Get All Access for $5/mo

Bed Bath & Beyond Plans to Raise Over $1 Billion to Pay Debts and Avoid Bankruptcy An 11th-hour deal could help the retailer avoid bankruptcy.

By Madeline Garfinkle

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Bloomberg | Getty Images

Bed Bath & Beyond has had a brutal year as the company was met with supply chain disruptions, decline in sales, mounting debt and stock that's plummeted nearly 80% over the past year.

In the beginning of January, the retailer said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that there is "substantial doubt" the company would be able to continue operating.

"While the Company continues to pursue actions and steps to improve its cash position and mitigate any potential liquidity shortfall, based on recurring losses and negative cash flow from operations for the nine months ended November 26, 2022, as well as current cash and liquidity projections, the Company has concluded that there is substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern," Bed Bath & Beyond stated in the filing.

Related: Bed Bath & Beyond Accused of Cutting Air Conditioning to Slash Costs

However, now the company could be saved in the 11th hour. A new $1 billion deal consisting of convertible stock and warrants, along with a $100 million additional credit line from one of its lenders, could be enough for the retailer to pay off debts and avoid bankruptcy, The Wall Street Journal reported.

While the raised capital could potentially save the company, the plan isn't exactly foolproof.

Reena Aggarwal, a professor of finance at Georgetown University, told The New York Times that a significant risk to Bed Bath & Beyond's plan is that by the time the shares are issued, the stock price could drop even further, putting the company in a position to issue more shares and further weaken its current shareholders.

However, diluted stock — as opposed to bankruptcy — may be the lesser of two evils for shareholders, as they are the last to get paid out in any filing.

Related: Is Big Lots the Next Bed Bath & Beyond Disaster in the Making?

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Paramount Leadership Alludes to Layoffs If Merger Does Not Go Through

Paramount is awaiting approval on its merger with Skydance Media from majority shareholder Shari Redstone.

Marketing

6 SEO Tips to Help You Rank in the New Era of Quality Content

What is the best SEO strategy after Google's March 2024 core update? Here's what you need to know.