David’s Bridal is prepared to liquidate if it can’t find a buyer

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David’s Bridal has a plan to liquidate if it can’t sell its operations, according to a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey from CEO James Marcum.

The retailer said Monday that it’s in the midst of looking for a buyer during its Chapter 11 process. In his filing, Marcum said that if it doesn’t find a buyer the company “will turn to an orderly liquidation” of its assets, including those separate from its operations. Several parties “have expressed potential interest in certain” assets since February, when the company began reaching out to potential bidders, per Marcum’s filing.

The retailer has already enlisted liquidation and restructuring firm Gordon Brothers Retail Partners to put procedures in place to wind down business operations and liquidate inventory in all stores, Marcum said. In the meantime, David’s Bridal is managing inventory in case it’s sold as a going concern.

If so, the company “will quickly pivot to cease store closings at any stores needed to implement the transaction,” Marcum said. “The Debtors believe that this dual-path process will best maximize value for all stakeholders.”

Even if it remains in business under new ownership, the retailer said it’s evaluating its footprint, and is likely to end up with a smaller fleet. The company runs 294 stores, which includes 278 U.S. locations in 49 states, 12 stores in Canada and four U.K. stores. All are leased, except for one store in New Jersey. The company also has eight franchised stores in Mexico.

Running this “sizable store portfolio,” plus inflationary pressures have led to a spiral of higher inventory and operating costs that “have significantly impacted the company’s revenue,” Marcum said.

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