New Chapter 11 - Remington Outdoor Company

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Remington Outdoor Company

3/25/18

Remington Outdoor Company, a gun manufacturer, has finally filed for bankruptcy - a day after Americans took to the streets to #MarchforourLives. Ah, bankruptcy irony. The company's operations are truly national in scope; it has manufacturing facilities in New York and Alabama and a primary ammunition plant in Arkansas. Its "principal customers are various mass market retail chains (e.g., Wal-Mart and Dick's Sporting Goods) and specialty retail stores (e.g., Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's) and wholesale distributors (e.g., Sports South)." Guns! #MAGA!!

Why did the company have to file for bankruptcy? We refer you to our mock "First Day Declaration" from February here. Much of it continues to apply. Indeed, our mockery of the change in tone from President Obama to President Trump was spot on: post Trump's election, the company's inventory supply far exceeded demand. The (fictional) threat of the government going house-to-house to collect guns is a major stimulant to demand, apparently. Here is the change in financial performance,

"At the conclusion of 2017, the Debtors had realized approximately $603.4 million in sales and an adjusted EBITDA of $33.6 million. In comparison, in 2015 and 2016, the Debtors had achieved approximately $808.9 million and $865.1 million in sales and $64 million and $119.8 million in adjusted EBITDA, respectively."

Thanks Trump. 

We'd be remiss, however, if we didn't also note that NOWHERE in the company's bankruptcy filings does it mention the backlash against guns or the company's involvement in shootings...namely, the one that occurred in Las Vegas. 

The company, therefore, negotiated with its various lenders and arrived at a restructuring support agreement. The agreement provides for debtor-in-possession credit ($193mm asset-backed DIP + $100mm term loan DIP + $45mm DIP, the latter of which is a roll-up of a bridge loan provided by lenders prior to the filing). Upon the effective date of a plan of reorganization, the third lien lenders and term lenders will own the reorganized company. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware 
  • Capital Structure: $225mm ABL (Bank of America, $114.5mm funded), $550.5mm term loan (Ankura Trust Company LLC), $226mm 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (Wilmington Trust NA), $12.5mm secured Huntsville Note     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP (Gregory Bray, Tyson Lomazow, Thomas Kreller, Haig Maghakian) & (local) Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (Laura Davis Jones, Timothy Cairns, Joseph Mulvihill)
    • Financial Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal LLC (Joseph Sciametta)
    • Investment Banker: Lazard (Ari Lefkovits)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • DIP ABL Agent ($193mm): Bank of America NA (DIP ABL Lenders: Bank of America NA, Wells Fargo Bank NA, Regions Bank, Branch Banking and Trust Company, Synovus Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch)
      • Legal: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP (Paul Leake, Shana Elberg, Jason Liberi, Cameron Fee)
    • Admin Agent to the DIP TL: Ankura Trust Company LLC
      • Legal: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Damian Schaible, Darren Klein, Michele McGreal, Dylan Consla) & (local) Richards Layton & Finger LLP (Mark Collins, Michael Merchant, Joseph Barsalona)
    • Ad Hoc Group of TL Lenders 
      • Legal: O'Melveny & Myers LLP (John Rapisardi, Andrew Parlen, Joseph Zujkowski, Amalia Sax-Bolder) & (local) Richards Layton & Finger LLP (Mark Collins, Michael Merchant, Joseph Barsalona)
    • Third Lien Noteholders
      • Legal: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Rachel Strickland, Joseph Minias, Debra McElligott) & (local) Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Edmon Morton, Allison Mielke)
    • Wells Fargo Bank NA
      • Legal: Otterbourg PC (Andrew Kramer)
    • Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company, LLC
      • Legal: Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (David Hillman)
    • Reorganized Board of Directors (Anthony Acitelli, Chris Brady, George W. Wurtz III, G.M. McCarroll, Gene Davis, Ron Coburn, Ken D'Arcy)
  • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
    • Legal: Fox Rothschild LLP (Michael Menkowitz, Paul Labov, Jason Manfrey, Jesse Harris, Seth Niederman)

Updated: 4/27/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC

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The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC

3/19/18

The good news is that the company believes that its total exposure to victims (and creditors) is limited to 999 people/entities and its liability exposure is capped at $1 billion - or at least that's what one could glean from the boxes that the company checked on its chapter 11 petition. 

TWC Chapter 11 Petition
TWC Chapter 11 Petition

TWC Chapter 11 Petition

Let's review what's "new" here without regurgitating everything the mainstream media has covered the last several months... 

The Weinstein Company's primary assets fall into three categories: (i) the film library, (ii) the television business, and (iii) the unreleased films portfolio. The library consists of 277 films and thanks to distribution rights sales internationally and to the likes of Netflix and broadcast/cable networks, generates ongoing cash flow. The television business includes the Project Runway franchise and other content like Peaky Blinders, Scream and Six. The latter unreleased portfolio includes five completed films (including Benedict Cumberbatch's "Current War") and other projects in various stages of development. 

The sale effort to a consortium of investors including Yucaipa, Lantern Asset Management and Maria Contreras-Sweet is well documented. As is the Attorney General of New York's complaint against the company. Neither are worth noting in detail here after months of incessant press coverage. Notably, however, Lantern Asset Management stuck with the process after its consortium partners dropped out, agreeing to become the stalking horse bidder for the assets pursuant to a proposed expedited sale process. Why expedited? In the company's words,

"It is an understatement to say that the last six months have been trying for the Company. Intense media scrutiny and various other factors have resulted in, among other things, the Company’s loss of goodwill with employees, contract counterparties, key talent and the entertainment industry at large. In order to preserve the going concern value of the Company’s Assets for the benefit of its stakeholders, the Debtors have determined that a sale of substantially all of their Assets is necessary. Further, the Debtors believe that time is of the essence and that effectuating any such sale as quickly as possible is necessary to maintain operations and preserve value for the benefit of the Debtors’ stakeholders."

Well, also, the company has no cash and the buyer is pushing for speed as a condition to its bid. Lantern has that luxury as the remaining bidder; it is offering $310 million and the assumption of certain project-level non-recourse indebtedness (read: the debt associated with individual projects). Moreover, the company has indicated that Lantern anticipates retaining "most of the Company's employees." That's good: something positive must come out of this for those who had nothing to do with Mr. Weinstein's behavior. Speed is needed, the company argues, to prevent more employees from leaving (25% have already left). 

