735 Stores. The Wind-Down of
America's Iconic Toy Retailer.
James Schaye, through Hudson Capital Partners, was involved in the liquidation of Toys R Us — the iconic toy retail chain that collapsed following a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout and years of competitive pressure from e-commerce rivals.
The Engagement
Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 after struggling to service the debt from its 2005 leveraged buyout by private equity firms, while simultaneously losing market share to Amazon and big-box competitors. After a poor holiday performance in 2017 caused lenders to lose confidence in a reorganization plan, the company moved to liquidate all 735 U.S. locations. James Schaye, through Hudson Capital Partners, participated in the liquidation process for one of the most emotionally significant retail closures in American consumer history. The wind-down also affected Babies R Us locations and the TRU.com e-commerce operation.
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
- Participation in the liquidation of 735 U.S. Toys R Us and Babies R Us store locations
- Inventory disposition across toy, baby, and juvenile product categories
- Support for TRU.com e-commerce asset disposition
- Coordination across a complex, multi-party liquidation structure
The Eaton Hudson Advantage
The Toys R Us engagement represented one of the most complex retail liquidations of the post-financial crisis era — a beloved consumer brand with enormous emotional resonance, massive geographic scale, and a highly scrutinized public wind-down. Executing with precision under those conditions reflects the institutional capability that Eaton Hudson brings to every large-scale retail disposition.
Navigating a Complex
Retail Closure?
Our team has the institutional experience to manage even the most complex, high-profile retail wind-downs.
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