Wayne, NJ-based Toys “R” Us filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond) on Monday (Case no. 17-34665). Toys “R” Us operates more than 1,600 locations for both Toy “R” Us and Babies “R” Us and employs approximately 64,000 people. The chain is seeking borrow money in order to pay suppliers by restructuring $5 billion in long-term debt. The company noted that the approaching holiday shopping season accounts for 40% of its net sales.
Prior to the filing, almost all the company’s vendors sought cash in advance before shipping products, forcing Toys “R” Us to raise $1 billion for suppliers. The company’s debt is attributed to a $6.6 billion buyout in 2005 led by KKR & Co. LP, Bain Capital LP and Vornado Realty Trust.
If you are a landlord or trade creditor of Toys “R” Us, it is important to know your rights now. Stark & Stark’s Shopping Center and Retail Development Group can help.
Our bankruptcy attorneys regularly represent landlords and trade creditors throughout the country, including recently in the Eastern District of Virginia, Eastern District of Missouri, District of New Jersey, Southern District of New York, District of Delaware, District of Minnesota and the Western and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania regarding a variety of issues. Most recently, our Group has represented landlords and trade creditors in the Payless, Gymboree, Eastern Outfitters (EMS Part 2), EMS, Golfsmith, RadioShack, General Wireless (RadioShack 2), Gander Mountain, A&P, Joyce Leslie, rue21, Central Grocers and Sports Authority chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
For more information on how Stark & Stark can assist you, please contact either Tom Onder at (609)219-7458 or tonder@stark-stark.com or Joe Lemkin at (609)791-7022 or jlemkin@stark-stark.com.
