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Report: Gunmaker Remington considers bankruptcy

Man examines rifle at tradeshow.
Bushmaster rifle displayed at a recent trade exhibition. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Remington Outdoor Co., the firearms giant owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, is speaking with lenders about a prepackaged bankruptcy filing, according to Reuters.

Why it matters: This might be the merciful end to an albatross of an investment for Cerberus, which over-leveraged, over-consolidated and completely misjudged political and reputational risk. It also could put jobs at risk for some of the company's 3,000-plus employees.

Cerberus declined comment, via a spokesman.

Bottom line: "Remington’s sales plunged 27% in the first nine months of 2017, resulting in a $28 million operating loss... [They] have declined in part because of receding fears that guns will become more heavily regulated by the U.S. government, according to credit ratings agencies."

Guns