GNC Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

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GNC is the most recent retailer to file for bankruptcy and reveal shop closures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pittsburgh-based guardian business GNC Holdings submitted for Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy security in a Delaware court late Tuesday night with the intention of providing alone. The organization set the acquire rate at $760 million. The health and fitness and wellness firm, recognized for offering vitamins, supplements and other own treatment magnificence items also claimed it strategies to near in between 800 and 1,200 retailers out of its 7,300 places worldwide (about 5,200 in the U.S.) as component of its reorganization technique.

“GNC expects the Chapter 11 course of action will advantage its stakeholders and very best posture the enterprise for prolonged-phrase results,” the business mentioned in a assertion. “Importantly, the overwhelming aid of the company’s collectors will empower GNC to arise from this approach expeditiously.”

The restructuring method is being suggested by Latham & Watkins LLP, FTI Consulting and Evercore. Lender of China Ltd. Macau Department has been hired by GNC as a credit card debt adviser.

U.S. and intercontinental franchise companions, as perfectly as company operations in Ireland, are not a part of the submitting.

With a probable sale, the organization reported it hopes to exit individual bankruptcy by the slide.

GNC and all of its subsidiaries, alongside with the associated e-commerce business, will keep on being open up for enterprise during the restructuring approach. At this time, many retailers are open for curbside pickup throughout the U.S. as the nation slowly emerges from lockdown. The retailer options to provide BOPIS later this year.

The business said it has about $130 million in liquidity, a mixture of “new money” debtor-in-possession funding and an existing ABL credit facility.

“While the debtors would have favored to hold out out the present instabilities of the financial marketplaces and retail market, they basically could not pay for to do so,” the personal bankruptcy files mentioned. “The relief sought in this motion is critical to protect liquidity and maintain the debtors’ viability as a going problem.”

Shares of GNC, which shut down 6.9 per cent to 81 cents each individual on Tuesday, are down additional than 40 per cent calendar year-over-calendar year.

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