Some other miscellaneous facts of note:

  1. Top Creditor. The number one creditor is a judgment creditor to the tune of $17.36 million.
  2. It's Hard Out There for a Pimp. Boies Schiller & Flexner LLC is listed twice in the top 25 creditors. Fresh on the heels of the Theranos fraud suit, this has not been a good week for David Boies and company. 
  3. Other Creditors. Other major creditors include Viacom International ($5.6 million), Sony Pictures Entertainment ($3.7 million), Creative Artist Agency ($1.49 million), and Disney ($1.13 million).
  4. It's Hard Out There for a Pimp Part II. Several law firms are listed in the top 25 creditors for accounts payable due and owing for professional services. Notably, O'Melveny & Myers LLP is listed at #10 and $3.1 million; it had long been rumored to be representing the company leading into the bankruptcy filing. This means, more likely than not, that Cravath was hired as an 11th hour replacement, leaving O'Melveny as a creditor. Also, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has been left hanging after conducting the internal investigation of the charges against Mr. Weinstein. 
  5. The Cumberbatch. "Current War," the feature starring Benedict Cumberbatch is levered up by $7mm under a production-level loan agreement with East West Bank. Nothing unusual here: just a fun fact. We'll see if Cumberbatch's star power can raise this movie above the debt and the Weinstein taint. 
  6. Timing. To the extent any bidder wants to trump Lantern Asset Management, the deadline for bids is April 30 and an auction will occur on May 2 for court approval on May 4. 
  7. #FakeNews. The New York Times and the New Yorker both get credit for taking down Mr. Weinstein and for starting the #metoo movement and Time's Up campaign. 
  8. Ramifications. The company notes that the response to Mr. Weinstein's misconduct was fast and furious including (i) Apple ceasing plans for a 10-part Elvis biopic to be produced by TWC; (ii) Lin Manuel Miranda demanding that TWC release its rights to the movie adaptation of In the Heights, (iii) Amazon ditching TWC, cancelling plans for a David O'Russell series and dropped TWC as co-producer of a Matthew Weiner series; (iv) Channing Tatum halting development of a movie with the company, and (v) Quentin Tarantino seeking a different studio for his next and ninth film, the first time he would use a studio other than TWC. 
  9. Board of Directors. 5 members went running for the exits, including Paul Tudor Jones and Marc Lasry. 
  10. Lawsuits. TWC has been named in at least 9 civil actions by victims of Mr. Weinstein, including a broad federal class action, two civil actions by Mr. Weinstein himself, and 6 civil actions by contract counterparties. 

Lastly, it has been reported that any and all NDAs will be "lifted" and no longer apply. This means that those who aren't as financially able as, say, Uma Thurman and Saima Hayek, may now speak out with impunity. Hopefully this frees various women from the shackles of their memories. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware (Judge Walrath)

  • Capital Structure: $156.4mm secured debt (ex-accrued and unpaid interest, MUFG Union Bank NA), $15.6mm junior secured debt (UnionBanCal Equities Inc.), $18.1mm secured term loan (Bank of America NA), $45.4mm secured industries debt (AI International Holdings BVI Ltd.), $42.5mm secured production facility (MUFG Union Bank NA), $57.2mm of production level debt (including Spy Kids and Current War), $8.3mm secured debt (Viacom Media Networks)

  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP (Paul Zumbro, George Zobitz, Karin DeMasi) & (local) Richards Layton & Finger PA (Mark Collins, Paul Heath, Zachary Shapiro, Brett Haywood, David Queroli)
    • Restructuring Advisor/CRO: FTI Consulting (Robert Del Genio, Luke Schaeffer, Michael Healy, Thomas Ackerman)
    • Investment Banker: Moelis & Company LLC
    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Stalking Horse Bidder: Lantern Asset Management
      • Legal: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Stephen Kuhn, Meredith Lahaie) & (local) Pepper Hamilton LLP (David Stratton, David Fournier) 
    • DIP Agent ($25mm): MUFG Union Bank NA (11% minimum)
      • Legal: Sidley Austin LLP (Jennifer Hagle) & (local) Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Robert Brady)
    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
      • Legal: Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (James Stang, Debra Grassgreen, Robert Feinstein, Bradford Sandler)

Updated 3/30/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - Claire's Stores Inc.

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Claire's Stores Inc. 

3/19/18

Claire’s® Stores Inc. is the latest in a string of specialty "treasure hunt"-styled retailers to find its way into bankruptcy court. In this case, the debtors, together with their 33 non-debtor affiliates, sell jewelry, accessories, and beauty products to young women/teen/tweens/kids; it has a presence in 45 nations spread throughout 7,500 company-owned stores, concession stands, and franchises. The company proudly states that "[a] Claire's store is located in approximately 99% of major shopping malls through the United States." Moreover, "[e]ach of the Debtors' store locations are leased, and are typically located in traditional shopping malls with, on average, 1,000 square foot of selling space." PETITION NOTE: this explains a lot. Hashtag, retail apocalypse.

First Day Declarations are interesting in that they are the first opportunity for a debtor-company to tell its story to the public, to parties in interest, and, significantly, to the bankruptcy judge. And this declaration is particularly interesting because, unlike many of its bankrupt specialty retail predecessors, Claire’s® makes a concerted effort to delineate why its physical presence is so critical. So what is that critical piece? Apparently, it is ear piercing. Yup, you read that right. Ok, well that and the "treasure hunt" shopping atmosphere which "simply cannot be replicated online." The company boasts about solid operating margins. and notes that, at the time of filing, it only intends to shed 95 leases. 

The company notes that it has established trust with parents and the number of pierced ears is indicative of that; it estimates that it has pierced over 100 million ears worldwide (since 1978) and 3.5 million in fiscal year 2017. While that is gimmicky and cute, the company doesn't not note how much of the reported $212 million of EBITDA (on $1.3 billion of revenue) is related to this phenomenon. Moreover, all of the trust in the world cannot overcome a capital structure with $1.9 billion of funded debt (ex-$245 million more at the non-debtor affiliate level) and $162 million in cash interest expense (see chart below) - especially when $1.4 billion of that funded debt matures in Q1 '19. And particularly when fewer and fewer people tend to frequent the malls that Claire’s® dominate. Notably, the company says ONLY the following about e-commerce: "Finally, the Claire's Group operates a digital sales platform through which new and existing customers can purchase products directly through the Claire’s® and Icing® websites and mobile application." So, as the malls go, Claire’s® goes. Notably, the company makes a point that it "is growing, not shrinking, its business. The Company expects its concessions business to grow by more than 4,000 stores in 2018." Landlords take note: the company highlights its CONCESSIONS BUSINESS, which is essentially a "mini-footpring" utilizing the store-within-a-store model. In other words, this growth won't help the landlords much. 

In addition to its debt, the company notes - as a primary cause for its bankruptcy filing - that the "Debtors operate in a highly competitive market." PETITION NOTE: No effing sh*t. Mall traffic has declined 8% year-over-year and the debtors - ear-piercing demand notwithstanding - aren't impervious to this. Accordingly, revenue is down $200mm since 2014. 

To counteract these trends, the company engaged in exchange transactions back in 2016 that had the effect of stripping out intellectual property collateral, swapping out debt, and deleveraging the company by $400 million. Clearly that was a band-aid rather than a solution. 

