Radioshack files for bankruptcy

[cartman]

Saw this on Vicradio Zone

http://www.news.com.au/finance/business ... 7210320545

RadioShack files for bankruptcy protection
8 HOURS AGO FEBRUARY 06, 2015 12:37PM

A DIMINISHED RadioShack will live on, but its future may lie with Sprint.

STRUGGLING consumer electronics chain RadioShack, founded nearly a century ago, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Thursday. It plans to sell 1,500 to 2,400 stores to its largest shareholder, Standard General, and has filed a motion to proceed with closing the remainder of its 4,000 US stores.

Sprint Corp has a deal with Standard General to open mini-shops in as many as 1,750 of the RadioShack stores Standard General is buying. And those RadioShack shops would have big Sprint signs on the storefronts. Other parties could also bid for RadioShack's stores in the bankruptcy process.

The company also is in discussions to sell all of its remaining assets overseas.

RadioShack introduced one of the first mass-market personal computers and used to be the go-to stop for consumers' home electronics needs. But it struggled as shoppers increasingly shifted to making purchases online and growth in its wireless business slowed. It has suffered years of losses.

The New York Stock Exchange suspended trading of its shares on Monday and sought to delist it. The NYSE requires companies meet certain market capitalisation thresholds to remain on the exchange.

RadioShack had warned of a possible bankruptcy in September, but received rescue financing that kept it afloat. Still, its CEO recently cautioned the chain might not be able to find a long-term plan to stay in business.

RadioShack worked hard on its turnaround efforts, hiring Walgreen Co executive Joe Magnacca as its CEO and former Treasury Department adviser Harry J Wilson as chief revitalisation officer. It also developed relationships with popular brands like Beats Audio and redesigned almost half of its US locations - some 2,000 stores - in an effort to entice younger shoppers.

The company, which has not turned a profit since 2011, employs about 27,500 people worldwide, according to its last annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

RadioShack on Thursday said it also has more than 1,000 dealer franchise stores in 25 countries, stores operated by its Mexican subsidiary, and operations in Asia operations, which are not included in the Chapter 11 filing. It wants to sell them.

RadioShack, which was founded in Boston in 1921, started as a distributor of mail-order ship radios, ham radios and parts. In the 1950s, it entered the high-fidelity business, touting a device called the "Audio Comparator," a then-novel switching system that allowed the customer to mix and match components and speakers in the listening room.

In 1977, the chain started selling the TRS-80, known affectionately by its users as the "Trash 80," making the RadioShack as important in microcomputers as IBM or Apple.

As for the Sprint deal, the wireless carrier would occupy about one-third of the retail space in each RadioShack location. Sprint employees will sell mobile devices and plans on all Sprint brands including Boost and Virgin Mobile. The stores will be co-branded with Sprint being the primary brand on storefronts and in marketing materials.

Sprint currently has more than 1,100 company-owned retail stores, which would more than double if the transaction is approved.

The transaction with Sprint is expected to be finalised in the coming months.

[freqwaves]

Wasn't the Australian version of this "Tandy Electronics" ?

John.

[Radio_Australia]

Yes it was John , In 2001, Woolworths Limited acquired Tandy and despite also owning Dick Smith Electronics.