Boutique women’s clothing chain Francesca’s Holdings Corp. filed for bankruptcy after the coronavirus pandemic accelerated its sales drop, Bloomberg News reported. The Houston-based company sought chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware with plans to sell the business, according to a statement. TerraMar Capital LLC or an affiliate has agreed to become the stalking-horse bidder in a bankruptcy auction, and Francesca’s existing lender, Tiger Finance LLC, has committed to provide $25 million of debtor-in-possession financing, the retailer said. “Implementing this process allows Francesca’s to address our lease obligations and seek a new investor that can see Francesca’s into the future,” Andrew Clarke, chief executive officer, said in the statement. Other potential bidders are studying the company, the chain added, with a target of Jan. 20 for completing a sale. The chain temporarily closed all of its stores in March and began reopening them in April, the company said in its first-quarter earnings call. But net sales fell 50% in the first quarter, raising doubt about its ability to survive. The company recently said in a filing that it plans to shutter about 140 of its 700 stores and added yesterday that more closings might be necessary. Some 558 stores remain open, the company said. The first store opened in Houston in 1999, touting its frequently changing inventory. Its stores in malls and on main streets cater to 18- to 35-year-old shoppers, featuring apparel, accessories and gifts.