Now the company purports to have a restructuring support agreement with the Ad Hoc First Lien Group which, in addition to 72% of the first lien debt, holds 8% of the second lien notes and 83% of the unsecured notes. The members of the Ad Hoc Group of First Lien Creditors have agreed to provide the Company with approximately $575 million of new capital, including financing commitments for a new $75 million asset-based lending facility, a new $250 million first lien term loan, and $250 million as a preferred equity investment. In addition, the company has lined up a Citibank-provided DIP credit facility of $75 million ABL (supported, seemingly, by the consenting ad hoc first lien group) and a $60 million "last out" term loan. Consequently, Claire's expects to complete the chapter 11 process in September 2018, emerge with over $150 million of liquidity, and reduce its overall indebtedness by approximately $1.9 billion. We'll believe it when we see it. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware (Judge Walrath)
  • Capital Structure: see below. 
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Ray Schrock, Matthew Barr, Ryan Dahl) & (local) Richards Layton & Finger PA (Daniel DeFranceschi, Zachary Shapiro, Brendan Schlauch, Brett Haywood)
    • Financial Advisor: FTI Consulting Inc.
    • Investment Banker: Lazard Freres & Co. LLC 
    • Real Estate Advisor: Hilco Real Estate LLC 
    • Independent Director: Michael D'Appolonia 
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • PE Sponsor: Apollo Investment Fund VI, L.P. (owns 97.7% of Claire's Inc, the parent)
      • Legal: Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP (Jeffrey Saferstein)
    • DIP Agent: Citibank
      • Legal: Latham & Watkins LLP
    • Prepetition ABL Facility & Revolving Credit Facility Agent: Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch
    • Ad Hoc First Lien Group (Initial Consenting Creditors: Diameter Capital Partners LP, Elliott Management Corporation, Monarch Alternative Capital LP, The Cincinnati High Yield Desk of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., The Indianapolis High Yield Desk of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., and Venor Capital Management LP.)
      • Legal: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Matthew Feldman, Brian Lennon, Daniel Forman) & (local) Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP
      • Financial Advisor: Millstein & Co. 
    • First Lien Note Agent: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A.
    • First Lien Term Loan Agent: Wilmington Trust NA
      • Legal: Pryor Cashman LLP (Seth Lieberman, Patrick Sibley, Matthew Silverman)
    • Second Lien Note Agent: Bank of New York 
    • Unsecured Note Indenture Trustee: Bank of New York 
    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
      • Legal: Cooley LLP (Cathy Hershcopf, Seth Van Aalten, Summer McKee) & (local) Bayard PA (Justin Alberto, Erin Fay, Gregory Flasser)
      • Financial Advisor: Province Inc. 
Source: First Day Declaration

Source: First Day Declaration

Updated 3/30/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - Orion Healthcare Corp.

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Orion Healthcare Corp.

3/16/18

You don't see this as the preface to a bankruptcy filing every day:

"...the Debtors are the victims of a large, complex, and brazen fraud that was subject to a complex and deliberate concealment effort perpetrated by their former management that was years in the making. After acquiring several of their businesses, the Debtors’ former CEO, Parmjit “Paul” Parmar (“Parmar,” who previously owned the company) took Constellation Healthcare Technologies, Inc., the parent company of the Debtors (and itself a Debtor), public on the London AIM and then proceeded to raise additional equity for additional acquisitions, many of which are believed to be largely or entirely fictitious. The Debtors borrowed approximately $130 million in debt in connection with a go-private transaction, the majority of which is believed to have been paid to Parmar (as a shareholder, through entities under his control), which is a financial burden the Debtors simply cannot sustain. The Debtors borrowed such funds based upon financials recently discovered by the Debtors’ new management and their professionals to be largely fictitious and involving numerous sham companies and fabricated transactions, revenues, and customers. The Debtors have commenced these chapter 11 cases to (i) market and sell their assets, (ii) wind down certain of their businesses, and (iii) to enable them to ultimately pursue claims against the individuals that put the Debtors in this position for the benefit of all their creditors."

Salacious. 

Orion Healthcare Corp. is in the business of (a) outsourced revenue cycle management (“RCM”) for physician practices, (b) physician practice management, (c) group purchasing services for physician practices, and (d) an independent practice association services, which is organized and directed by physicians in private practice to negotiate contracts with insurance companies on their behalf while such physicians remain independent and which also provides other services to such physician practices. The various businesses were cobbled together after a series of acquisitions. 

Constellation Healthcare LLC, a non-debtor, is an investment vehicle owned by Parmar and set up for the purpose of acquiring Orion back in 2013. Thereafter, the assets were transferred to a vehicle set up to be the holding company of the enterprise and subsequently listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investments Market. After that, the company went on an acquisition spree, picking up five new businesses. The company also hit the secondary market twice to finance the transactions. As if that isn't enough tomfoolery, the company then engaged in a take private transaction pursuant to which the sponsor contributed $82.5 million of cash as equity and the company obtained $130 million in financing from lenders. The company also issued unsecured promissory notes to its shareholders to the tune of $39.6 million. 

Parmar resigned from the company in September 2017 and, subsequently, the company has been engaged in a large forensic investigation that purports to have uncovered multiple fraudulent transactions while the company was publicly listed, including fabricated customer lists and associated revenue (which, naturally, would have the effect of jacking up valuation and violating reps and warranties, presumably, to the lenders). Moreover, it is alleged that there were a variety of sham acquisitions that had the effect of unjustly enriching Parmar to the detriment of the now-over-levered company.

In light of all of this - as well as the unsustainable debt on the balance sheet and other issues such as the lack of integration between business lines and various litigation - the company filed for bankruptcy. The purpose of the filing is to market and sell some of the business, wind down certain of the businesses, and pursue claims against a coterie of allegedly fraudulent m*therf*ckers. 

  • Jurisdiction: E.D. of New York (Judge Trust)

  • Capital Structure: $159.3mm senior term loan, revolving loan and bridge loan (Bank of America NA)

  • Company Professionals:

    • Legal: DLA Piper (US) LLP (Richard Chesley, Thomas Califano, Rachel Nanes)

    • Legal (Conflicts Counsel): Hahn & Hessen LLP

    • Financial Advisor/CRO: FTI Consulting Inc. (Timothy Dragelin)

    • Investment Banker: Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (Bradley Jordan, Dave Salemi, Andrew Redmond, Ethan Kopp, Jack Foster)

    • Independent Director: Robert Rosenberg

    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)

  • Other Parties in Interest:

    • Prepetition Agent & DIP Agent ($7.5mm): Bank of America NA

      • Legal: Moore & Van Allen PLLC (James Langdon, Zachary Smith, David Eades, Gabriel Mathless)

    • Parmjit Singh Parmar (and affiliated non-Debtor entities

      • Legal: Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf LLP (Charles Simpson)

    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (JQ 1 Associates LLC, Christine Cohen, Kolb Radiology P.C.)

      • Legal: Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (Ilan Scharf, Richard Mikels, Maxim Litvak)

      • Financial Advisor: CBIZ NY (Charles Berk, David Greenblatt, Sharmeen Khan, Patrick Donnelly, Michal Sudo)

Updated 11/28/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - Augustus Energy Resources LLC

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3/16/18

Augustus Energy Resources is a privately-owned natural gas E&P company based in Billings, Montana; its primary assets are operating and non-operating working interests in approximately 1575 natural gas wells in eastern Colorado, the aggregation of which arises out of various acquisitions from Berry Petroleum Company and Rosetta Resources. 

The company filed for bankruptcy because the collapse in the market price of natural gas left it in a position where it couldn't (i) devote the capital necessary to maintain and grow its business, (ii) service its balance sheet and (iii) get access to credit. Indeed, the falling natural gas price led to multiple redeterminations of the borrowing base in the company's Wells Fargo-provided senior secured credit facility. Moreover, the company became the subject of a class action lawsuit accusing it of improperly charging royalty owners of certain post-production processing and transportation costs. This complicated an attempted out-of-court sale process of the company.

The company has filed for bankruptcy, therefore, to pursue a sale to a proposed stalking horse bidder, OWN Resources Inc. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware 
  • Capital Structure: $14.4mm debt (Wells Fargo Bank NA)    
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP (Christopher Richardson, Thomas Bell, Kyler Burgi) & (local) Sullivan Hazeltine Allinson LLC (William Sullivan, William Hazeltine)
    • Investment Banker: TenOaks Energy Advisors LLC
    • Claims Agent: JND Corporate Restructuring (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Sponsor: Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP 
  • Wells Fargo Bank NA
    • Legal: Vinson & Elkins LLP (William Wallander, Matthew Pyeatt) & (local) Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP (Ericka Johnson, Morgan Patterson)
  • Stalking Horse Bidder: OWN Resources Inc.
    • Legal: Husch Blackwell LLP (Lynn Butler)

New Chapter 11 Filing - iHeartMedia Inc.

