IKKS Store Rescue: Major Retailers Vie for Remaining French Locations

The IKKS Group, which entered administration earlier this year, has seen a partial resolution to its financial difficulties with a ruling from the Paris Economic Affairs Court on December 12th. Financière Saint James, spearheaded by Michaël Benabou and Santiago Cucci, has been selected to take over 92 directly operated IKKS stores and 27 shop-in-shops within Galeries Lafayette. This acquisition successfully safeguards 546 jobs within the brand’s directly operated retail network.

However, the court’s decision leaves a significant portion of the company’s retail footprint still needing a buyer. Liquidators A2MJ and Asteren are now tasked with finding new owners for the remaining 96 outlets operated by IKKS Retail and IKKS Group. These disposals will be handled through two separate bidding sessions, each featuring a distinct list of properties.

The first session, with a submission deadline of January 22nd, includes highly desirable locations in major French cities. Prospective buyers are required to submit proposals in person to Maître Van Kemmel, Commissaire de justice at the Paris Economic Affairs Court. Key properties up for grabs include prime real estate at 8–10 rue Barbette in Paris’s Marais district, 65 rue du Président‑Herriot in Lyon’s Presqu’île area, and units within prominent shopping centres like Parly 2, Les Terrasses du Port (Marseille), and Cap 3000 (Saint‑Laurent‑du‑Var). Several outlet centre locations are also included, alongside a store at 5 rue de Toulouse in Rennes.

A second session, with a bid submission deadline of February 5th, will focus on a different set of stores. While locations like those on rue Saint‑Aubin in Angers, avenue du Général de Gaulle in La Baule, and rue Saint‑Jean in Le Touquet are included, the most sought-after properties are expected to be those in high-fashion districts. Specifically, spaces on rue Paradis in Marseille and prime Paris addresses at 31 boulevard des Capucines, 5 rue de Sèvres, 13–15 rue Tronchet, and the three locations on rue des Ternes are anticipated to attract significant interest.

This situation presents a substantial opportunity for retail businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in key French markets. The availability of these prime retail locations on flagship shopping streets offers a rare chance to secure highly visible and strategically valuable properties.