Phones 4U, a retailer of mobile devices, has been through tough times. The financial crisis it was plagued with resulted in the company having to deal with bankruptcy, which, in usual situations, would have lost hundreds of people their jobs. With the imminent danger of having employees losing work and having no source of income, the mobile operator EE decided to purchase 58 outlets of the retailer.
According to Sky, this EE act would save more than 350 jobs.
In a statement, Rob Hunt, the PwC administrator, said that, "We are absolutely delighted to have completed this further disposal of 58 Phones 4u stores, which will both recover value for secured creditors and save 359 jobs." He also explained that, "As with the Vodafone transaction, we consider that this represents the best potential outcome for creditors in the circumstances, although it remains subject to the approval of the UK courts."
In addition, as The Business Desk cited, Vodaphone also promised that it would be acquiring 140 stores, which will then result in 900 staff jobs being saved.
The administration of Phones 4U took place after the mobile operator EE announced that it would no longer be in a business relationship with the chain. Because of this, more than 5,600 people were at risk of losing their jobs. It also placed 160 Phones 4U concessions as well as 560 stores of the retailer in jeopardy.
Dixons Carphone also stated that about 800 employees from some of the 160 Phones 4U concessions will be employed by the company. These staff members are those who used to work in PC World Outlets and Currys.
According to Sky, the exact locations of the stores it will be buying and operating have not been made public by EE yet. It did say however, that the said employees from the stores that Dixons Carphones purchased will start working immediately. Once they do though, they will already be under the employment of EE.
EE also explained that all of the purchased stores will undergo rebranding very soon.
