Bed Bath & Beyond warns it doesn’t have the cash to pay down debts

Bed Bath and Beyond said Thursday it doesn’t have enough cash to pay down its debts and it has defaulted on its credit line with JP Morgan, warning once again of a potential bankruptcy.

Shares of Bed Bath plunged Thursday afternoon, prompting brief trading halts. The stock was last down about 20%, giving the company a market value of about $300 million.

In a securities filing, the struggling home goods retailer said it “does not have sufficient resources to repay the amounts under the Credit Facilities and this will lead the Company to consider all strategic alternatives, including restructuring its debt under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.”

Bed Bath owes $550 million under its asset-backed loan with JP Morgan and $375 million to lender Sixth Street after expanding its credit facility in August last year.

Amid tough macro challenges, Bed Bath’s vendors tightened their credit terms and cut limits while requiring earlier payments during its fiscal second quarter, which prevented the company from properly stocking its inventory ahead of the holiday season, the filing states. Some vendors required prepayments, the company said.

The update Thursday comes several weeks after the retailer issued a “going concern” notice that it may not be able to cover its expenses following a worse-than-expected quarter. 

Bed Bath has been exploring its options in recent weeks. The retailer has been in discussions to nail down financing that would keep it afloat if it were to file for bankruptcy, CNBC previously reported.

The company also is in the midst of a sale process in hopes of keeping its namesake chain and Buybuy Baby business alive. In addition, the company has been preparing for a potential chapter 11 filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, CNBC previously reported.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.