The new owner of Etam Group, which owns the Miss Etam and Promiss chains, is demanding lower rents from the landlords of the shops.

Holding company Roman & Stern said in a press release that if landlords do not agree to a lower rent, the shops in their properties will not be part of the restart currently being negotiated. This in turn will lead to job losses.

Roman & Stern said the Etam Group ‘has a good foundation for the future following a number of substantial changes’. It did not say what those changes are.

The Etam Group was declared bankrupt in April but talks began immediately with a number of potential investors on a restart. All the 200 shops, with a combined workforce of some 2,000, remain open while the final details are being worked out.

Department store group V&D, which is also in financial difficulty, is also demanding cuts in the rent from its landlords.