Creditors of Blacks Leisure Group, the outdoor retailer based in the
United Kingdom, voted overwhelmingly on a rescue plan that should allow
the company to stay in business.

The company, which runs the Blacks Outdoor and Millets chains, said its
proposal for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), an insolvency
process, was supported by over 97% in value of creditors who voted at
meetings on Monday. That was well in excess of the 75% figure required
for the proposal to succeed.

Under the terms of the CVA, landlords of 101 closed or closing shops
will accept reduced payoffs. If the landlords had not passed the CVA,
Blacks would have missed out on bank funding and would have had to
enter administration.

A pot of £7.25 million (U.S. $7.25 mm) has been set aside to compensate
just over 100 landlords of retail stores and other sites, equivalent to
around six months' rent each. In addition the proposals include new
terms for Blacks' remaining 291 stores to permit monthly payments for
18 months. The retailer has agreed new banking facilities of £42.5
million (U.S. 42.5 mm) with its lender Lloyds Banking Group as part of
the plan.

Neil Gillis, Black Leisure's chief executive, said in a statement: “We
are delighted with the overwhelming support the CVA proposals have
received today, being passed almost unanimously with votes in excess of
97% in both cases. This outcome is a powerful endorsement by the
creditors of the company that the CVA is in the best interests of all
concerned.  The process addresses a long-standing issue at the heart of
the Group's difficulties in recent years – its tail of unprofitable
stores – creating a significantly stronger business and, crucially,
preserving over 4,000 jobs.  With this support secured, we can now
focus on realising the potential of the Group's market leadership
position in outdoor retail once again.”