Sears Canada gets court approval to begin soliciting bids for its sale

An Ontario judge has given Sears Canada the green light to immediately proceed with reaching out to potential buyers while it's under creditor protection.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Glenn Hainey approved the motion for the sale and investor solicitation process Thursday, following hours of discussions between lawyers representing the company, its lenders and retirees and laid-off employees.

According to the decision, the national retailer and its court-ordered monitor, FTI Consulting Inc., can select one or more successful bids by Oct. 25.

In separate documents filed by Sears Canada's lawyers prior to Thursday's hearing, the retailer's chief financial officer said it's "crucial" to begin liquidation sales of inventory no later than July 21 and to complete them by Oct. 12. Hainey is expected to hear that motion Tuesday.

• Sears aims to start liquidation sales on July 21 with subdued ads
• Former Sears employees worry about lost severance, possible reduced pension

Sears Canada announced in June that it planned on closing 59 locations across the country and cutting approximately 2,900 jobs as part of a restructuring under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

The department store owner wants to shutter dozens of stores in the coming weeks while it negotiates with potential buyers who might acquire some or all of the company's remaining assets, pending court approvals.

"I'm in total shock this happened," said Zobedida Maharaj, who was one of dozens of former employees who packed an overflowing Toronto courtroom to hear Thursday's proceedings.

Maharaj, 53, said she had worked at Sears Canada for 28 years before she was laid off at the end of March when her store was closed.

The senior manager of operations and merchandise said she was initially told she would get eight weeks of severance and benefits, but was cut off June 22 when the company secured temporary court protection from creditors.

"It's like getting slapped in the face," Maharaj said.

Deal with retired employees

Earlier in the day, Sears Canada struck a deal over benefit and pension payments to retired employees. The retailer had initially asked the court for permission to immediately halt payments for pension, health and dental benefits for laid-off employees, retirees and surviving spouses due to a severe cash crunch, but later agreed to continue payments to retirees until Sept. 30.

Many former employees said the company's compromise on temporarily paying retiree benefits and pension compensation has them cautiously hopeful.

Pina Rupa, 58, from Vaughan, Ont., said outside the courthouse that Sears Canada had paid her no severance after working there for nearly 40 years but she hoped that her benefits and severance, worth tens of thousands of dollars, would also be reinstated.

"I was such a loyal employee," said Rupa, who was laid off from the company's head office.

Employment lawyer Susan Ursel, whose firm represents more than 17,000 non-unionized former and current employees, said her law office is filing motions to ask the court to reinstate benefit, severance and pension payments to the workers who were laid off. It is also asking to set up a temporary hardship fund for those who are in dire need of cash and health benefits.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said her government is paying close attention to the situation but there isn't a role it can play at this point.