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📉 Here’s why Superdry is delisting

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If you take just one thing from this email…

Superdry, a once-thriving fashion brand, has seen its value drop by over 97% because of falling sales. To survive, the company’s delisting from the London Stock Exchange to restructure without any pressure from the regulator. This move will help Superdry reorganise its finances and operations to try to avoid bankruptcy.

EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

So, last week my girlfriend and I binged a Netflix show following the cheerleaders of the Dallas Cowboys (an American football team from Texas).

I didn’t think I’d like the show.

But it was eye-opening to see how competitive the team’s selection was, and how gruelling the training was.

Plus, the performers were paid quite little (around $20k a year according to Google).

The lesson? Erm, something about watching stuff you didn’t think you’d enjoy — it might surprise you.

Anyway, that leaves me with 2 questions.

First, if you’ve watched the show, what did you think of it (just reply to this email).

Second, let me know your Netflix recommendations (hit reply).

- Idin

📉 Here’s why Superdry is delisting

Credit: Giphy

What's going on here?

A few days ago, Superdry’s shares got pulled from the London Stock Exchange, as the fashion brand focuses on a restructuring plan.

What happened to Superdry?

Superdry is was a popular fashion brand that made Japanese-inspired clothes.

At its height, around 14 years ago, it was worth more than half a billion pounds. But its share value has fallen by over 97%, so it’s worth barely £3 million now.

In the last year, its share price fell from £20 to £3

So, the company’s now trying to restructure as a way to stay afloat.

The first step? Delisting from the London Stock Exchange.

What does restructuring mean?

Restructuring means reorganising the way a company is financially and operationally set up to help it financially.

Usually, it involves renegotiating debts, cutting costs, or changing the company’s strategy.

Why did Superdry decide to delist?

Being a listed company means you’re under scrutiny from the financial regulators (in this case, the Financial Conduct Authority).

So, Superdry decided to delist so they could restructure without regulatory pressure — it gives them more freedom to make changes.

Who has to agree to the restructuring?

💼 Shareholders: Their approval is usually needed because restructuring plans can impact their ownership and control over the company.

💰 Creditors: These are people or companies that Superdry owes money to. Their consent is important because the restructuring usually involves changes to the terms of debt repayment, which directly affects them.

⚖️ Court: In this case, Superdry has got the court’s approval for their restructuring plans. The court reviews the plans to make sure they’re fair to shareholders and creditors and follow the law. Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006 allows the court to approve the plan. Companies can restructure without going to court, and instead approach creditors individually. But getting court sign-off benefits you because the plans become binding even on creditors or shareholders who don’t agree to it.

Why is Part 26A important? Part 26A gives investors and creditors confidence in the English legal system — it means a small group of shareholders can’t block a plan to save the company if the plan is fair.

How do law firms help with restructuring?

Law firms advise companies when they’re restructuring to make sure they comply with the relevant laws (like Part 26A).

In this case, Macfarlanes was Superdry’s legal advisor.

They would have helped with things like: drafting restructuring plans, negotiating with creditors, preparing the messaging for shareholders, and securing court approvals.

A BIT OF FUN 😄

*googles: what is a trust*

IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

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  • 💼 Clifford Chance is changing how it calculates associate bonuses (moving to US-style). This shift is to better reward associates when there’s more demand on them in terms of hours billed. The firm still values well-rounded performances, but wants to reward associates with payouts similar to those at US firms.

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AROUND THE WEB 🌐

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STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

  • 📹️Free application help: If you're applying to commercial law firms, check out Idin’s YouTube channel for actionable tips and insights into the lifestyle of a commercial lawyer in London.

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