America’s Car-Mart explores sale options amid liquidity crisis

America’s Car-Mart, a used car dealer and subprime lender, is in discussions with its lenders regarding a potential sale that would enable the company to continue operations. According to a report by Bloomberg on Tuesday, October 20, these talks are being conducted through unnamed sources. The proposed transaction could be structured either through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process or via a shareholder vote, although no final decision has yet been reached. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment from PYMNTS.

The firm is currently facing significant liquidity constraints and mounting debt pressures. It has defaulted on a $300 million term loan intended to repay its asset-backed line of credit. Furthermore, the company is operating under a temporary reprieve from its lenders, a status that is scheduled to expire on Thursday, October 22. In an effort to stabilise its financial position, America’s Car-Mart has been exploring various options, including raising rescue financing, selling separate assets, and pursuing a full sale of the business.

These challenges are part of a broader trend in the subprime auto finance market, where high inflation and elevated interest rates have made it difficult for customers to meet their repayment obligations. When reporting results for the quarter ended July 31, President and CEO Doug Campbell stated that resolving the company’s capital structure remains the primary priority. He noted that the special committee, along with advisors and management, is evaluating a range of financing and strategic alternatives, including discussions with third parties.

During the reported quarter, continuing capital restraints limited the company’s capacity to purchase inventory and fund new originations. This resulted in an 81.9 per cent decline in retail units and a 57.3 per cent drop in revenue. Inventory levels fell to $35.2 million by the end of the quarter, down from $112.5 million a year earlier. Campbell described the situation as a capital structure issue rather than a demand problem, noting that application volume was constrained by the limited availability of vehicles for sale. Additionally, credit performance weakened due to portfolio contraction, fuel and cost-of-living pressures on customers, and the transition of a small portion of the book to centralised collections.