Signet Jewelers is laying off up to 99 employees at its United Kingdom headquarters, according to a report in the Birmingham Mail.

“Staff are currently in a 30-day consultation period and are expected to learn their fate by the end of the month,” the newspaper reported.

Signet, which owns the U.K. chains H. Samuel and Ernest Jones, couldn’t confirm a final number of affected employees, but said in a statement provided to JCK that it is “partway through a three-year program aimed at improving the profitability of its U.K. business.”

“As part of this and as ongoing good business practice, Signet Jewelers is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of its U.K. Head Office function with a view to ensuring the business is in the right shape for the future,” the statement said.

Signet’s business in the United Kingdom has slightly lagged behind its growth in the United States. In its latest financial results, U.K. sales fell 0.5 percent, while U.S. sales rose 1.8 percent.

JCK