BHV: "The unions hope that the placement in judicial recovery will allow them to turn the page on the disastrous management of Frédéric Merlin"

In November 2025, the BHV Marais department store in Paris, owned by Frédéric Merlin, faced public backlash after partnering with Shein. On November 2, the Paris economic tribunal placed the store and its counterpart in Westfield Parly 2 into judicial recovery, affecting 660 jobs. This decision follows a significant decline in employment since Merlin took over in 2023. Unions hope this judicial process will attract a new buyer to improve management. In June, Merlin transferred the brand to his associate Karl-Stéphane Cottendin, while retaining the BHV name.