The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. consumer retail spending rose 1.9% in September 2020. September is the fifth straight month of retail sales growth according to the United States Department of Commerce. [WSJ; Oct. 16, 2020]
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in City of Chicago, Illinois v. Robbin L. Fulton, et al.
Reuters reports that retailer Neiman Marcus Holding Co. emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 25, 2020. The Company’s confirmed plan of reorganization eliminated more than $4 billion of debt and $200 million of annual interest expense. [Reuters; Sept. 25, 2020]
In an opinion piece for Bloomberg, columnist Justin Fox reports on the uptick
Bloomberg reports that Neiman Marcus Group Inc.’s plan of reorganization was confirmed on September 4, 2020 by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The confirmed plan revolves around a debt-for-equity swap, which will eliminate approximately $4 billion of the company’s $5.5 billion pre-petition secured debt. [Bloomberg; Sept. 4, 2020]
AMC
Houston, TX-based oil services provider SAExploration Holdings Inc. has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, reports the Wall Street Journal. SAExploration reportedly owes $6.8 million on a unsecured loan it received through the Paycheck Protection Program of the CARES Act. [WSJ; Aug.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Dutch retail chain HEMA B.V. sought protection under chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on August 19, 2020 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York while it seeks to complete a restructuring of approximately US$474 million of debt in the United
The Wall Street Journal reports that Aeromexico, Mexico’s flagship airline which filed for bankruptcy in the US earlier this year, has obtained commitments for up to a $1 billion in debtor-in-possession financing facility from Apollo Global Management Inc. The financing consists of two tranches, with one tranche holding a debt-to-equity conversion option. [WSJ; Aug. 14,
Bloomberg reports on the growing use of chapter 11 bankruptcy by large retail tenants in order to negotiate their way out of costly, long-term leases and the potential downstream effects of this process on both the commercial real estate and commercial mortgage backed securities markets. [Bloomberg; Aug. 6, 2020]
Retail Ecommerce Ventures (“REV”), an investment firm that seeks to convert struggling brick-and-mortar brands into successful e-commerce brands, has purchased the intellectual property and e-commerce assets of Pier 1 Imports for $31 million, reports Forbes. REV also recently purchased the intellectual property and e-commerce assets of Dressbarn, which has seen growth in revenue since
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Sherrod Brown recently introduced the Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act, which would allow consumer debtors to discharge student loans based on either economic loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or substantial medical debt within the three years before filing for bankruptcy, reports Forbes. [Forbes; July 24, 2020]
Bloomberg reports that creditors
Reporting from Reuters discusses how large firms that have filed for bankruptcy relief since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have awarded bonuses to executives shortly before filing for bankruptcy. Of the 40 large firms investigated, Reuters found that approximately one-third awarded bonuses to executives within the month before filing for bankruptcy. [Reuters; July 17,