據知情人士透露，玩具反斗城準備在節日銷售季前申請破產，借此獲得一筆貸款以支撐公司的運營。

該玩具銷售商的決定凸顯出越來越多的消費者選擇亞馬遜等在線零售商或沃爾瑪等折扣零售商，給大大小小零售公司帶來的嚴重影響。

玩具反斗城的發言人并未立即對置評請求作出答復。目前尚無法確定知情人士的身份，因為破產計劃尚未對外公布。

《華爾街日報》之前曾報道稱，該公司計劃向弗吉尼亞州里士滿的美國破產法院提交破產保護申請。

今年有超過10家大型零售企業破產，但玩具反斗城將是規模最大的一家，其負債約50億美元，在全球有1,600多家門店。

知情人士稱，通過破產申請獲得數億美元貸款，可以令其供應商安心，相信其有能力支付貨款，為節日季囤貨必要的填充動物玩偶、活動人偶和娃娃玩具等。

該知情人士還透露，該零售商目前的財務困境，部分原因是供應商出于對玩具反斗城可能申請破產的擔憂，提出了更苛刻的償付條款。他們表示，更嚴格的償付條款使這家來自新澤西州韋恩的公司現金短缺情況更加嚴重。

據CNBC本月報道，玩具反斗城聘請了凱易律師事務所的重組業務律師。

該公司此前曾經表示，正在與一家投資銀行合作，評估明年到期的4億美元債務的處理選項。

收購公司KKR & Co LP和貝恩資本以及房地產投資信托沃納多房地產信托公司，在2005年以66億美元將玩具反斗城私有化。該筆交易導致這家公司背負了沉重的債務，限制了其改造門店和優化在線購物的能力。

今年，玩具反斗城在紐約市的時代廣場開設了一家門店，希望吸引更多節日季購物者。（財富中文網）

譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

Toys 'R' Us is working to put together a loan to fund its operations in a potential bankruptcy filing that could come before the holiday sales season, according to people familiar with the matter.

The toy merchant's move underscores the deep distress rippling through retailers of all sizes as consumers increasingly shop online at sellers such as Amazon.com Inc or go to discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc .

A spokeswoman for Toys 'R' Us did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The people could not be identified because the bankruptcy plans are not yet public.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the company was considering filing for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Virginia.

There have been more than a dozen significant retail bankruptcies this year, but none for retailers as big as Toys 'R' Us, which has about $5 billion in debt and more than 1,600 stores worldwide.

A loan of several hundred million dollars as part of any possible bankruptcy filing would reassure the chain's vendors it could pay them for the loads of stuffed animals, action figures and dolls it needs to stock its shelves for the holiday season, the people said.

Part of the retailer's current financial woes stem from vendors demanding tighter repayment terms over fears that Toys 'R' Us may file for bankruptcy, the people added. The tighter terms have added to the Wayne, New Jersey-based company's cash crunch, they said.

Toys 'R' Us tapped restructuring attorneys from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, CNBC reported this month.

The retailer had already said it was working with an investment bank to assess options for about $400 million in debt that comes due next year.

Buyout firms KKR & Co LP and Bain Capital LP, together with real estate investment trust Vornado Realty Trust , took Toys 'R' Us private for $6.6 billion in 2005. The deal saddled the company with debt, limiting its ability to revamp its stores and make online shopping easier.

Toys 'R' Us opened a store in New York City's Times Square this year to capture more holiday shoppers.