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iHeartMedia Inc.

3/14/18

iHeartMedia Inc., a leading global media company specializing in radio, outdoor, mobile, social, live media, on-demand entertainment and more, has filed for bankruptcy -- finally succumbing to its $20 billion of debt ($16 billion funded) and $1.4 billion of cash interest in 2017. WOWSERS. The company purports to have "an agreement in principle with the majority of [its] creditors and [its] financial sponsors that reflects widespread support across the capital structure for a comprehensive plan to restructure...$10 billion..." of debt.

The company notes $3.6 billion of revenue and unparalleled monthly reach ((we'll have more to say about this in this Sunday's Members-only newsletter (3/18/18) - this claim deserves an asterisk)). 

Still, as it also notes, the company faces significant headwinds. It states in its First Day Declaration,

"Among other factors, the global economic downturn that began in 2008 resulted in a decline in advertising and marketing spending by the Debtors’ customers, which resulted in a corresponding decline in advertising revenues across the Debtors’ business. Then, as the economy recovered, the Debtors’ industry faced new and intense competition from the rapidly-growing internet and digital advertising industry and the entry of on-demand streaming services, both of which siphoned off the share of advertiser revenues allocated by agencies and brands to broadcast radio. The Debtors have taken various operational steps to stem the negative effect of these trends; among other initiatives, the Debtors have successfully developed emerging platforms including its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital platform and nationally-recognized iHeartRadio-branded live events that are audio and video streamed and televised nationwide."

The company ought to expect these trends to continue.

Large creditors include Cumulus Media Inc. (~$5.6 million...yikes) and Spotify (~$2 million).  

  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of Texas
  • Capital Structure:    
Screen Shot 2018-03-15 at 2.28.26 PM.png

 

  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (James Sprayragen, Anup Sathy, Brian Wolfe, William Guerrieri, Christopher Marcus, Stephen Hackney, Richard U.S. Howell, Benjamin Rhode, AnnElyse Gibbons) & Jackson Walker LLP (Patricia Tomasco, Matthew Cavenaugh, Jennifer Wertz)
    • Financial Advisor to the Company: Moelis & Co. 
      • Legal: Latham & Watkins LLP (Caroline Reckler, Matthew Warren)
    • Restructuring Advisor to the Company: Alvarez & Marsal LLC
    • Legal for the Independent Directors: Munger Tolles & Olson LLP (Kevin Allred, Seth Goldman, Thomas Walper, John Spiegel)
    • Financial Advisor to the Independent Directors: Perella Weinberg Partners LP
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Large Equity Holders: Bain Capital & Thomas H. Lee Partners
      • Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Matthew Barr, Christopher Lopez, Gabriel Morgan)
    • Potential Buyer: Liberty Media Corporation & Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
      • Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Stephen Karotkin, Ray Schrock, Alfredo Perez)
    • Successor Trustee for the 6.875% '18 Senior Notes and 7.25% '27 Senior Notes: Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB
      • Legal: White & Case LLP (Thomas Lauria, Jason Zakia, Erin Rosenberg, J. Christopher Shore, Harrison Denman, Michele Meises, Mark Franke, Michael Garza) & Pryor Cashman LLP (Seth Lieberman, Patrick Sibley, Matthew Silverman) & (local) Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP (Robin Russell, Timothy A. Davidson II, Ashley Harper)
    • Successor Trustee for the 11.25% '21 Priority Guaranty Notes
      • Legal: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP (Eric Wilson, Benjamin Feder, Kristin Elliott)
    • Successor Trustee for the 14.00% Senior Notes due 2021
      • Legal: Norton Rose Fulbright (US) LLP (Jason Boland, Christy Rivera, Marian Baldwin Fuerst)
    • Term Loan/PGN Group
      • Legal: Jones Day (Thomas Howley, Bruce Bennett, Joshua Mester)
    • Ad Hoc Group of Term Loan Lenders
      • Legal: Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP (Michael Messersmith, Tyler Nurnberg, Sarah Gryll, Christopher Odell, Hannah Sibiski) 
    • TPG Specialty Lending Inc.
      • Legal: Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (Adam Harris, David Hillman, James Bentley) & (local) Jones Walker LLP (Joseph Bain, Laura Ashley) 
    • Special Committees of the Board of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc.
      • Legal: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Matthew Feldman, Paul Shalhoub, Christopher Koenig, Jennifer Jay Hardy)
    • Ad Hoc Committee of 14% Senior Noteholders of iHeart Communications
      • Legal: Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP (Robert Klyman, Matt Williams, Keith Martorana, Matthew Porcelli) & (local) Porter Hedges LLP (John Higgins, Aaron Power, Samuel Spiers)
    • 9.00% Priority Guarantee Notes due 2019 Trustee: Wilmington Trust NA
      • Legal: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP (Jayme Goldstein, Daniel Fliman, Brian Wells) & (local) Haynes and Boone, LLP (Charles Beckham Jr., Martha Wyrick, Kelsey Zottnick)
    • Citibank N.A.
      • Legal: Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP (Joel Levitin, Richard Stieglitz Jr.) & (local) Locke Lord LLP (Berry Spears)
    • Delaware Trust Company
      • Legal: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP (Benjamin Finestone, K. John Shaffer, Monica Tarazi, Victor Noskov)
    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
      • Legal: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Ira Dizengoff, Philip Dublin, Naomi Moss, Charles Gibbs, Marty Brimmage)

Updated 3/30/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - Orexigen Therapeutics Inc.

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Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. 

3/12/18

Orexigen Therapeutics is a publicly-traded ($OREX) biopharmaceutical company with one FDA-approved product - "Contrave" - an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight management in certain eligible adults. (Before we continue, please take a minute to appreciate the exquisite creativity these folks deployed with the name, "Contrave." Control + crave = Contrave. We hope they didn't shell out too much cash money to the brand consultants for that one). 

Anyway, the drug could theoretically service the 36.5% of adults the Center for Disease Control & Prevention has identified as obese, a potential market of 91-93 million people in the United States alone. And that number is predicted to rise to 120 million people in the next several years. Yikes: that's 33% of the U.S. population. Apropos, the drug is the number one prescribed weight-loss brand in the US with over 1.8 million prescriptions written to date, subsuming 700,000 patients. The drug is also approved in Europe, South Korea, Canada, Lebanon, and the UAE. 

All of that surface-level success notwithstanding, the company has lost approximately $730 million since its inception. This is primarily because it has been spending the last 16 years burning cash on R&D, clinical studies for FDA approval, recruitment, manufacturing, marketing, etc., both in and outside the U.S. And people wonder why drugs are so expensive. The company believes it could be profitable by 2019 under its existing operating model and revenue forecasts; it enjoys a patent until 2030. 

