Memphis / TN. (prn) Perkins + Marie Callender´s Inc. (PMCI) announced that it has entered into a restructuring support agreement with holders of 100 percent of the Company´s 14 percent Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and more than 80 percent of the Company´s ten percent Senior Notes due 2013 pursuant to which the Company has agreed to implement a financial and operational restructuring that will rationalize the Company´s store footprint and result in a restructured balance sheet that will position the Company for long-term financial success.
As contemplated by the Restructuring Support Agreement, the Company has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in order to implement the agreed-upon terms of the financial restructuring. Pursuant to the restructuring, the holders of the Company´s Senior Secured Notes have agreed to certain amendments to the notes including a two year maturity extension. The Company´s unsecured creditors will convert their claims into 100 percent of the equity of the newly reorganized Company. The Restructuring Support Agreement requires the Company to file a plan of reorganization by no later than July 14, 2011 and to complete the restructuring by no later than October 21, 2011. Upon completion of the restructuring, the Company will be majority controlled by private investment funds managed by Wayzata Investment Partners LLC, a Minnesota-based private equity firm.
Concurrently with its chapter 11 filing, the Company has entered into an agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance to provide the Company with a 21 million USD debtor-inpossession financing facility. The Company will use its cash-on-hand and the debtor-inpossession financing to maintain business-as-usual during the restructuring process. The Company believes its current and anticipated cash resources will be suitable to pay its expenses and maintain its business operations during the restructuring. Vendors and suppliers should see no change in normal business operations.
«The agreement reached with our noteholders will allow the Company to restructure its balance sheet on an expedited basis, strengthen its restaurant operations, and ensure the long-term viability of the Company. Our restaurant operations will not be impacted by the restructuring and our customers will continue to receive the highest quality products and dining experience they have come to expect from our restaurants», said Jay Trungale, chief executive officer of Perkins. «We greatly appreciate and recognize the support of our employees, customers, vendors and strategic partners whose support is vital to our success».
As part of its restructuring plan, the Company also announced the closing of 58 Perkins and Marie Callender´s restaurants. Trungale explained that «this initial round of store closings was arrived at following store level analyses of historical financial performance, local market conditions, and cost structure. The process to identify under-performing locations remains ongoing and will continue throughout the chapter 11 case». The Company emphasized that the closings were necessary to put the Company on stronger financial footing and ensure the overall profitability of its restaurant portfolio.
The Company operates two family-dining restaurant chains, Perkins Restaurant + Bakery and Marie Callender´s Restaurant + Bakery. The Company has stated that the continuing weak economy has hurt its business, noting that the recession and the decline of housing prices hit hardest in markets where the Company´s restaurants are most concentrated: Florida, California and Nevada. The Perkins and Marie Callender´s restaurants operate as separate brands. Perkins, concentrated in midwestern and southeastern states, has 133 company-owned and 315 franchised restaurants. Marie Callender´s, located in California and the southwest, operates 52 company and 37 franchised restaurants.
