Trimingham Brothers Ltd. has brought in a specialist disposal agent to help wind down the business.

But the company?s lawyer denied reports yesterday that Trimingham?s had sold off its stock to inventory redeployment specialist Gordon Brothers, and that that firm was bringing in an additional $15 million in other inventory to sell alongside Trimingham?s old stock.

What has happened legal counsel Wendell Hollis said, was that a subsidiary company of Gordon Brothers ? Specialty Investments I Llc. ? with permission to come into Bermuda for business purposes, has been hired by Trimingham?s to help with its wind-down. ?A subsidiary company of Gordon Brothers has been given permission to assist Trimingham?s in the disposal of the inventory, but the inventory still belongs to Trimingham?s,? he told yesterday.

Mr. Hollis said Trimingham?s getting help from an outside firm was best for the store and staff. ?Without their assistance we would not be able to do it in the way we are doing it. By them being involved, it enables us to take the six months to wind it down, and let people have time to find other jobs, and be employed for a longer time.

?Because they are experts they are going to do this in the most respectable way possible. The intention is to continue the wind-down with as attractive an environment as possible,? he said.

Mr. Hollis called reports that Specialty Investments was bringing in its own inventory to sell, ?ludicrous?, adding: ?Nothing like that is happening, I guarantee you.?

However, Mr. Hollis said Trimingham?s would continue to import goods to supplement its existing inventory, while it sells off its wares ahead of an end of July closure. ?It will be necessary to supplement the inventory that is there, but only to the extent it is necessary, like bringing in popular sizes etc.The intention is that the last day of sales will be Wednesday, 27 July, the day before Cup Match. As of that date, it is intended that there will virtually be nothing left [at Trimingham?s.?

Mr. Hollis said there continued to be interest from outside parties to buy well-performing departments from Trimingham?s, with particular interest in the jewellery and cosmetic departments. Any interest has not however progressed beyond the discussion stage, he said. understands that Trimingham?s cosmetics department ? which carries several popular lines, including make-up of the stars Mac ? saw a surge in sales after the announcement last week that the store would close in the coming months.