Crabtree & Evelyn, Ltd. has announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed its first amended plan of reorganization. The company anticipates that it will emerge from bankruptcy by the end of January 2010. Since the recent economic downturn, numerous U.S. retailers have filed for bankruptcy protection and only a small number of these companies have successfully reorganized. Crabtree & Evelyn is now one of those select few.

In conjunction with the plan, upon emergence, Crabtree & Evelyn expects to close on a $26.3 million exit loan from its parent company, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad. The exit financing will provide sufficient cash to make all payments under the plan and pay amounts necessary to continue implementing Crabtree & Evelyn’s new strategic business plan.

The company has already realized many of the benefits of implementing its new business plan, including right-sizing its retail footprint by exiting 35 of its retail locations and focusing on its remaining 91 retail locations. It has also launched a new e-commerce platform, at www.crabtree-evelyn.com, which allows customers to purchase all of the Crabtree & Evelyn products with greater ease. In addition, Crabtree & Evelyn recently introduced its new Citron Honey & Coriander Hand Therapy Collection of naturally based hand creams, cleansers, and treatments to reinforce its place in the hand care category, and is re-launching its popular accessories program to complement its core offering.

In the coming months, Crabtree & Evelyn looks forward to executing its long-term strategic business plan, including enhancing its product assortment, expanding its wholesale business division, and further refining the consumer shopping experience.