英国政府正要求戈登兄弟（Gordon Brothers）解释为何拒绝了对陷入困境的零售商Poundland Group Ltd的收购要约。该公司上周启动破产保护程序，数千个工作岗位面临风险。
The UK government is demanding answers from Gordon Brothers on why it rejected offers for struggling retailer Poundland Group Ltd, which began insolvency proceedings last week putting thousands of jobs at risk.
这家美国特殊情况投资公司去年以1英镑的价格从Pepco Group手中收购了Poundland，当时表示将接手一个需要注资和重组的知名品牌。但上周四，Poundland因未能找到整体业务买家，向法院提交了进入破产管理的意向通知。
The US distressed investment firm bought Poundland for £1 from Pepco Group last year, saying it was taking on a recognizable brand in need of capital and a reset. But last Thursday, Poundland filed a court notice of its intention to go into administration after failing to find a buyer for the entire business.
商业部长凯特·迪尔登（Kate Dearden）周二在下议院表示：“我们一直在要求了解事态发展，特别是要求戈登兄弟解释为何不接受任何能让公司继续运营的要约。政府询问企业正在尽一切努力保护全国各地的员工和供应商，这完全合理。”戈登兄弟未立即回应置评请求。
“We’ve been demanding to know what is happening, particularly for Gordon Brothers to explain why they haven’t accepted any offer to keep the company going,” Business Minister Kate Dearden told the House of Commons on Tuesday. “It’s absolutely legitimate for this government to ask the business they’re doing everything they can to protect employees and suppliers up and down the country.”Gordon Brothers didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
这可能成为自2023年Wilko倒闭以来，英国大街上最大规模的失业案例。
The potential insolvency would be the biggest loss of jobs on the high street since Wilko collapsed in 2023.
这也将打击7月刚上台、承诺振兴英国衰败大街的首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）。该零售商拥有约600家门店，雇佣约1.2万人，其中包括位于首相曼彻斯特附近的梅克菲尔德（Makerfield）选区的一个配送中心。
It would also be a blow to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who came to power in July pledging to revive Britain’s ailing high streets. The retailer has roughly 600 stores and employs about 12,000 people, including at a distribution center in the premier’s Makerfield constituency near Manchester.
迪尔登表示，政府官员周一晚与戈登兄弟会面，并补充说商业大臣乔纳森·雷诺兹（Jonathan Reynolds）本周晚些时候将与他们会面。她称将于周三与Poundland董事总经理巴里·威廉姆斯（Barry Williams）会面。
Government officials met with Gordon Brothers late on Monday, Dearden said, adding that Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds would meet with them later this week. She said she’d meet with Poundland Managing Director Barry Williams on Wednesday.