It's similar to the privatised water scam. Borrow loads of money, give it to shareholders and executives and then put up the bills to pay for the inevitable works required. As it is, in retail it's easier to simply let the administrators come in, restructure the debt or even go under and write off the debt and let others lose out whilst those at the top have gotten filthy rich and trot along to their next scam.
At least, that's my cynical socialist opinion ...