MERRIMACK, N.H., Aug. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookstone® Company, Inc. announced today it is seeking a buyer. To facilitate the sale, the company filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in Wilmington. Brookstone has also begun a process to close the company’s remaining 101 mall store locations, following continued deterioration of traditional retail mall traffic.
“Today we have taken several important steps to restructure the business and ensure that Brookstone will be well-positioned to succeed for years to come,” said Brookstone CEO Piau Phang Foo. “The decision to close our mall stores was difficult, but ultimately provides an opportunity to maintain our well-respected brand and award-winning products while operating with a smaller physical footprint. We thank all our mall store employees and managers who have contributed so much despite an extremely challenging retail environment at malls and our thousands of loyal customers whom we look forward to continuing to serve.”
Foo continued, “Our airport, e-commerce and wholesale business divisions are operating successfully and should prove attractive to a buyer with the financial resources and vision to carry our company into the future.”
Brookstone will continue to provide customers with the same great product quality and variety for which the company is known through its 35 stores in airports across the United States and its successful e-commerce and wholesale businesses.
Through an agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, NA, and Gordon Brothers Finance Company, the company has secured access to approximately $30 million in post-petition financing to support operations during the sale and restructuring process. The company reinforced it will pay vendors on a priority basis for goods and services ordered and received from this point forward.
Brookstone is filing its customary first-day motions with the court to ensure that all operations continue without interruption. Airport stores will operate on normal hours, employees will be paid, and customer programs, including the use of gift cards and Brookstone Loves Reward Program points, will continue pending court approval, which is commonplace in such cases.
Brookstone’s legal advisors in connection with the restructuring are Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor. Its financial advisor is Berkeley Research Group, LLC (BRG). GLC Advisors & Co., LLC serves as the company’s investment banker.
Related Chapter 11 materials are available at: http://www.omnimgt.com/BrookstoneHoldingsCorp
About Brookstone
Founded in 1965, Brookstone is a U.S.-based product developer and retailer of wellness, entertainment, and travel products that are fun to discover, smart to use and beautiful in design. Brookstone products are available at its 35 retail locations in airports throughout the U.S., online at Brookstone.com and through select premium retailers worldwide.
Media Inquiries:
media@Brookstone.com
Abernathy MacGregor
Sydney Isaacs, sri@abmac.com, 713.817.9346
Rivian Bell, rlb@abmac.com, 310.463.9229