TORONTO — Canada’s oldest company Hudson’s Bay says it will begin liquidating its entire business as soon as next week unless it finds a more viable path forward. The department store chain with 80 stores says it has been forced toward a full liquidation because exhaustive efforts haven’t turned up the financing the company needs to restructure.

Hudson’s Bay announced late Friday evening that unless it finds a more viable path forward, it will begin liquidating its entire business as soon as next week, putting more than 9,000 jobs at risk. The department store chain that dates back to 1670 and now spans 80 stores said it has been forced toward a full liquidation because "exhaustive" efforts haven't turned up the financing it needs to keep at least some of its empire alive.