A day after receivingexpressions of interest (opens in new tab)in its first creditors meeting, GAME Australia has begun the process of cutting back the headcount of its store, employees, and members of its head office.
In a statement released today, appointed administrators PwC revealed that 264 store employees and 17 head office employees have been laid off, and 60 stores closed across the GAME Australia network. “This is a difficult time for employees,” said PwC’s Kate Warwick, “and closing the stores was not a decision we made easily. However it is not financially viable to continue to operate at this level at this time.”
“PwC has been in touch with the Federal Government Department that deals with General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) and will assist the employees with their applications.”
We’ll update this story with further information as it comes to hand.
UPDATE: PwC has sent us a full list of the 60 stores affected. To see GAME’s existing 115 stores (opens in new tab) reduced to just 55 comes as a serious blow to its force.
Albury
Armadale
Armidale
Arndale
Ballina
Bayside Frankston
Bendigo
Broadmeadows
Cairns Central
Calamvale
Camberwell
Canberra Centre
Capalaba
Castle Hill
Charlestown
Eastgardens
Epping Plaza
Forrest Chase
Gateway
Grafton
Greensborough
Griffith
Hornsby
Innaloo
Joondalup
Kawana
Kingaroy
Kingsway
Knox City
Kotara
Lakehaven
Lismore
Logan Hyperdome
Mandurah
Manning Mall
Marion
Midland Gate
Morayfield
Narellan
Orange
Port Central
Renmark
Riverside
Robina
Shepparton
Smithfield (Cairns)
Southlands
Stocklands Cairns
Tamworth
Toowoomba
Townsville
Tweed City
Warrawong
Warringah Mall
Watergardens
Wendouree
Werribee
Willows
Wollongong