Ermes sells flagship stores for €119 mln to offset debt

Retail operator Ermes Group – the CSE-listed Ermes Department Stores, Cyprus Trading Corporation and Woolworth (Cyprus) Properties – have sold their two flagship stores in Nicosia and Limassol for €119 mln to Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank to offset debts.

Ermes said that the sale is part of a deleveraging programme to overcome the impact of its bank debts as a result of the 2013 financial crisis.

The company said that as a result of the sale, both the Olympia store on 28th October street along the Limassol coastal front and the Central store on Nicosia’s busy Makarios and Griva Dighenis junctions will shut down in February 2021 and March, respectively.

Having shut down Debenhams Ledras that became H&M and with all stores renamed ERA after terminating the retail franchise with the UK’s Debenhams group in March this year, Ermes will now operate only one store in each town.

They are at the Mall of Cyprus in Nicosia, Apollon in Limassol, Zenon in Larnaca and Koroivos in Paphos.

It is looking for a second location in Limassol to replace Olympia.

The company said it is spending €10 mln to revamp all its stores, rename them ERA and position them as fashion and lifestyle outlets.

The company’s traditional food retail business has been undertaken by the standalone Spar stores, which will now be looking for new locations in Nicosia and Limassol to compensate for the loss of Central and Olympia.

The group said it operates 71 stores in Cyprus and Greece over 67,000 sqm, including Armani Exchange, Next, OVS, Peacocks, Navy & Green, Women’secret, Zako, Glow, Artopolis, Venue Café, Coffee & More, Ergon To Go and Superhome Center DIY.

As of February 2021, it will re-open all its branded outlets in The Mall of Engomi.