Filed under: jewelry
Michael Hill rep says Whitehall deal ‘imminent’
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August 14, 2008
By Michelle Graff
Chicago—It is likely that 17 Whitehall Jewellers stores in the Chicago area will soon get Michael Hill jewelry stores, an investment firm working with the last mentioned company told National Jeweler on Thursday.
Chris Ellis, a partner with Boston-based investment banking sturdy Consensus Advisors, which is working with Michael Hill, said Thursday that Consensus believes a purchase deal is imminent and should have existence signed within the next few days.
Ellis believes Michael Hill, a Brisbane, Australia-based retailer with stores in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, chose the Chicago market on the premise that it would be a good test market for Michael Hill’s entrance into the United States.
Despite the difficulties that mid-market jewelers have faced in the struggling U.S. economy, Ellis said from the chain’s perspective, now is the perfect time to enter the U.S. market. He said Michael Hill will be able to purchase stores because of a low price and draw something “fresh” to the table.
Chicago-based Whitehall filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection June 23. On Aug. 13, liquidation sales began at all 373 of its stores in 39 states.
But representatives for the liquidators have said that the sales do not necessarily preclude another retail chain, such as Michael Hill, from purchasing Whitehall locations.
Whitehall ranks as the fifth-largest North American retailer by store count, according to National Jeweler’s 2008 State of the Majors report.
It operates Whitehall Jewellers, Lundstrom Jewellers and Marks Bros. Jewellers stores.