Advisory and Disposition Services During One
of the Southeast's Largest Retail Restructurings.

The Engagement

Belk, America's largest family-owned mainstream department store chain founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, North Carolina, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2021 after being weighed down by more than $2.6 billion in debt accumulated following its 2015 acquisition by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The pre-packaged bankruptcy, which was completed in a single day on February 24, 2021, shed approximately $450 million in debt while the company continued normal operations across nearly 300 stores in 16 southeastern states. Eaton Hudson provided advisory and disposition services in connection with the restructuring process.

This engagement was led by Eaton Hudson founder James Schaye through Hudson Capital Partners, the predecessor firm whose institutional track record is now represented under the Eaton Hudson banner.

Scope of Work

• Advisory and disposition services in connection with Chapter 11 restructuring
• Department store inventory assessment and valuation support
• Store portfolio analysis and disposition strategy
• Coordination within a complex, multi-creditor restructuring process

The Eaton Hudson Advantage

Belk's pre-packaged Chapter 11 — completed in a single day — required advisors who could move with speed and precision in a highly structured bankruptcy process. Eaton Hudson's ability to provide actionable inventory and asset advisory within that compressed timeline reflects the institutional agility that distinguishes our platform from traditional liquidation firms focused solely on going-out-of-business sale execution.