The Esprit clothing chain announced today that it has filed for bankruptcy for its European operations, relying on restructuring to overcome difficulties linked in particular to rising costs and the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The group, which is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange and headquartered in Germany, said it hoped the proceedings, which have been filed with the court in Düsseldorf (western Germany), would enable it to "reorganize the finances and cash flow" of its subsidiaries, adding that "several potential investors have expressed interest in a strategic partnership".