Wickes Companies

[2] Other acquisitions came in the areas of retail furniture, consumer credit, modular housing, and commercial construction.

In 1978, Wickes bought the Builders Emporium chain of retail home improvement stores.

[1] In August 1980, Wickes acquired Gamble-Skogmo Inc., a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based retail conglomerate, for more than $200 million.

With $1.6 billion in debt at stake, it was at the time largest Chapter 11 reorganization since the passage of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978.

[4] Sanford C. Sigoloff, a specialist in guiding and restructuring companies in bankruptcy proceedings, was brought in as CEO.

[12] Amid liquidity issues and questions about its accounting practices, Collins & Aikman filed for bankruptcy in 2005.