Footwear specialist Office could be about to axe dozens of UK stores under huge restructuring plans.
The South African-owned company is drawing up plans to close half of its 100 branches, according to Sky News.
Branches affected will be those with leases that are due to expire over the next few years.
Office has been exploring a restructuring plan for the past fortnight but sources say it is no longer considering implementing the closures through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) - an insolvency method frequently used to deliver store closures.
Sky said that Truworths International, Office's owner since 2015, is expected to finalise its plans for the chain in the near future.
Decisions about some stores' future would be taken as they approached the end of their leases, the source added.
A spokesperson for Office said: "We have no immediate plans to close down stores.
"We remain in discussions with our lenders and talks are progressing well."
Office's lenders are being advised by consultancy firm Deloitte.
Earlier this year footwear chain tReds was saved from collapse after being handed to administrators PriceWaterHouseCoopers.
The business, which employs around 159 staff, was sold to New Gray Ltd - which has since vowed to keep all 21 stores trading.
