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EE to buy 58 Phones 4U stores, saving 359 jobs

EE has agreed to acquire 58 Phones 4U stores, potentially saving 359 jobs. The £2.5 million deal, subject to court approval, will see stores rebranded to EE.

The transaction includes phones 4u’s interest in the 58 stores' leasehold properties, their fixtures and fittings, and associated contractual rights and obligations.

However, it does not include store inventory, which will be recovered and realised separately by the administrators.

"We are absolutely delighted to have completed this further disposal of 58 Phones 4u stores, which will both recover value for secured creditors and save 359 jobs,” PwC partner and join administrator Rob Hunt said.

“As with the Vodafone transaction, we consider that this represents the best potential outcome for creditors in the circumstances, although it remains subject to the approval of the UK courts."

Hunt said administrators would prefer to have one court hearing to cover both EE and Vodafone’s transactions.

On Friday, Vodafone UK agreed to take on 140 Phones4U stores, saving 887 jobs.

Meanwhile, administrators also made redundant 628 staff at Phones 4U headquarters at Newcastle Under Lyme. Last Wednesday, Dixons Carphone offered jobs to 800 Phones 4U staff.

The failed high street retailer went into administration on Monday. Out of its 5,569 strong workforce, 2046 jobs have been saved and 626 staff have been made redundant.