A bankruptcy court judge on Tuesday approved the sale of Bed Bath & Beyond’s name, intellectual property and ecommerce platform to Overstock.com for $21.5 million, and the company is winding down its store assets in various lease agreements. A separate auction is being held today for the company’s buybuy Baby assets, with interested parties including Go Global Retail and Sixth Street Partners.
Bed Bath & Beyond as expected filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection April 23 as its turnaround became untenable, loans were in default, debt far outstripped assets and buyers have yet to surface for its three retail brands. The company said in its filing it plans to maintain operations through the court proceedings thanks to a $240 million debtor-in-possession loan from Sixth Street.
For the second time in four-plus years, David’s Bridal has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection, while planning to lay off more than 9,000 employees at stores and distribution centers nationwide and seeking a buyer for the distressed business. Stores will remain open, online and marketplace sales will continue, and loyalty points, gift cards, returns and exchanges will all be honored.
Ailing home refresh retailer Bed Bath & Beyond is hoping more than $1 billion in proceeds from two separate stock sales will be enough to pay down interest and some debt to creditors and stave off bankruptcy, but many analysts are doubtful. The denouement may end up as a Chapter 7 liquidation instead of a Chapter 11 restructuring.
A group of Revlon lenders has filed a lawsuit alleging the iconic beauty retailer, now in bankruptcy court, conspired with banks and lenders to steal away first-priority liens on Revlon’s well-known brands and intellectual property in order to secure new capital as the company was failing.
Digital Brands Group, owner of apparel labels such as ACE Studios, Stateside and Bailey 44, is warning of its viability as a going concern due to mounting losses while hinting at the possibility of a bankruptcy filing, less than a year after going public. The company did tout a 425% jump in Q4 revenue and growth in January and February.
Alex and Ani, the Rhode Island-based retailer which reached huge popularity a decade ago with its inexpensive bangles and charm bracelets promoting spirituality and good vibes, has filed for has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, owned by a UK concern, has faced poor sales, lawsuits and internal conflicts.
It was another eventful week in the ongoing saga of retail bankruptcies. Tailored Brands, parent of Jos. A. Bank and Men’s Wearhouse, plans to put a greater emphasis on casual apparel as part of its Chapter 11 filing, while the investment group REV is planning to snatch up assets from both Pier 1 and Modell’s out of bankruptcy court.
A partnership between mall giant Simon Property Group and apparel licensing firm Authentic Brands has made a $305 million bid to acquire the assets and intellectual property of Brooks Brothers out of bankruptcy court, according to various media reports. The partnership, named Sparc LLC, plans to keep at least 125 stores open.
Ascena Retail Group, parent of iconic women’s apparel brands Lane Bryant and Ann Taylor, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced plans to shutter 1,600 of the 2,800 stores across its various chains in an effort to reduce its massive debt by $1 billion. The news comes weeks after an executive bonus windfall.