Last week, the company's US bedding chain Mattress Firm filed for bankruptcy and announced a plan to close as many as 700 stores, the culmination of financial difficulties that predate the Steinhoff crisis. 115 percent premium Jooste referred to trouble with Steinhoff's business in the US in his text message. Steinhoff expanded there with the purchase of Mattress Firm for $3.8 billion in 2016, a 115 percent premium, part of an aggressive expansion plan overseen by the ex-CEO. It's not clear whether anyone who got the text acted on its contents.