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Toys ‘R’ Us Plans Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggle

Chain was loaded with debt in buyout more than a decade ago
Looming Chapter 11 filing is rippling through toy industry

Video player cover image — Toys 'R' Us May File for Chapter 11

By

Matthew Townsend, and

Eliza Ronalds-Hannon

September 18, 2017, 7:58 PM UTCUpdated onSeptember 18, 2017, 10:32 PM UTC

Toys “R” Us Inc., which has struggled to lift its fortunes since a buyout loaded the retailer with debt more than a decade ago, is preparing a bankruptcy filing as soon as today, according to people familiar with the situation.

The Chapter 11 reorganization of America’s largest toy chain would deal another blow to a brick-and-mortar industry that’s already reeling from store closures, sluggish mall traffic and the threat of Amazon.com Inc.