TORONTO – The former Hudson’s Bay locations wanted by a B.C. billionaire are being returned to landlords instead.

Franco Perugini, HBC’s senior vice-president of real estate and legal, says in an email to The Canadian Press that the collapsed retailer is disclaiming the leases for the 25 properties Ruby Liu coveted.

A disclaimer is a legal mechanism that ends a lease before its expiration and thus, releases the tenant from any obligations like paying rent or maintaining the property.

As long as no landlord objects to the disclaimer, Perugini says the HBC leases will be terminated Nov. 27.

HBC moved out of its 80 stores and 16 more under its sister Saks banner over the summer after filing for creditor protection.

Liu tried to buy 25 of the leases for $69.1 million but a judge blocked t

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