Carpetright warns jobs could go as it says stores will be closed

The group said it was ‘exploring’ a company voluntary arrangement to help shore up its financial position, a move which would allow it to close loss-making shops and secure deep discounts on rental costs.

If the CVA goes ahead, Carpetright - which has branches at Ocean Retail Park in Portsmouth, as well as in Havant, Waterlooville and Fareham, would push through an equity issue of between £40 million and £60 million to fund plans to reboot the business and drive down debt.

The group, which has 409 UK shops, also agreed a £12.5 million unsecured loan from major shareholder Meditor to help with ‘short-term working capital requirements’.

It marked another dark day for Britain’s beleaguered high street, with Mothercare confirming that it had reached an agreement with lenders to defer the testing of its financial covenants as it “engaged in preliminary discussions” on securing additional financing.

Carpetright chief executive Wilf Walsh said it would be ‘business as usual’ for the flooring firm’s stores during Easter and it would remain in ‘close contact’ with staff over its restructuring plans.

He said: ‘I am pleased that we have secured this additional support from one of our major shareholders as we continue to explore the feasibility of a CVA and a conditional equity issue.

‘These further cash resources will enable us to make the necessary decisions free from short-term funding pressure.

‘The aggressive store opening strategy pursued by the company’s previous leadership has left Carpetright burdened with an oversized property estate consisting of too many poorly located stores on rents which are simply unsustainable.’