-debt" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Creditors vote on £2.4bn more emergency money; the current facility runs out at the end of 2026 or the start of 2027", "date": "15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.thameswater.co.uk/news/2026/oct/twul-sixteenth-consent-requests-results" }, { "level": "red", "text": "Asked to raise its emergency loan by £2.4bn, to £5.4bn, to keep going into autumn 2027, Reuters reports", "date": "15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/3993144-thames-water-seeks-24-billion-more-emergency-funding" }, { "level": "watch", "text": "A new split was reportedly offered to win Pimco, and the Class B creditor group reportedly agreed to back the Class A plan", "date": "20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.briefs.co/news/thames-water-dangles-sweeter-terms-to-win-pimco-s-nod-on-2-4/" } ], "watch": "The result of today’s creditor vote.", "story": "/story/thames-water", "about": "Supplies water and takes away sewage for almost 16 million customers in London and the Thames Valley.", "meter": 80 } ] }