Obviously the patent is critical because the company, through its banker, attempted a sale prior to the bankruptcy filing but proved unsuccessful. The goal of the bankruptcy filing, therefore, is to effectuate a sale with the benefit of "free and clear" status. While no stalking horse bidder is lined up, The Baupost Group LLC, is leading a group of secured noteholders (including Ecori Capital, Highbridge Capital and UBS O'Connor) to provide a $35 million DIP credit facility and buy the company some time. Will they end up owning it? 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware 
  • Capital Structure: $165mm 0% '20 convertible notes (The Baupost Group LLC), $115mm 2.75% '20 convertible notes ($25 million outstanding, Wilmington Trust NA), $49.6mm 2.75% '20 convertible exchange senior notes ($38.9 million outstanding, US Bank NA) 
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Hogan Lovells LLP (Christopher Donolo, Eric Einhorn, Christopher Bryant, Jon Beck, Sean Feener) & (local) Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP (Robert Dehney, Andrew Remming, Jose Bibiloni)
    • Financial Advisor: E&Y
    • Investment Banker: Perella Weinberg Partners 
    • Claims Agent: KCC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Prepetition Collateral Agent & Prepetition Trustee: U.S. Bank NA
      • Legal: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP (James Carr, Benjamin Feder)
    • DIP Lenders
      • Legal: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP (Eric Winston)
    • DIP Administrative Agent: Wilmington Trust Company
      • Legal: Arnold & Porter (Tyler Nurnberg)
    • DIP Lender: Highbridge Capital Management LLC
      • Legal: Brown Rudnick LLP (Robert Stark, Stephen Levine, Uchechi Egeonuigwe) & (local) Whiteford Taylor & Preston LLC (Christopher Samis, L. Katherine Good, Aaron Stulman)
    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
      • Legal: Elliott Greenleaf PC (Rafael Zahralddin-Aravena, Eric Sutty) & (local) Irell & Manella LLP (Jeffrey Reisner, Michael Strub Jr., Kerri Lyman)

Updated March 30, 2018

New Chapter 22 Filing - SEGA Biofuels LLC

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SEGA Biofuels LLC

3/11/18

SEGA Biofuels LLC, an industrial wood pellet manufacturer and distributor with a Georgia-based facility filed for bankruptcy to pursue a sale. This is the second bankruptcy in the last 5 years. In this instance, the debtor has been sitting on an idled plant since 2016, having marketed the asset on two separate occasions to no avail. In fact, the bankruptcies of other wood pellet manufacturers in Louisiana and Texas during the company's marketing process didn't help with the marketing. (Notably, Rentech Inc., another wood pellet manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy in December). 

Now, though, the company proposes to sell to Global Infrastructure Partners, an affiliate of the company's pre-petition secured lender and (now) DIP lender, GIP Genesis LLC, for the equivalent of a few dollars and some spitwads. Or, said another way, $4.2mm in the form of a combined credit bid + cash offer, cure amounts and some assumed liabilities. 

Really the only reason why we're even covering this filing is because it reflects the continued decimation of the wood pellet space. 

  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of Georgia
  • Capital Structure: $9.658 mm in 4 term loans (Heritage Bank), $26.6mm debt (GIP Genesis LLC)  
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Chipman Brown Cicero & Cole LLP (William Chipman Jr., Mark Olivere) & (local) Seyfarth Shaw LLP (John Mills III)
    • Financial Advisor/CRO: CRS Capstone Partners LLC (James Calandra)
    • Claims Agent: Garden City Group LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
    • Other Parties in Interest:
      • Buyer: Global Infrastructure Partners
        • Legal: Greenberg Traurig LLP (Matthew Hinker)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Harvey Gulf International Marine

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Harvey Gulf International Marine

3/7/18

Texas-based offshore supply vessel operator qualified under the Jones Act has filed a prearranged bankruptcy with a deal in place with its lenders. The deal would give 97% of the reorganized equity and $350mm in take-back paper to the company's lenders, with management receiving the remaining 3% with warrants. 

What precipitated the bankruptcy? The company notes,

Beginning in 2014, as a result of severely depressed oil prices, exploration and production companies drastically cut the number of offshore exploration and drilling projects in the Gulf of Mexico, causing substantial drops in both vessel utilization and day rates. These cuts impacted the offshore supply boat and service sector by, among other things, contributing to a considerable vessel oversupply in the marketplace. Industry-wide oversupply granted substantial pricing power to exploration and production companies and deeply impacted all offshore supply boat and service market participants—including Harvey Gulf.

The only thing surprising out of this filing is that it took this long. 

  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of Texas
  • Capital Structure: $270mm RCF, $225mm '18 TLA, $875mm '20 TLB
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Vinson & Elkins LLP (Harry Perrin, Garrick Smith, David Meyer, Jessica Peet, Lauren Kanzer)
    • Restructuring Advisors: Postlethwaite & Netterville (Philip Gunn, Tuan Pham)
    • Investment Banker: Stephens Inc. (Lance Gurley, Joel Brown, Blake Woodall, Brad Neuneubel)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name for docket)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Private Equity Sponsor: The Jordan Company
    • Ad Hoc Group of Term Loan Lenders (ex-Black Diamond Capital Management)
      • Legal: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Damian S. Schaible, Angela M. Libby, Benjamin M. Schak) & (local) Haynes and Boone LLP (Charles A. Beckham, Jr., Kelli S. Norfleet, Kelsey Zottnick)
      • Financial Advisor: PJT Partners Inc. 

Updated 3/30/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - 4 West Holdings LLC

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4 West Holdings LLC

3/6/18 

Texas-based licensed operator or manager of 42 skilled nursing facilities in 7 states has filed a prearranged bankruptcy. The company blames "the performance of the current group of operating Facilities has been negatively impacted by industry headwinds, regulatory actions at certain Facilities, and an inefficient geographic footprint in certain regions in the United States" for its filing.

Similar to HCR Manorcare which filed for bankruptcy earlier this week, 4 West and its affiliates emanate out of a sale leaseback transaction with a publicly-traded REIT counterparty, Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. ($OHI). And, similarly, this business suffers from many of the same problems, 

Since 2015, the Debtors have faced significant liquidity constraints caused principally by: (a) unfavorable commercial agreements and certain liabilities assumed as part of Merger, including regulatory and personal liability claims; (b) historical losses at certain of the Debtors’ previously-operated facilities, (c) a decline in performance within the current portfolio for a variety of industry-wide developments; and (d) significant capital expenditure needs. Further, the Debtors also faced rent payment obligations to the Omega Parties under the Master Leases, which were significantly higher than their operating income could support.

Consequently, the debtor has entered into a restructuring support agreement with Omega that is predicated upon two parts: (i) a transaction whereby certain unprofitable facilities will transition to a designee of Omega and (ii) a transfer of the more successful facilities to the Plan Sponsor, SC-GA 2018 Partners LLC, which is injecting the company with $225mm of new liquidity by way of $195mm in cash and $30mm note. The Omega Parties will provide a $30mm DIP credit facility to fund the cases. 

