Borders in talks to sell off more stores
BORDERS, the ailing bookseller, was showing further signs of floundering yesterday, as it entered into rescue talks and looked to sell off further stores.
As the threat of failure looms, the private equity-backed retailer is understood to be in talks with record store HMV and stationers WH Smith to buy up its stores.
Borders wants to sell off 36 of its 45 UK stores, while Books etc, its subsidiary, is closing down the eight branches which remain open early in 2010.
The company is struggling as online retailers grow market share, and it was hit in the credit crunch when it became tricky to get stock from suppliers.
Managers now worry Borders will struggle to trade successfully through the Christmas period.