A group including two of Forever 21 Inc.’s biggest landlords has offered to buy the bankrupt retailer for US$81 million, a fraction of what the international fashion pioneer was once worth.
The consortium of Simon Property Group Inc., Brookfield Property Partners LP and Authentic Brands Group LLC is seeking to buy substantially all of the company’s assets, according to documents filed Sunday in federal bankruptcy court.
The so-called stalking horse agreement sets a minimum price for a proposed auction later this month. If no other bidders step forward, the consortium would be declared the winner.
Plans envision an auction process with a sale hearing requested for Feb. 4 and approval of the winner no later than Feb. 11. The buyers have the right to close and wind down certain stores and conduct going-out-of-business sales, according to the new filing. They’re also entitled to a US$4.65 million break-up fee under some circumstances if the sale isn’t completed.
Forever 21 had been in “substantial, round-the-clock negotiations” about the bid, the Los Angeles-based company said previously in documents filed last week.
Bloomberg previously reported that Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group were mulling a plan to acquire the retail chain. Forever 21 was talking about selling a stake to Simon and its other largest landlord, Brookfield Property Partners LP, before it filed for bankruptcy in September, Bloomberg previously reported. Negotiations broke down and the company had to seek court protection without a reorganization plan in place.
The chain has since struggled to raise money to exit bankruptcy, with potential lenders and buyers balking because of poor sales and the founding Chang family’s insistence on maintaining control. Forever 21 recently told suppliers in a letter reviewed by Bloomberg that it’s short on cash and that it could be forced to liquidate if a buyer doesn’t emerge.
The case is Forever 21 Inc., 19-12122, District of Delaware (Delaware).
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