News roundup--Bonmarche, Asda, Ocado

According to reports, apparel chain Bonmarché has been bought by Sun European Partners for £10 million in a prepack administration deal. Local newspaper the Huddersfield Examiner says the deal will see hundreds of jobs lost, but could save 230 stores. A Bonmarché employee told the newspaper that potential buyers had been on a tour of the distribution site last Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Independent reports that private-equity firms KKR, Permira, Sun European Partners and Cinven are all among the potential bidders for Bonmarché's sister company Peacocks following the retail chain’s collapse into administration last week.

Supermarket Asda has announced plans to spend £500 million in 2012 by opening new stores and depots and developing its existing chain helping create up to 5,000 new jobs across the UK.

In contrast, fashion retailer New Look may close up to 100 stores in the next three years, unless it can negotiate better deals from landlords. The Financial Times reports that New Look has completed a review of its store portfolio, which concluded that it has too many stores in “overlapping catchment areas”.  It will also look to replace small stores with bigger units.

Ocado’s chief financial officer Andrew Bracey is leaving the company to join recruitment firm Michael Page International, effective April 2012. Jason Gissing, one of Ocado’s cofounders, will take on the new commercial director, taking charge of Ocado's retail activities, including buying, supplier and customer relationships, marketing and brand development. Gissing's previous responsibility for HR will transfer to Neill Abrams, currently director of legal and business affairs. Mark Richardson, Ocado's head of technology, is to be promoted to a newly created board role of operations director.

An employment tribunal has found in favour of more than 24,000 former Woolworths employees and awarded them compensation of 60 days’ pay, reports the Telegraph. 

Amazon is apparently serious about expansion in India and has opened its first fulfilment centre in the country, writes the Guardian.

Sanderson Group, the software and IT services firm, has completed the sale of its EPoS services division Sanderson RBS to Torex Retail Holdings. It divested the business for £11.5 million, with an additional consideration of £150,000 paid in April and a further £100,000 to be paid on meeting certain conditions. In the year ending 30th September 2011, Sanderson RBS achieved sales of £12.4 million and an operating profit of £1.4million. Sanderson Group will use to sale to repay bank debt to leave a positive cash balance of approximately £4 million.