Business

Judge Approves RadioShack Sale to Standard General

Published

11 years ago

April 1, 2015

This Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 file photo shows a RadioShack store in Dallas. A bankruptcy judge on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 approved the sale of more than 1,740 RadioShack stores to hedge fund Standard General, preserving some 7,500 jobs. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

RANDALL CHASE, AP Business Writer

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of more than 1,740 RadioShack stores to hedge fund Standard General, preserving some 7,500 jobs.

RadioShack’s bankruptcy plan calls for Sprint, the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier, to operate dedicated “store within a store” shops in most of the locations acquired by acquired by General Wireless, a newly formed affiliate of Standard General LP.

The ruling by Judge Brendan Shannon in Wilmington, Delaware, comes after a court hearing that stretched over four days following a disputed auction process that lasted almost as long last week.

Shannon said Standard General’s bid, valued at about $160 million, was clearly “economically superior” to an alternative liquidation proposal by another bidding group, even before accounting for the preservation of jobs and “a century-old American retailing icon.”

The chain has already shrunk substantially. Roughly 2,000 RadioShack stores have closed or are closing.

In granting the sale, Shannon overruled an objection by Salus Capital Partners, a pre-bankruptcy lender whose $150 million claim made its one of the electronics retailer’s largest creditors.

Salus had called Standard General’s offer a “sham” and offered to pay about $271 million for RadioShack’s assets, combining the liquidation proposal with $129 million that was contingent on winning future litigation in the case.

Salus also had challenged Standard General’s right to bid using $112 million of credit on debt it is owed, and only a small amount of cash.

In last-minute revisions to its initial offer, Standard General agreed among other things that intellectual property and customer data would not be part of the sale. The planned inclusion of personally identifiable information on 117 million consumers had prompted objections from government authorities in several states.

The sale agreement gives Standard General a six-month, royalty free license to use the RadioShack trademark, which would either have to be purchased later or replaced with a new name.

RadioShack, which has not turned a profit since 2011, sought bankruptcy protection in February after years of financial struggles.

The company, founded in Boston in 1921, began as a distributor of mail-order ship radios, ham radios and parts. In postwar era, it made a name for itself selling high-fidelity audio components, calculators, early personal computer systems and mobile phones, and the computer industry’s first laptop.

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC