“(Reuters) – Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, court documents showed on Monday, with rival retailer Lowe’s Companies set to buy the majority of its assets for $205 million in cash.
Orchard, which was spun off by Sears Holdings Corp in late-2011, said it was carrying a high debt load and that it may not be in a position to make scheduled payments when the first tranche of its debt matures in December 2013.
“The company’s substantial debt due, in part, to significant recapitalization dividends paid to Sears, made it difficult, if not impossible for the company to right itself. The ever present prospect of violating the company’s leverage ratio covenants hampered many of its operational strategies,” Orchard said in the court filing.
Management and the board determined that a sale of Orchard through a Chapter 11 process was the best possible outcome for the company and its stakeholders after exploring a range of alternatives, the company said.
The company, which generated revenue of $657 million in the 2012 fiscal year, listed total liabilities of $480.1 million and total assets of $441 million, according to a court filing.
Orchard said it has secured commitments for $177 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, which will help it to continue meeting its financial obligations throughout the Chapter 11 case.
LOWE’S ACTS AS “STALKING HORSE” BIDDER…”
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