Reasons to Read

With the world’s oldest retailer (founded in 1670) ready to delist from the Toronto Stock Exchange as it completes the share buyback program to take the company private, the question arises: What’s next for the erstwhile HBC now that it is in private hands, and what does that mean for retail?

This report looks at the company’s current state, including:

• A greatly reduced store fleet—shrunk around 30%.
• How much of that reduction came via the sale of Lord & Taylor to rental service Le Tote.
• A greatly reduced real estate portfolio.