The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

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St Stephen the Great liquidates in US

04.07.08

Christian charity and bookseller St Stephen the Great has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the US, a form of liquidation. There will be a meeting for creditors at Houston Bankruptcy Court on 22nd July.

Three weeks ago brothers Phil and Mark Brewer, who run the charity, told staff and publishers that SSG LLC, the trading company that operates the former SPCK chain, had filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code—a form of bankruptcy that allows a business to continue trading.

However, Verlie Rios, a court clerk in Houston, told The Bookseller that this had been converted to Chapter 7 bankruptcy in court. "It basically means the business is in liquidation," she said. "There will be a meeting for creditors on 22nd July."

Shopworkers union Usdaw, which is preparing up to 30 tribunal claims from disgruntled booksellers over contract changes, said that staff had not been paid for June. "Our legal team has been in contact with the Brewers," said an Usdaw spokesperson. "They are continuing to look into the legality of the bankruptcy and what we can do for our members."

Meanwhile, the former manager of the St Stephen the Great shop in Worcester, Steve Jeynes, was found dead this week. It is believed he took his own life. Jeynes was manager of the Worcester branch until he was made redundant by the Brewers two weeks ago. "It's particularly sad because he was married with two children," said Phelim McIntyre, the former assistant manager of the Chichester branch.

The Brewers declined to comment.

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