May 2011, it was announced that B&Q had bought 31 stores in cash for £23 million, with a plan to refit the properties and reopen them as B&Qs by July 2011, with Focus employees transferring to the stores. Ernst & Young announced the closure of the remaining stores, which were over 120, which resulted in up to 3,000 job losses. At the time of the appointment of the administrators, the 178 strong retail chain collapsed owing businesses, shareholders and funders around £1 billion. The sale of assets generated £70 million, leaving most creditors out of pocket, including HMRC. On 22 July 2011, the final store, which was in Gillingham, ceased trading. In December 2011, the brand was bought by the Walker Group, which owns Victoria Plumb. References External links Home improvement companies of the United Kingdom Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom Retail companies established in 1987 Retail companies disestablished in 2011 Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom 1987 establishments in the United Kingdom 2011 disestablishments in the United Kingdom