J. Crew files for bankruptcy as preppy retailer succumbs to COVID-19 fallout, Retail News, ET Retail
By : Mike Spector
J. Crew Group Inc submitted for bankruptcy safety on Monday with a program to hand more than manage to lenders, incorporating to a listing of brick-and-mortar stores pushed to the brink by widespread shop closures in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New York-primarily based chain, recognised for preppy clothing at occasions worn by former 1st woman Michelle Obama, submitted for bankruptcy in a Virginia federal courtroom with an arrangement to eradicate its roughly $1.sixty five billion of credit card debt in exchange for ceding ownership to creditors. It is the 1st significant retailer to fail for the duration of the pandemic.
Anchorage Capital Group, Blackstone Group Inc’s GSO Capital Partners and Davidson Kempner Capital Management hold significant parts of J. Crew’s senior credit card debt and are in line to consider manage of the firm.
They are also giving about $four hundred million of clean funding to support J. Crew’s operations, whilst it navigates Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, the firm claimed in a assertion.
In addition to cancelling credit card debt, J. Crew plans to near stores, though the final number it plans to shutter has not however been determined, a individual familiar with the make a difference claimed.
The coronavirus outbreak forced the firm to briefly near its approximately five hundred J. Crew, J. Crew factory and Madewell stores. In addition, the economic fallout and industry turmoil stemming from the general public wellbeing disaster resulted in J. Crew shelving plans for an initial general public providing of its Madewell business.
Madewell will stay aspect of J.Crew Group and Libby Wadle will continue on in her position as Chief Government Officer of Madewell, the firm extra.
J. Crew experienced planned to use proceeds from the IPO to lessen its credit card debt relatively than use bankruptcy to tackle its strained finances, the individual familiar with the make a difference claimed.
Ahead of the pandemic, J. Crew was presently having difficulties alongside with other classic brick-and-mortar stores to compete amid a client shift to on the net browsing.
It also endured immediately after a strategic misstep of raising selling prices that turned off some shoppers. Talks in 2014 to offer J. Crew to Japan’s Quickly Retailing Co, the proprietor of the Uniqlo apparel chain, fell apart.
J. Crew was taken non-public in 2011 by TPG and Leonard Inexperienced & Partners in a roughly $three billion leveraged buyout, and their investments are now anticipated to be wiped out, the individual familiar with the make a difference claimed.
The firm experienced averted bankruptcy in 2017 in a offer with creditors that decreased full credit card debt and pushed out thanks dates on obligations.
But its struggles continued. Millard “Mickey” S. Drexler, a longtime leader of the chain recognised for his vogue acumen who also at one issue helmed Hole Inc, conceded he misjudged how technological developments would alter the retail landscape.
He stepped apart as J. Crew’s chief executive in 2017, and last 12 months relinquished his seat as board chairman.
J. Crew listed equally assets and liabilities in the variety of $1 billion to $10 billion in the voluntary Chapter 11 document.
