Agent Provocateur Files for Bankruptcy

U.S.-based subsidiaries Agent Provocateur Inc. and Agent Provocateur LLC (London) have filed for bankruptcy in order to get protection from landlords and creditors until a sale is finalized.

Last month, the lingerie retailer’s brand parent Agent Provocateur Ltd. was purchased by Four Holdings, a fashion showroom and marketing company controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley, reports Women’s Wear Daily. A dozen of the retailer’s U.S. locations could also be acquired by Four Holdings.

“Terminations are imminent at a couple of these locations; in fact, one landlord is about to evict one of the debtors from a prime location,” said Agent Provocateur’s London-based global retail director Amanda Brooks. “These actions have forced the debtors to file Chapter 11 petitions in order to stave off any lease terminations or evictions relating to these locations.”