- Alliance Boots executive chairman Stefano Pessina controversially appointed former HBoS chief Andy Hornby as group chief executive, saying that staff should not be concerned about his association with the HBoS trainwreck.
- TJX Europe revealed plans to turn HomeSense into a 100- to 150-store chain in the UK and Ireland, and to grow 275-strong TK Maxx by 50 shops.
- Debenhams raised £323m through a share placing to slash its £927m debt pile. The placing also added £250m in cash to its balance sheet to fund opportunistic acquisitions.
- An Icelandic stockbroker published a book in his homeland claiming Baugur’s financial woes were known about almost a year before it collapsed.
- Shop Direct Grouprebranded Littlewoods Direct as Very, as it sought to develop its appeal among a younger customer base, aiming for 80% of business to come from online.
- Struggling DIY chain Focus was exploring all avenues to free itself of the £12m a year strain its closed stores were putting it under.
- M and M Direct, Ocado, Blue Inc and Supergroup all admitted that they were considering options to float as early as 2010 as sentiment towards the retail sector improved.
- Clarks chairman and former Principles owner Peter Davies revealed plans to bring a new fashion chain to the high street led by former Principles brand director Liz Houghton. The multichannel retailer was subsequently named Mint Velvet.
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