Bed Bath Warns of Bankruptcy Risk in $300 Million Offering

  • Retailer forced to sell more shares as hedge-fund rescue ends
  • Firm at mercy of Wall Street lenders as sales decline further

A Bed Bath & Beyond store in Westbury, New York.

Photographer: Johnny Milano/Bloomberg
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Reeling from a collapse in its stock price and at the mercy of Wall Street banks, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. warned it will likely go bankrupt if a last-gasp $300 million equity offering fails.

The retailer filed to sell new shares to stay afloat and repay creditors after a hedge-fund rescue effort faltered and as day traders — famed for bidding up unprofitable companies — flee. If the offering “is not fully consummated,” the company said Thursday, “we expect that we will likely file for bankruptcy protection.”