  • Jurisdiction: N.D. of Texas (Judge Hale)

  • Capital Structure: $14.2mm funded RCF (Sterling National Bank), secured Master Leases (Omega), $15mm funded LOC (OHI Asset RO, LLC), $6.2mm secured note (New Ark Mezz Holdings, LLC), $1.1mm unsecured promissory note (SA Mezz Holdings, LLC)

  • Company Professionals:

    • Legal: DLA Piper (US) LLP (Thomas Califano, Daniel Simon, Dienna Corrado, Andrew Zollinger, David Avraham)

    • Financial Advisor: Crowe Horwath LLP

    • Restructuring Advisor/CRO: Ankura Consulting (Louis Robichaux, Ben Jones, Chris Hebard)

    • Investment Banker: Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (Andrew Turnbull, Ryan Sandahl, Angus Schaller, Adam Montague)

    • Independent Director: Drivetrain Advisors LLC (John Brecker)

    • Healthcare Ombudsman: Melanie Cyganowski

      • Legal: Otterbourg P.C. (Keith Costa)

    • Claims Agent: Rust Consulting/Omni Bankruptcy (*click on company name above for free docket access)

  • Other Parties in Interest:

    • DIP Lender: OHI Asset RO, LLC

      • Legal: Bryan Cave LLP (Keith M. Aurzada, Michael P. Cooley, Mark Duedall, Leah Fiorenza McNeill, David Unseth)

    • Plan Sponsor: SC-GA 2018 Partners, LLC

      • Legal: Nelligan LLP (Patrick Nelligan, James Muenker)

    • Sterling National Bank

      • Legal: King & Spalding LLP (Arthur Steinberg, Scott Davidson, Bradley Giordano, Edward Ripley)

    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (Pharmerica Corporation, Healthcare Services Group, Medline Industries, Alana Healthcare, Ominicare Inc., Joerns Healthcare LLC, Regional Ambulance

      • Legal: Pepper Hamilton LLP (Francis Lawall, Donald Detweiler, Joanna Cline) & (local) Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP (Louis Strubeck Jr., Ryan Manns, Elizabeth Boydston)

      • Financial Advisor: CohnReznick LLP (Clifford Zucker)

Updated 5/18/18

New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - The Walking Company Holdings Inc.

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The Walking Company Holdings Inc.

3/8/18 Recap: Another retailer - this time a repeat offender - will be walking into bankruptcy court (see what we did there?). Here, the California-based once-publicly-traded ($WALK) manufacturer of footwear like Birkenstock and ASICS has filed for bankruptcy with a plan on file and an equity sponsor in tow to the tune of $10mm. 

This is a story of staggered disruption. In the first instance, the company expanded via acquisition and grew from 2005-2008 to over 200 stores. To fund the expansion, the company issued $18.5mm of convertible notes and transferred the proceeds of the liquidation of its Big Dog entity to The Walking Company, the use of proceeds including the buildout of omni-channel distribution and vertical integration. But,

As a result of many factors including- among them, challenging negotiations with landlords which did not provide the Debtors with the rent relief they believe they needed, and the state of the national economy, by late 2008 TWC found that nearly 100 of the newer stores it opened during this expansion period were not generating the sales and profits expected.

Moreover, 

...by 2008, Big Dogs' business had collapsed more rapidly than the Debtors had anticipated. Big Dogs was in the business of selling moderately priced, casual apparel through a chain of specialty retail stores (Big Dogs stores) located around the country. The rapid growth of big-box, mass-market retailers during this period put great pricing pressure on retailers of moderately priced, casual apparel, putting many of them out of business.

Walmart ($WMT). Target ($TGT). Just say it broheims. Never understand the reluctance in these filings. Anyway, the upshot of all of this? Once the Great Recession hit, mall traffic fell off a cliff, revenue declines accelerated, landlords proved obstinate, and the company filed for bankruptcy in December 2009. 

In bankruptcy, the company reached accommodations with certain landlords and received a $10mm capital infusion from Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP. 

Subsequent to the bankruptcy, the company apparently thrived from 2013 through 2017. It had a better rent structure, it ceased expansion, and it focused on successful brands (e.g., ABEO) and the wholesaling and international licensing thereof. But then the realities of e-commerce struck. Per the company,

During this period, however, the increasing power of Internet retailers made traditional business of retail stores selling products manufactured by others increasingly difficult, and it also had an increasingly negative impact on customer traffic in shopping malls. 

Indeed, Deckers Outdoor Corporation ($DECK)(the manufacturer of UGG footwear) terminated its relationship with the company. The company couldn't replace those lost sales fast enough - through third party or private label sales - and the dominos started to fall. The company sought rent concessions and landlords, for the most part, told it to pound sand. Holiday sales declined. Appraisers reduced the valuation of inventory and, in turn, the company had diminished access to its bank credit line. Cue the Scarlet 22.

The company intends to use the bankruptcy to obtain "substantial rent relief by conforming their lease portfolio to market rents." Notably, two of the initial 5 leases that the company seeks to reject in the first instance are Simon Property Group locations in Dallas and Oklahoma City and one Taubman location. Other creditors appear to be your standard retail slate: Chinese manufacturers, trade vendors (ECCO, Rockport) and other landlords (General Growth Properties is a prominent one with locations listed as 9 of the top 30 creditors). 

The company otherwise has agreement with its large shareholders (including another $10mm equity infusion) and Wells Fargo to provide DIP and exit credit. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware 
  • Capital Structure: $40.3mm RCF & $7.25mm TL (Wells Fargo Bank NA), $11.74mm 8.375% '19 convertible notes    
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (Jeffrey N Pomerantz, Jeffrey W Dulberg, Victoria A Newmark, James E ONeill) 
    • Financial Advisor: Consensus Advisors LLC
    • Claims Agent: KCC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • DIP Agent, DIP Term Agent, Prepetition Senior Agent: Wells Fargo Bank NA
      • Legal: Choate Hall & Stewart LLP (Kevin Simard) & (local) Womble Bond Dickinston (Matthew Ward)
    • Prepetition Subordinated Noteholders (Simon Property Group, Galleria Mall Investors LP)
      • Legal: Irell & Manella LLP (Jeffrey Reisner)

New Chapter 11 Filing - HCR Manorcare Inc.

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HCR Manorcare

3/4/18 Recap: Ohio-based Carlyle-backed long-term care provider of 450 (i) skilled nursing and impatient rehab facilities, memory care facilities and assisted living facilities (the "Long-Term Care Business"), (ii) hospice and home health care agencies, and (iii) outpatient rehab clinics filed a prepackaged bankruptcy after months of back-and-forth with its REIT-parent and Master Lease counterparty, Quality Care Properties Inc. ($QCP). The bankruptcy will effectuate a transaction pursuant to which QCP will shed its REIT status and take on 100% of the stock in the reorganized HCR. 

Interestingly, retailers aren't the only businesses capitulating under the weight of their rent. Here, the revenues generated by the Long-Term Care Business weren't generating sufficient revenues to cover ordinary course operating expenses and monthly rent obligations to QCP. By way of illustration, 

"For the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, the Company had revenues of approximately $3.741 billion, 82% of which derived from the Long-Term Care Business, and reported a consolidated pre-tax loss from continuing operations of approximately $267.9 million. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had approximately $4.264 billion in total assets and approximately $7.118 billion in total liabilities, debt and financing obligations...."

Rough. In 2016, HCR paid approximately $442mm ($37mm a month) in minimum rent to QCP. In 2017, after extensive negotiations, the amount dipped to $290mm ($24mm a month). With amounts that staggering, no wonder the company struggled. 

The relationship between QCP and HCR emanates out of a 2011 sale-leaseback transaction. After said transaction, QCP became an independent publicly traded company. Significantly,

"At the time of the 2011 Transaction, the business environment in the post-acute/skilled nursing sector was favorable due to a number of factors, including an aging population, expected increases in aggregate skilled nursing expenditures, and supply constraints in the skilled nursing sector due to substantial barriers to entry. The parties negotiated the amount of rent payable under the MLSA against this background."

