Staff Retrenched As Deacons Embarks On A Cost -Cutting Plan.

Administrators of troubled Deacons East Africa say they have released 93 staff among them directors in what administrators call a “cost-cutting” recovery move.

Speaking to shareholders yesterday, joint administrators Peter Kadhi and Atul Shah revealed that the retailer needed at least Ksh450 million injection from shareholders in order to reduce the debt burden.

The joint administrators, Peter Kahi and Atul Shah, say they want a lean team that can match the current realities of the business where branches have reduced and revenues shrunk almost four times to Sh646 million year as opposed to prior years’ average of Sh2.3 billion.

Currently, the revenue income for the firm has reduced to approximately Ksh646 million annually, compared to its hey days when it used to make over Ksh2.3 billion per year.

“Staff cost reduction will be achieved across open branches and the head office. We have cut the staff size to around 60 down from 153,” said Mr Shah.

In further cutting cost measures, the firm will relocate their head office from Norfolk Towers to their warehouse.

“We have retained directors with a view of getting history of creditors and other crucial information but we may have to replace them. We need fresh management to deal with issues,” said Mr Shah.

They also want to relocate the head office from Norfolk Towers to the warehouse to further cut costs and improve cash flow position of a business whose loss stood at ShSh628 million as at November 25, 2018.

Branches have been cut to eight from 12 and the administrators are also proposing to sell Uganda and Rwanda subsidiaries to help manage debt.

The joint administrators say they are keen to avoid liquidation path since the fashion retailer’s assets will fetch only Sh63 million, exposing creditors and shareholders to a Sh1.9 billion loss.