Memphis / TN. (prn) Perkins + Marie Callender´s Inc. (PMCI), a leading operator of family-dining and casual-dining restaurants, announced that the Company has successfully completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved the Company´s plan of reorganization on October 31, 2011.
Private investment funds managed by Wayzata Investment Partners LLC are the majority stockholders of Perkins + Marie Callender´s Holding LLC, which is now the parent company of the Perkins + Marie Callender´s group of companies. Joseph F. Trungale, who served as chief executive officer of the Company and as a member of the board of directors from 2005 to 2011, will continue to serve as chief executive officer of the Company and chairman of the new board of managers.
«Our financial restructuring has significantly improved the Company´s balance sheet, eliminating over 200 million USD in debt, and optimized its operational structure. Perkins will emerge from this process a leaner and stronger Company», said Trungale, the chief executive officer of the Company. «We are now better positioned than ever before to continue as a leading force in the family-dining and casual-dining restaurant industry and to continue to provide our customers with a first rate dining experience».
In addition to Trungale, the board will include Patrick J. Halloran, Wayzata´s managing partner; Joseph M. Deignan, a Wayzata partner; James K. Beltz, a member of the Wayzata investment team; Michael T.P. Sweeney, a shareholder and partner at Goldner Hawn Johnson + Morrison Inc.; and Karlin A. Linhardt, an industry marketing and business executive.
«I look forward to working closely with the Company´s new board of managers to develop a strategic plan that will allow the Company to continue offering customers a high-quality family and casual dining experience and to complete the operational turnaround that began earlier this year», said Trungale. «I would also thank our previous board and all of our vendors, suppliers, customers and employees for enabling us to complete our restructuring process on a timely basis and emerge as a stronger Company».
Perkins + Marie Callender´s Inc. and eleven of its subsidiaries and affiliates filed for Chapter 11 protection on June 13, 2011, to improve the Company´s balance sheet and operational performance.