But, as we consistently point out here at PETITION, projections don't always pan out as planned. Indeed, after the consummation of the 2011 transaction, 

"...the operating environment for post-acute/skilled nursing facility operators has become significantly more challenging. Unfavorable trends for operators of skilled nursing facilities include (a) a shift away from a traditional fee-for-service model toward new managed-care models, which base reimbursement on patient outcome measures; (b) increased penetration of Medicare Advantage plans, which has reduced reimbursement rates, average length of stay and average daily census; (c) increased competition from alternative healthcare services such as home health agencies, life care at home, community-based service programs, senior housing, retirement communities and convalescent centers; and (d) reductions in reimbursement rates from government payors."

Obviously this is a bit of a problem when your have a month rent nut of $37mm. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware (Judge Gross)
  • Capital Structure: $400mm '18 9.5% TL debt (RD Credit LLC), $150mm '19 9.5% RCF, $445mm guaranty obligations under the Master Lease.
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Sidley & Austin LLP (Larry Nyhan, Dennis M. Twomey, William A. Evanoff, Allison Ross Stromberg, Matthew E. Linder) & (local) Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Robert S. Brady, Edmon L. Morton, Justin H. Rucki, Ian J. Bambrick, Tara Pakrouh)
    • Financial Advisor/CRO: AlixPartners LLC (John Castellano)
    • Investment Banker: Moelis & Co.
    • Independent Directors: Sherman Edmiston, Kevin Collins
    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest: TBD. 

Updated 3/5/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - Fallbrook Technologies Inc.

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Fallbrook Technologies Inc. 

2/26/18 Recap: Texas-based inventor of and patent-holder in the NuVinci Technology, a potential gear replacement technology, has filed for bankruptcy to implement a balance sheet restructuring. The company's "game changer" NuVinci Technology purportedly "changes the way mechanical power is transmitted to improve the performance and efficiency of transmission systems" and can be incorporated in bicycles, automotive accessory drives, electric vehicles, lawn care equipment and small wind turbines. 

In addition to commercializing its technology, the company deploys a licensing and royalties model. Unfortunately, however, the company's licensees aren't selling product with the NuVinci Technology thus far and, consequently, royalty revenue is non-existent. As such, "the Debtors’ revenue streams do not currently provide sufficient liquidity necessary to satisfy their debt and operating expense obligations." Not quite a game changer, yet, it seems. Due to this, the company fell short of financial covenants protecting its lenders. 

After an attempted but failed prepetition sale process, the company secured a DIP credit facility from Kayne Credit Opportunities Fund (QP) LLP in support of a prearranged bankruptcy agreed to with certain supporting noteholders for the purposes of deleveraging. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware (Judge Walrath)
  • Capital Structure: $49.6mm 12% '19 senior secured notes (inclusive of fees and PIK interest), $8.8mm secured bridge notes, $15.3mm '19 senior subordinated convertible notes     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Shearman & Sterling LLP (Ned Schodek, Jordan Wishnew) & (local) Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Pauline K. Morgan, Kenneth J. Enos, Jaime Luton Chapman, Betsy L. Feldman)
    • Financial Advisor/CRO: Ankura Consulting (Roy Messing)
    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • DIP Lender: Kayne Credit Opportunities Fund (QP) LLP
      • Legal: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Rachel Strickland, Paul Shalhoub, Richard Choi) & (local) Richards Layton & Finger PA (Mark Collins, Michael Merchant, Joseph Barsalona)
    • Licensee: Dana Holding Corporation
      • Legal: Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP (Alan Kornberg, Aaron David) & (local) Cozen O'Connor (Mark Felger)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Jet Midwest Group LLC

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2/26/18

Kansas City-based seller and lessor of commercial aircraft and engines has filed for bankruptcy. 

  • Jurisdiction: DofDelaware (Judge Carey)
  • Capital Structure: $17.5mm debt     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Polsinelli PC (Christopher Ward, Shanti Katona, Randye Soref)
    • Claims Agent: JND Corporate Restructuring (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors: None.
  • Secured Lender: Jet Midwest International Co., Ltd.
    • Legal: Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Eric Lopez Shnabel, Robert Mallard, Alessandra Glorioso, Richard Silberberg, Geoffrey Sant, Eric Epstein)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Firestar Diamond Inc.

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2/26/18

Company of billionaire Nirav Modi has filed for bankruptcy in the United States. He is currently in the midst of India's biggest-ever bank scam. Indian state-run Punjab National Bank uncovered fraudulent transactions in one its branches and notes that the fraudulent transactions could be around $2 billion. 

  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of New York
  • Capital Structure: $mm debt     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Klestadt Winters Jureller Southard LLP (Ian Winters, Sean Southard, Stephanie Sweeney)
    • Restructuring Advisor/CRO: Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC (Mark Samson)
    • Financial Advisor: Marks Paneth LLP (Howard Hoff) 
    • Claims Agent: Rust Consulting/Omni Bankruptcy (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Creditor: Israel Discount Bank of New York
      • Legal: Troutman Sanders LLP (Brett Goodman, Harris Winsberg, Matthew Brooks)
    • Creditor: Punjab National Bank
      • Legal: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (Sean O'Neal, James Bromley)
    • Creditor: J.C. Penney Corporation
      • Legal: Polsinelli PC (Christopher Ward, Jeremy Johnson) 

New Chapter 11 Filing - Fibrant LLC

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Fibrant LLC

  • 2/23/18 Recap: Disrupted by cheap Asian production. Here, the Georgia-based producer and supplier of chemical performance products and services filed for bankruptcy to (i) winddown its business and operations, including (without limitation) the decommissioning of the ammonium sulfate assets, (ii) administer the sale of, and shipping, the remaining ammonium sulfate inventory, (iii) continue the environmental remediation relating to the the company's historic business operations, and (iv) sell remaining assets. 
  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of Georgia
  • Capital Structure: €50,000,000 Senior Facilities Agreement by and among CAP I, CAP II, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen Boerenleenbank B.A., as Agent and Security Agent (“RaboBank”)
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: King & Spalding LLP (Paul Ferdinands, Jonathan W. Jordan, Sarah L. Primrose) & (local) Klosinski Overstreet LLP (James Overstreet)
    • Claims Agent: KCC (*click on company name above for free docket access)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Tops Holding II Corporation

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Tops Holding II Corporation

  • 2/21/18 Recap: When a company's "Overview" in its First Day Declaration basically leads with union metrics (12,300 unionized employees of 14,000 total employees) and collective bargaining agreement numbers (12 of them), you know there's gonna be a war with employees. The fact that the footprint is 169 stores-wide in three states almost seems like a footnote. As does the fact that the business started in the 1920s and seemingly thrived through 2007 when, naturally, private equity got involved and went on a debt-ridden acquisition spree. But hang on: we're getting ahead of our skis here. So, what happened here? Well, clearly, the company has to negotiate with its unions; it also seeks to deleverage its ballooning balance sheet and take care of some leases and supply agreements. The company has secured $265mm in DIP financing to fund the cases; it says that it "intend[s] to remain in chapter 11 for approximately six (6) months." We'll believe it when we see it. Anyway, WHY does it need to take all of these steps? Well, as we stated before: private equity, of course. "Despite the significant headwinds facing the grocery industry, over the past five years, the Company has experienced solid financial performance and has sustained stable market share. The vast majority of the Company’s supermarkets generate positive EBITDA and the Company generates strong operating cash flows. Transactions undertaken by previous private equity ownership, however, saddled the Company with an unsustainable amount of debt on its balance sheet. Specifically, the Company currently has approximately $715 million of prepetition funded indebtedness...." Ah, private equity = a better villain than even Amazon (though Amazon gets saddled with blame here too, for the record). But wait: don't forget about the pensions! "[T]he Company has been embroiled in a protracted and costly arbitration with the Teamsters Pension Fund concerning a withdrawal liability of in excess of $180 million allegedly arising from the Company’s acquisition of Debtor Erie Logistics LLC" from its biggest food supplier, C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., the 10th largest private company in the US. Moreover, the company has been making monthly pension payments; nevertheless, the pension is underfunded by approximately $393mm. The company continues, "Utilizing the tools available to it under the Bankruptcy Code, the Company will endeavor to resolve all issues relating to the Teamsters Arbitration and address its pension obligations, and the Company will take reasonable steps to do so on a consensual basis." Oy. What a hot mess. We can't even read that without ominous music seemingly popping up out of nowhere. More to come.

