Several big mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies will proceed through the courts this year, leaving a trail of dead or "zombie" brands behind them.
You probably know that Twinkies maker Hostess Brands has been in trouble.
But an airline, a carmaker, and two famous mobile phone brands are also undergoing existential struggles this year.
Here's a look at some famous brand names that we might be seeing the back of.
10. JCPenney
JCPenney's brand is in grave danger under the stewardship of CEO Ron Johnson. It's not likely to literally go extinct this year — which is why we have it at No. 10 in our ranking. But the company is running out of cash (it burned through $54 million last year and has only $121 million left) as it changes its focus from discounts to a format involving name-brand shops within the store itself. The JCPenney will never be the same again.
9. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Layoffs. Sales declines. Management turmoil. And one of its biggest revenue streams comes from JCPenney. Things couldn't be further from "a good thing" at MSO.
Revenues declined 13 percent in 2012 to $122 million; and it lost over $18 million in cash from its balance sheet. There was only $20 million left at year end.
8. Hostess Brands
Hostess, which sells Twinkies, Ho Hos and Drake's cakes, famously went bankrupt in 2012 and its assets have recently been bought by Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Company; Drakes was acquired by McKee. The Hostess company now exists in name only.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Please follow Advertising on Twitter and Facebook.