Circuit City Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Lays Off 700 HQ Staffers
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 11/10/2008
Richmond, Va. — A cash-starved Circuit City has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will continue to operate the business as a debtor in possession (DIP) with the help of $1.1 billion in financing from its current lenders.
The company said it took the action to ensure that vendors would continue shipping it goods through the critical holiday selling season, after which the DIP credit facility will be reduced to $900 million, a filing showed.
Despite “aggressive efforts” to secure vendor support, manufacturers’ concerns over the chain’s viability “escalated considerably” since it announced the closing of 155 stores last week, the retailer said.
The company has $3.4 billion in assets, $2.3 billion in debt, and more than 100,000 creditors, according to today’s filing by Circuit City and several affiliated entities with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond, Va.
Hewlett-Packard is its largest unsecured creditor, with $118.8 million in claims, followed by Samsung ($115.8 million), Sony ($60 million), LG’s Zenith unit ($41.2 million) and Toshiba ($17.9 million).
Operating under the protection of Chapter 11 will provide vendors with assurances that they will be paid for merchandise received after the filing, so its stores can be sufficiently stocked for the holidays, the chain said.
Reorganizing under Chapter 11 will also give Circuit City “valuable additional time” to develop and execute a comprehensive corporate restructuring plan that may include further consolidation. The company said it will continue to shed leases at previously closed locations and will continue to “assess the productivity” of all stores and assets, review additional cost-cutting initiatives, and explore strategic alternatives to help streamline operations.
The effort will allow the company to emerge as a stronger business, with an improved national distribution channel for its vendors and a more compelling offering for its customers, it said.
As part of the restructuring, the company laid off about 700 corporate, regional and district support personnel from its headquarters here on Friday to realign staffing levels with the 20 percent reduction in its store base, to 566 locations. Together with store-level layoffs, the headcount reductions represent 20 percent of all employees.
In a filing, chief financial officer Bruce Besanko attributed Circuit City’s operational losses over the past two years to a number of factors affecting all retailers, including the tightening credit markets and the resulting downturn in consumer spending. The ongoing losses forced the company to borrow $898 million against its revolving credit line, which reduced liquidity and jeopardized continued operations.
In a statement, Circuit City vice chairman and acting president/CEO James Marcum said, “We recently have taken intensive measures to overcome our deteriorating liquidity position. The decision to restructure the business through a Chapter 11 filing should provide us with the opportunity to strengthen our balance sheet, create a more efficient expense structure and ultimately position the company to compete more effectively. In the meantime, our stores remain fully operational, and our associates are focused on consistent and successful execution this holiday season and beyond.
“We appreciate the support we have received from our lenders in the midst of such a tight credit market,” he continued. “With this support, we believe we have the opportunity to leverage our market position and the strength of our brand to restore Circuit City to solid financial footing.”
Marcum also acknowledged the impact of the company’s actions on staffers both past and present, and thanked them for their dedication and loyalty.
The filing comes at an especially inopportune time for the retailer, with the start of the holiday season just over two weeks away. In an open letter to customers posted on Circuit City’s Web site, Marcum sought to shore up consumer confidence by stressing, “It is important for you to understand that this announcement does not mean that Circuit City is going out of business. Our 566 U.S. stores are operating normally, and we look forward to continuing to take care of your consumer electronics shopping needs.”
Circuit City will use a portion of the new $1.1 billion DIP revolving credit facility to pay off debt from its previous $1.3 billion asset-based credit line. Both loans were packaged by a lender group that includes Bank of America, Wells Fargo and GE Capital. The DIP financing provides additional immediate liquidity that will allow the company to pay vendors and other suppliers for goods and services received after the bankruptcy filing, the retailer said.
Circuit City is also seeking customary authority from bankruptcy court that will enable it to continue operating the business without interruption. The requested approvals include requests for the authority to make wage and salary payments, continue various benefits for employees, and honor customer programs such as returns, exchanges and gift cards, it said.
Circuit City's Canadian operations will also seek bankruptcy protection, under the companies' Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada (CCAA).
Clickhereto read TWICE's complete coverage of Circuit City and Tweeter.
-
CC would not learn that the general publc simply hates dealing with mail in rebate offers.
Robert Stanley - 2008-10-11 23:59:00 EST -
Too bad for CC. Being from the NY,NJ area the best place to shop for electronics or appliances has been and will always be P.C. Richard&Son. 99 years in buss. always has stock and knowledgeable sales staff.
Why go anywhere else?
P, Pridmore - 2008-10-11 21:59:00 EST -
Best Buy is by no means the only place left to electronics. they are not even the best deal. most smart shoppers order stuff from sites like newegg.com or overstock.com. computer people who actually want qauilty wouldnt go near any big box retailer. so best buy is in a better place but by no means the top spot as long as walmart still sells dells and Emachines for under 400 bucks.
Dustin Ayers - 2008-10-11 14:19:00 EST -
CC's problems began several years ago, with dropping majap products just before the housing boom, cutting highly paid salespeople (first in 2002, then in 2007), signing long-term leases in bad locations, failing to enhance the customer experience as competitors became more appealing (hhgregg, Best Buy), trying out "the city" concept after brand destruction had already occurred, attempting to open new stores when burning through cash at old ones, and forgetting that customers ignored are customers departed.
Liquidation is only a short time from now. Tweeter, move over.
Bill Penn - 2008-10-11 13:21:00 EST -
Circuit City is a company that is struggling now because of mistakes they made years ago, especially with their people. Best Buy will benefit if Circuit fails but I think Walmart will benefit the most.
Justin - 2008-10-11 12:33:00 EST
