What to know about Neiman Marcus’ potential bankruptcy
The Neiman Marcus Group is just one of many major retailers being severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with sources indicating the 113-year-old retailer is on its way to filing for bankruptcy.
Prior to the outbreak, there was speculation that the company, which is behind Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Mytheresa, Horchow and Last Call, was the next retailer to file for bankruptcy because of its $4 billion in long-term debt. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an additional struggle for the retailer, as its stores have been closed for more than a month.
While Neiman Marcus has yet to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, if it does so it will follow several other fashion brands that have succumbed to the pressures of the pandemic in the last two months, including Los Angeles fashion label Bldwn, British retailer Debenhams, Elizabeth Arden Red Door spas and True Religion.
Here, WWD breaks down the specifics of Neiman Marcus’ potential bankruptcy, including the factors that are contributing to the filing and prospective buyers.
RELATED: Take a look at some of the other top retailers that have closed stores due to the virus pandemic:
Has Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy?
The Neiman Marcus Group has not yet filed for bankruptcy.
Are the Neiman Marcus stores closing?
The Neiman Marcus Group has temporarily closed its 43 Neiman Marcus and two Bergdorf Goodman stores nationwide in compliance with guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the company said on March 11 it would be closing most of its 22 Last Call clearance outlets. The company will lay off roughly 500 workers over the next eight months in conjunction with the closures and an additional 250 Neiman Marcus associates in nonselling positions will also be let go.
In an interview with WWD, Neiman Marcus Group chief executive officer Geoffroy van Raemdonck stated the closures and layoffs were “not a workforce reduction” or a “reaction to anything happening in the economy now,” rather a strategic decision to redeploy resources.
The company is also closing two of its distribution centers in Longview and Las Colinas, Tex.
These changes fall under van Raemdonck’s four-year plan — initiated in August 2018 — to transform the Neiman Marcus Group into a “preeminent luxury customer platform.” The closures will help the company allocate more resources to its Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman divisions.
What factors contributed to Neiman Marcus’ potential bankruptcy?
The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the company’s operations because of its temporarily closures nationwide. The company has also furloughed roughly one-third of its 13,700 employees as a result of those closures. The stores, in addition to its e-commerce sites, MyTheresa, Last Call and Horchow, generate $5 billion in annual volume.
Neiman Marcus Group has long-term debt of $4 billion and is paying roughly $300 million in annual interest expense, which is dragging down profitability and resulting in losses.
The company also defaulted on large interest payments on bonds due on April 15, which raises the possibility of a bankruptcy filing. Neiman’s has a five-day grace period on $72.9 million in interest payment due on its bonds maturing in 2024 and a 30-day grace period for $5.7 million in interest due on bonds maturing in 2021.
Neiman Marcus has also hired the Boston Consulting Group, which assists in restructurings.
What does it mean if Neiman Marcus files for bankruptcy?
Companies generally file for bankruptcy as a last resort after overextending their credit lines to the point where they can no longer service their debt or make lease payments. The filing gives companies the space to continue operations while formulating a plan on how to handle debt.
The bankruptcy filing halts all creditor enforcement actions against it, meaning landlords cannot evict them from their stores and mortgage lenders cannot enact foreclosure. Creditors also cannot seize the retailer’s collateral or goods.
A Chapter 11 restructuring could also wipe out debt and equity, create new ownerships and let the company close its underperforming stores, all while still operating.
What will happen if Neiman Marcus files for bankruptcy?
The company has several options if it files for bankruptcy. One option is to sell off parts of its business, such as its MyTheresa luxury e-commerce site or Bergdorf Goodman. Another is to work with debt holders to obtain a level of loan forgiveness or an extension on payments.
Sources indicate three other options the company may be looking at: the lenders operate the business, the business is sold to one party or the business is liquidated.
However, a liquidation seems unlikely considering that stores remain closed for the foreseeable future because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are there prospective buyers for the Neiman Marcus Group?
It’s been reported that Hudson’s Bay Co. chief executive officer Richard Baker has long been interested in acquiring the Neiman Marcus Group in order to combine it with Saks Fifth Avenue to create a dominant North American luxury retailer. Hudson’s Bay Company went private earlier this year.
How does the coronavirus pandemic impact the bankruptcy proceedings?
One impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the bankruptcy proceedings is that the Neiman Marcus Group cannot liquidate the business while stores remain temporarily closed.
It also may be more difficult to negotiate debtor-in-possession financing to keep the business running during the pandemic.
Read more here:
How the Coronavirus Is Impacting the Fashion, Beauty and Retail Industries
Retailers Cancel Orders Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
WATCH: How Fashion Is Fighting the Coronavirus
