Sears Holdings Corp. nailed down a commitment for another loan to keep its doors open as the critical holiday season begins.
Great American Capital Partners, a specialty finance company, agreed to lend $350 million to the bankrupt retailer, according to a court filing Wednesday. The funding would come at a steep price, charging Libor plus 11.5% and a 3% closing fee.
Sears needs the cash to stay afloat during its most important selling period and buy time for a long-term survival plan. It won approval in bankruptcy court Thursday to proceed with a plan to shed assets and sell itself as a smaller operation. The company filed for court protection from creditors last month with only $300 million to get it through the bankruptcy process, and initially said it needed a second round of so-called debtor-in-possession financing to stay in business.
“The holiday season, the weeks coming up, are really critical for the company and its ability to reorganize,” Sears lawyer Ray Schrock said in a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday.
Chairman Edward Lampert is working on a bid for some of the company’s best-performing stores, which could involve swapping his debt holdings for the outlets. Lampert, through his hedge fund ESL Investments, owns the majority of Sears’s debt in addition to being the biggest shareholder of the Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based retailer.
Great American is owned by the B. Riley Financial Inc. A separate subsidiary, Great American Group, often serves as a liquidator when a retailer collapses. It was among the firms that helped dismantle Bon-Ton Stores and Gordmans Stores.
Sears is also trying to raise funds through the auction of debt notes held by subsidiaries. Some hedge funds may find them valuable as they angle for payouts on about $400 million of credit-default protection contracts tied to Sears.
The case is Sears Roebuck and Co., 18-23538, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (White Plains).
