Prepackaged bankruptcy agreement to significantly reduce long-term debt
Business is expected to continue as usual, including service to customers, payments to vendors and payment of employee wages and benefits
LANCASTER, Ohio, April 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EveryWare Global, Inc. (Nasdaq:EVRY) announced that it has reached an agreement with its secured lenders on a comprehensive balance-sheet restructuring that, among other things, will substantially reduce the Company's long-term debt.
The prepackaged bankruptcy plan is expected to allow the Company to operate its business in the ordinary course throughout the restructuring. The Company also believes this plan will minimize the time and expense spent in restructuring and will provide for sufficient liquidity during the restructuring.
Importantly, the restructuring plan will create a sustainable capital structure that will ensure that the Company is well positioned to invest in the business and pursue future growth opportunities.
"We are pleased to have the support of our lenders to move forward with a restructuring plan that addresses our balance sheet to secure a bright future for our company," said Sam Solomon, President and CEO of EveryWare Global. "We have made considerable progress improving our day-to-day operations and this restructuring plan strengthens the Company's balance sheet for long-term success. We are confident that this plan is in the best interest of our customers, vendors, employees and our business partners."
To implement the restructuring, the Company expects to file voluntary petitions for a prepackaged chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Overview of Proposal
On March 31, 2015, EveryWare Global and its lenders executed a restructuring support agreement specifying the details of a restructuring support agreement that sets forth the material terms of the Chapter 11 restructuring and of a debtor-in-possession facility to provide liquidity during the restructuring. Given the typical speed of a "prepackaged" plan of reorganization, the Company expects to emerge from bankruptcy within 60-75 days.
The plan for reorganization contemplates that after emergence from bankruptcy, the secured lenders will become the owners of 96% of EveryWare Global's common stock and that EveryWare Global will cease to be a publicly traded company.
About EveryWare Global:
EveryWare (Nasdaq:EVRY) is a leading global marketer of tabletop and food preparation products for the consumer and foodservice markets, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Asia. Its global platform allows it to market and distribute internationally its total portfolio of products, including bakeware, beverageware, serveware, storageware, flatware, dinnerware, crystal, buffetware and hollowware; premium spirit bottles; cookware; gadgets; candle and floral glass containers; and other kitchen products, all under a broad collection of widely-recognized brands. Driven by devotion to design, EveryWare is recognized for providing quality tabletop and kitchen solutions through its consumer, foodservice, specialty and international channels. EveryWare was formed through the merger of Anchor Hocking, LLC and Oneida Ltd. in March of 2012. Additional information can be found at www.everywareglobal.com, www.oneida.com, and www.foodservice.oneida.com.
Forward-looking statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact regarding industry outlook, financial covenant compliance, anticipated effects of acquisitions, production of new products, plans for capital expenditures, and the Company's results of operations or financial position and liquidity, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Investors are warned that actual results may differ from management's expectations. Additionally, various economic and competitive factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, such risks relating to (i) the conclusion that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern based on current forecasts, the assumptions underlying those forecasts and the impact that positive or negative changes in the operational and other matters assumed in preparing the forecasts would have on our ability to continue as a going concern; (ii) whether the transactions contemplated by the RSA will be finalized on the terms contemplated in the RSA so as to permit access by the Company to funds contemplated in the proposed DIP Financing; (iii) loss of customers; (iv) general economic or business conditions affecting the markets we serve; (v) our ability to attract and retain key managers; (vii) risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries and currencies; (viii) increased competition in our markets; (ix) the impact of changes in governmental regulations on our customers or on our business; (x) the loss of business from a major customer; and (xi) our ability to obtain future financing due to changes in the lending markets or our financial position. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements.