Department store AS Cooper & Son Ltd has gone into provisional liquidation.The family business, which has three locations in Hamilton and another in Dockyard, has been in operation since 1897.Charles Thresh and Michael Morrison, both of KPMG Advisory Ltd, were appointed joint provisional liquidators yesterday by order of the Supreme Court. AS Cooper, whose stores were closed on March 18 this year because of the Covid-19 outbreak, “will not reopen its stores for trading until the provisional liquidators have determined whether a sale of all or part of the business as a going concern is possible”.Astwood Dickinson, a part of the company until last year, is owned independently and is not affected by the appointment of provisional liquidators. AS Cooper’s former ground-floor business on Front Street, now known as 59 Front, which sells cosmetics, fragrances, gifts, china and crystal, was sold and is not affected by the appointment of provisional liquidators.The provisional liquidators said last night: “It is the JPLs’ intention to sell the business, or parts thereof, as a going concern. All serious offers will be considered however, these must be capable of completion within a very short time frame.” Alexander Samuel Cooper founded the business as a general store, before AS Cooper evolved into a men’s and women’s fashion store. Its Hamilton locations are AS Cooper Ladies on Reid Street, AS Cooper Man and Vineyard Vines on Front Street, and AS Cooper Dockyard at the Clocktower Mall in Dockyard. The liquidators said they would liaise with the company’s employees and other creditors.• Any creditors, suppliers, or customers with queries should contact Shrene Shergill or Brianna Buchanan on 295-5063 or by e-mail at ascoopers@kpmg.bm. Parties interested in purchasing the business should contact Richard Hobday on 294-2600, or by e-mail at richardhobday@kpmg.bm