Matt Katz, Managing Partner and Head of Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods spoke with The Business of Fashion about the fate of ‘zombie’ retailers that have been brought back to life this year after emerging from bankruptcy or being purchased by new owners.

Matt notes that while things like bankruptcy, new ownership, and refinancing of debt can act as a short-term solution for struggling retailers, their long-term survival is uncertain. “As long as the 20 million middle America, lower-income consumers between the ages of 45 to 65 are willing to shop at these brands, for now, the business will be fine, but at some point, that group will be today’s 20- and 30-year-olds. Will that person have the same affinity?”

Read the full article here.

Matt Katz serves as a Managing Partner and heads the Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods and Private Equity practices at SSA & Company