Nordstrom announces wind-down of Canadian business

Nordstrom said: "As part of its initiatives to drive long-term profitable growth and enhance shareholder value, and after careful consideration of all reasonably available options, the Company also announced today it has decided to discontinue support for Nordstrom Canada’s business operations." "We regularly review every aspect of our business to make sure that we are set up for success," said Erik Nordstrom. "We entered Canada in 2014 with a plan to build and sustain a long-term business there. Despite our best efforts, we do not see a realistic path to profitability for the Canadian business. We want to thank our team for their performance and dedication in serving customers in Canada. This decision will simplify our structure, intensify focus on our growth and profitability goals and position us to create greater value for our shareholders." Nordstrom Canada has commenced a wind-down of its operations, obtaining an Initial Order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, or "CCAA," earlier today to facilitate the wind-down in an orderly fashion. Nordstrom Canada intends to wind down its Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores across Canada, with the help of a third-party liquidator, and its Canadian e-commerce platform. The e-commerce platform will cease operations on March 2, 2023. The in-store wind-down is anticipated to be completed by late June 2023. The Company expects that Nordstrom Canada will be deconsolidated from the Company’s financial statements as of the date of the CCAA filing. The Company expects to report approximately $300 million to $350 million of pre-tax charges related to the wind-down in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, driven primarily by the write-down of the Company’s investment in Nordstrom Canada. The wind-down is expected to result in an approximately $400 million decline in total Company net sales and a $35 million improvement in total Company EBIT in fiscal 2023, relative to fiscal 2022, excluding the aforementioned charges associated with the wind-down. Nordstrom Canada operates six Nordstrom stores and seven Nordstrom Rack stores, as well as the Nordstrom.ca website, and employs approximately 2,500 people.