South Coast HMV Stores Saved

Around 2,500 jobs at entertainment retailer HMV were saved today after restructuring firm Hilco bought 141 stores, including 25 previously slated for closure.

Hilco, which already owns HMV Canada, has bought the high street chain from administrator Deloitte, reportedly paying £50 million for the DVD and CD retailer.

The company has negotiated revised terms with landlords and the key suppliers to the business.

The stores saved on the South Coast are: Basingstoke, Bournemouth, Chichester, Isle of Wight, Poole, Portsmouth Commercial Road, Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays, Southampton and Winchester.

HMV had 223 stores across the UK, employing 4,123 staff, when weak consumer spending and intense competition from the internet and supermarkets forced it into administration in January.

Shortly after being appointed, Deloitte announced 66 stores closures with 900 job cuts.

HMV, known for its Nipper the dog logo, was one the high street's biggest casualties and followed the failures of camera chain Jessops and electricals retailer Comet.

Hilco bought HMV's £176 million of debt for a reported #40 million, putting it pole position to acquire the group.

Hilco chief executive Paul McGowan said the group spent weeks discussing fresh terms with landlords and suppliers, which all supported its plans to keep the chain on the high street. The long-awaited deal includes nine Fopp stores.

Hilco plans to replicate some of the success it has had with HMV in Canada, which it bought almost two years ago and is now ''trading strongly''.

Mr McGowan said: ''The structural differences in the markets and the higher level of competition in the UK will prove additional challenges for the UK business but we believe it has a successful future ahead of it.''

The HMV UK business will be led by a team working alongside existing management. Ian Topping, former chief executive of Harveys and Cargo furniture stores group Steinhoff, will lead the Hilco team. Mr McGowan will be chairman of HMV.

Hilco will reverse plans to sell tablets and other devices in stores and ''reclaim the space for an enhanced music and visual range''.

Mr Topping said: ''The reaction of the British public to the administration of HMV shows a strong desire for the business to continue to trade and we hope to play a constructive part in delivering that.''

The deal includes the 92-year-old chain's head office and distribution operations.

Nick Edwards, joint administrator at Deloitte, said the support of landlords, staff and suppliers was crucial in completing the deal.

He said: ''The sale of the restructured portfolio secures the employment of 2,643 staff, saves one of the world's most iconic retail brands and provides a solid financial footing on which the business can be taken forward.''

A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: ''The prospect of a significant number of jobs and stores being saved here is clearly good for people who are relying on that business for work and it's good for many high streets up and down the country where these shops will be occupied and trading.''

A spokeswoman for Hilco said there are no current plans to close more stores.

She said: ''They have bought the stores believing that there's a successful future for the business. They have bought the business to grow it.''

Hilco has about 120 stores in Canada.

HMV's first store opened on July 20, 1921 in London's Oxford Street.

It hit 100 stores in 1997, floated on the London Stock Market in 2002, and had 200 stores by 2004. But its growth slowed as digital music, online sales and competition from supermarkets eroded sales.