  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of New York

  • Capital Structure: $112mm RCF (inclusive of a $10mm FILO and $34mm LCs, Bank of America NA), $560mm 8% '22 senior secured notes, $67.5mm 9% '21 opco unsecured notes, $8.6mm 8.75%/9.5% '18 holdco unsecured notes

  • Company Professionals:

    • Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Ray Schrock, Stephen Karotkin, Sunny Singh)

    • Financial Advisor/CRO: FTI Consulting Inc. (Michael Buenzow, Armen Emrikian, Paul Griffith, Ronnie Bedway, Andy Kopfensteiner)

    • Investment Banker: Evercore (David Ying, Stephen Goldstein, Jeremy Matican, Elliot Ross, Jonathan Kartus, Andrew Kilbourne)

    • Real Estate Advisor: Hilco Real Estate LLC

    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)

  • Other Parties in Interest:

    • Prepetition ABL Agent & DIP ABL Agent: Bank of America NA

      • Legal Counsel: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (Julia Frost-Davies, Amelia Joiner, Matthew Ziegler)

    • Indenture Trustee for Senior Notes due 2018, notes due 2021 and Senior Secured Notes: U.S. Bank NA

      • Legal: Thompson Hine LLP (Irving Apar, Elizabeth Frayer, Derek Wright)

    • Ad Hoc Noteholder Group & DIP TL Lenders (Column Park Asset Management LP, Fidelity Management & Research Company, HG Vora Capital Management LLC, Signature Global Asset Management, Silver Point Capital LP)

      • Legal: Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP (Alan Kornberg, Diane Meyers, Lauren Shumejda)

      • Financial Advisor: Lazard Freres & Co. LLC

    • DIP TL Agent: Cortland Capital Markets Services LLC

      • Legal: Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP (Tyler Nurnberg, Alan Glantz)

    • Southpaw Asset Management LP

      • Legal: Cooley LLP (Jeffrey Cohen, Steven Siesser, Sheila Sadighi, Andrew Behlmann)

    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (PepsiCo, Inc., Valassis Direct Mail, Inc., Osterweis Strategic Income Fund, U.S. Bank N.A., the UFCW Local One Pension Fund, the Teamsters Local 264, and Benderson Development Company, LLC)

      • Legal: Morrison & Foerster LLP (Brett Miller, Dennis Jenkins, Jonathan Levine, Erica Richards)

      • Financial Advisor: Zolfo Cooper LLC

New Chapter 11 Filing - Apex Xpress, Inc.

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Apex Xpress, Inc.

2/16/18

Provider of copy equipment installation, flatbed services, white glove delivery services, warehousing and transportation services filed for bankruptcy. The company filed for bankruptcy on account of increased competition in its various service spaces and a protracted litigation over the company's proposed withdrawal from a multiemployer pension fund. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of New Jersey (Judge Meisel)
  • Capital Structure: $145,000 secured debt (Freedom Bank of New Jersey)     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr (Dipesh Patel, Sharon Levine, Melissa Martinez)
    • Financial Advisor: Argus Management Corporation (Joseph Baum, Steve Norowitz)
    • Claims Agent: JND Corporate Restructuring (*click on company name above for free docket access)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino LLC

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2/16/18

Recap: See here. 

  • Jurisdiction: D. of Nevada (Judge Nakagawa)
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Schwartz Flansburg PLLC (Bryan Lindsey, Samuel Schwartz)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Snow Covered Capital LLC
      • Legal: Snell & Wilmer (Bob Olson, Nathan Kanute)
    • EB-5 Investors
      • Legal: K&L Gates LLP (Philip Guess) & (local) Holland & Hart LLP (Lars Evensen)
    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
      • Legal: Levene Neale Bender Yoo & Brill LLP (Eve Karasik, John-Patrick Fritz) & (local) Armstrong Teasdale LLP (James Patrick Shea)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Fieldwood Energy LLC

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Fieldwood Energy LLC

  • 2/15/18 Recap: Riverstone Holdings (12% owned by Goldman Sachs) attempted to keep Fieldwood Energy LLC out of bankruptcy back in the beginning of the oil & gas collapse but, alas, it appears the capital structure was too hefty to manage in a continued depressed oil and gas market. Today, the company filed a prepackaged plan of reorganization to slice its debt virtually in half (from $3.26b to $1.6b), implement a $525mm rights offering (use of proceeds = purchase Noble Energy's Gulf of Mexico assets), and secure a $60mm DIP credit facility. Existing RBL lenders will be paid in cash in full; first lien lenders will receive a $1.14b FILO TL and cash; holders of the prepetition FILO facility will receive a share of $518mm second lien term loan and cash; and the second lien lenders and Riverstone will receive 20.25% of the new equity plus rights to purchase the remainder via the rights offering. Translation: Riverstone will still own a significant percentage of this company. More to come...
  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of Texas (Judge Jones)
  • Capital Structure: $3.26b debt     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Stephen Karotkin, Ray Schrock, Matthew Barr, Alfredo Perez, Jessica Liou, Daniel Gwen, Patrick Steel)
    • Financial Advisor: Opportune LLP
    • Investment Banker: Evercore Group LLC (David Ying)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Prepetition Reserves-Based Lending Facility Agent: Citibank NA
      • Legal: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Jennifer Hardy, Ana Alfonso, Debra McElligott)
    • Ad Hoc Group of First Lien Term Loan Lenders
      • Legal: O'Melveny & Myers LLP (George Davis, David Johnson, Evie Whiting and Daniel Shamah) & (local) Jackson Walker LLP (Patricia Tomasco, Matthew Cavenaugh, Kristhy Peguero, Jennifer Wertz)
    • Prepetition Agent of the Second Lien Term Loan Facility: Cortland Capital Market Services LLC
      • Legal: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Damian S. Schaible, Darren S. Klein, Natasha Tsiouris) & (local) Haynes and Boone LLP (Henry Flores, Kenric Kattner, Kourtney Lyda)
    • Noble Energy, Inc.
      • Legal: Bracewell LLP (William A. Wood III) 
    • Apache Corporation
      • Legal: Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP (Robin Russell)
    • PE Sponsor
      • Riverstone V FW Holdings Sub LLC
        • Legal: Vinson & Elkins LLP (David Meyer, Jessica Peet)

Updated 4/2/18 (case confirmed)