14 Bankruptcies

Here are 14 companies that filed bankruptcy…

1. Phoenix Coyotes – They started as the Winnipeg Jets before moving to Phoenix in 1996.  At filing, the company had $500 million in debts and less than $100 million in assets.  That’ll teach the business people that a hockey team might not belong in the desert.  Source

2. Hartmarx – The maker of President Obama’s suits, has filed for bankruptcy in January.  The company lists between $100 million and $500 million in assets and liabilities.  There is currently a bid for Hartmarx from Emerisque.  Source

3. Six Flags – The amusement company filed for bankruptcy after failing to refinance $2.4 billion in debt.  A company spokesman has said this is strictly a financial restructuring and will not affect any park operations.  Source

4. Crabtree & Evelyn – A high priced soap maker has listed between $10 million and $50 million in assets and at least as much in debts.  The company founded in 1973 has built it’s brands on natural products that use herbs, fruits and fresh flowers.  For now their stores will remain open and the website will remain in operation.  Source

5. Filene’s Basement – The chain filed for bankruptcy with assets of $100 million and liabilities as high as 5 times that amount.  Syms, a competing retailer has agreed to pay $65 million for the chain.  Included in the purchase are 23 or 25 stores as well as inventory.  The chain will continue to operate under the Filene’s Basement name.  Source

6. Extended Stay – The hotel chain filed in June with total debt of $7.6 billion and assets of $7.1 billion.  Room revenue plummeted by 23.2% during the first 5 months of 2009 compared to a year earlier.  The hotel chain will continue operations under it’s existing brands of Extended Stay America, Homestead Studio Suites, Studio Plus and Crossland.  Source

7. Eddie Bauer – The clothing retailer based in Washington filed in June.  It’s latest filing was in 2003 and emerged in 2005 and was spun off into it’s own company.  The chain, formerly known as Spiegal listed between $100 million and $500 million in assets.  CCMP Capital has bid $202 million for the chain and plans to keep all 371 stores open as well as catalog and web site operations.  Gift cards will be honored until September 1, 2009 or until the sale of it’s assets go through.  Source

8. Crunch Gym – The chain began in 1989 as a basement aerobics studio and over the last 20 years has grown to 28 locations around the country.  In may it’s leases became unmanageable as it listed at least $500 assets and liabilities.  New Evolution Fitness Co has entered into a purchase agreement.  Most locations will remain open, but may be relocated to get a cheaper lease.  Source

9. Pilgrim’s Pride – Rising raw material prices compounded by lower demand led the company to file for bankruptcy in December 2008.  The company listed $3.75 billion in assets and $2.72 billion in debts.  Operations will continue and no further layoffs are planned.  Source

10. The Daily Blossom – The floral arrangement design company lists just under $50,000 and liabilities between $100,000 and $500,000.  Source

11. Debt Relief USA – The debt consolidation company lists $5 million in liabilities and $4.65 million in assets.  The company has shut down and left it’s customers without services they paid for.  Source

12. The Tribune Co – The owner of the Chicago Tribune and LA Times filed at the end of 2008.  The company will operate normally while in bankruptcy which was designed to lighten the debt load.  Source

13. Vallejo, California – The town in California filed bankruptcy as property taxes plunged.  The town is home to one of Six Flags most successful theme parks, which has also entered bankruptcy protection.  Source

14. Lear corp – The company manufactures seats and electronics for cars lists $1.3 billion in assets and $4.5 billion in debt.  The company has already found financing and is expected to exit bankruptcy within 60 days.  Source

Caterpillar Cut’s Jobs

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Caterpillar is set to cut just over 2,400 more jobs in Illinois, Georgia and Indiana bringing this years cuts to over 24,000.  In January, the company offered early retirement packages for 2,000 workers.

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Auto parts makers asking for aid

Auto parts makers have asked for $25.5 billion in aid from the federal government.  More than 40 auto parts makers filed for bankruptcy last year and many more are in imminent financial danger this year as car companies cut back production in the face of spiraling demand.

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PeanutCorp of America liquidating

The peanut company “PeanutCorp. of America” has filed for bankruptcy and will begin liquidation immediately.  The company is at the heart of the Salmonella outbreak in the United States.

The Texas Health Department ordered the recall of all products produced at it’s plant in Plainview, Texas after they found dead rodents, rodent excrement and bird feathers at the plant.

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Japanese mega companies announce cuts

NEC, the electronics giant based in Tokyo, is set to cut 20,000 workers worldwide to stem losses during the economic downturn.  The cuts amount to about 7% of it’s total workforce and will be completed by 2010.  Half of the cuts will be from permenant workers, the balance will be from contractors.  

Hitachi also announced it will cut 7,000 employees out of it’s nearly 400,000 strong workforce.

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New Jersey boat manuf’ cuts 202 positions

Silverton Marine Corp has announced it will be laying off 202 employees by the end of March.  The company, based in Millville, NJ, has notified the NJ Department of Labor about the layoffs in late December.  Silverton has been in business for 40 years and has locations in Maryland and Florida as well as it’s headquarters in New Jersey.  The layoffs amount to just under half of it’s work force.  In the letter to employees, President Richard Cerami Jr, stated the company hadn’t shipped any boats to dealers for the previous two months.  

The company has stated it hadn’t anticpated the economic downtown would be this dramatic but is now anticipating a non existant market for the near term.

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Kodak posts loss, plans layoffs

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Kodak said last week it lost $137 million in the 4th quarter of last year and plans to eliminate 3,500 to 4,500 positions.  For the whole year, the company earned $339 million. 

Kodak has been struggling to reinvent itself after the digital camera market took off.  

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Corning cutting 3,500 workers

Corning has announced it is cutting 3,500 jobs or about 13% of it’s workforce amid a slow down for its specialty glass used in plasma tvs and computers.

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Panasonic cuts 560

Panasonic said it will reduce it’s workforce by 560 in asia as it closes two manufacturing plants.  The closures are blamed on changing global demand for electronics and comes amid the $9 billion purchase of Sanyo to make Panasonic the largest electronics company in the world.

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Caterpillar to cut 20,000

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Caterpillar moves to cut 20,000 workers as it expects a slowdown in business for 2009.  8,000 workers cut will be contractors not directly employed by the company. Direct workers will amount for about 12,000 of those cut and equals 11% of it’s global workforce.  

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