New Chapter 11 Filing - Ascent Resources Marcellus Holdings, LLC

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Ascent Resources Marcellus Holdings, LLC

  • 2/6/18 Recap: Oklahoman producer of oil and natural gas in the Marcellus Shale basis filed for bankruptcy to effectuate a prepackaged bankruptcy in agreement with its major creditors. We've seen this movie before. Business is capital intensive...yada yada yada...natural gas prices rolled over...yada yada yada...production volume dropped...yada yada yada...over-levered balance sheet....zzzzz. Basically, you know the drill. The prepackaged plan envisions the term lenders equitizing their debt so that the company can be leaner and meaner; it also leaves open the option for a sale, but no such sale was suitable prior to filing. 
  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware
  • Capital Structure: $750mm first lien credit facility (Cortland Capital Market Services LLC), $450mm second lien secured term loan facility (Cortland)  
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (Andrew G. Dietderich, Brian D. Glueckstein, Alexa J. Kranzley) & (local) Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Pauline K. Morgan, Joel A. Waite, Kara Hammond Coyle)
    • Financial Advisor: D.R. Payne & Associates, Inc.
    • Investment Banker: PJT Partners (Steven Zelin)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
    • Independent Co-Manager: Alan Carr
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • First Lien Credit Agent: Cortland Capital Market Services LLC
      • Legal: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
      • Financial Advisor: Moelis & Co. 
    • Second Lien Credit Agent: Cortland Capital Market Services LLC
  • Members of the New Board: Jeffrey A. Fisher, Jeffrey A. Ball, Steven J. Pully, Eugene I. Davis, Barry McMahan

Updated: Effective 3/30/18 (no UCC)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Global A&T Electronics Ltd.

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Global A&T Electronics Ltd. 

  • 12/17/17 Recap: Singapore-based provider of semiconductor assembly and test services for integrated circuits for use in analog, mixed-signal and logic, and memory products across the globe filed for prepackaged bankruptcy...finally. The company had skipped its $56mm interest payment and let its 30-day grace period expire; it has also been the subject of litigation after issuing new notes back in 2014 in exchange for junior debt. The company blames the litigation, an over-levered balance sheet, underspending on capex, and liquidity constraints for its need to reorganize. The company seeks to confirm the case in FOUR DAYS which may be a new record for a bankruptcy of this size. 
  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of New York (Judge Drain)
  • Capital Structure: $1.13b 10% '19 first lien notes ($625mm Initial Nots, $502mm Additional Notes)(Citicorp International Limited)
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Marc Kieselstein, Patrick Nash, Gregory Pesce, Michael Slade)
    • Financial Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal LLC (Robert Caruso)
    • Investment Banker: Moelis & Company LLC
    • Disinterested Director: Eugene Davis
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Ad Hoc Group of Initial Senior Secured Noteholders (GSO Capital Partners LP, IP All Seasons Asian Credit Fund, Brigade Capital Management LP, Southpaw Credit Opportunity Master Fund LP)
      • Legal: Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP (Dennis Dunne, Abhilash Raval, Brian Kinney, Michael Price)
      • Financial Advisor: PJT Partners LP
    • Ad Hoc Committee of Additional Senior Secured Noteholders (Taconic Capital Advisors LP, Marble Ridge Master Fund LP, KLS Diversified Asset Management)
      • Legal: Dechert LLP (Michael Sage, Brian Greer, Janet Doherty)
    • Ad Hoc Committee of Additional Senior Secured Noteholders
      • Legal: Ropes & Gray LLP (Gregg Galardi, Stephen Moeller-Sally, Daniel Anderson)
    • TPG
      • Legal: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (James Bromley, Benjamin Beller)

New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - Walter Investment Management Corp.

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Walter Investment Management Corp. 

  • 11/30/17 Recap: Mortgage banking firm focused primarily on the servicing and origination of loans, including forward and reverse loans, has filed a much-anticipated prepackaged bankruptcy with the intention of shedding nearly $800mm of debt from its balance sheet. The company originates "conventional conforming loans eligible for securitization by government-sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or eligible for guarantees by government agencies, such as Ginnie Mae MBSs." If that was painful reading, imagine how the lawyers felt drafting that. Even more painful is understanding that this bankruptcy is directly attributable to decisions the company made in the aftermath of the financial crisis. From 2010 through 2015, the company went on a debt-ridden acquisition spree (including once bankrupt Residential Capital LLC) which just goes to show that, while one's crisis is another's opportunity, one's crisis could be one's crisis. With this deleveraging transaction, the company hopes to be more competitive in the market going forward.

  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of New York (Judge Garrity)

  • Capital Structure: $100mm '18 RCF, $1.4b '20 TL (Credit Suisse AG), $540mm 7.875% '21 senior unsecured notes (Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB), $242mm '19 senior subordinated convertible notes (Wells Fargo Bank NA)(public equity: $WAC)

  • Company Professionals:

    • Legal: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP (Ray Schrock, Matthew Barr, Sunny Singh)

    • Financial Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal North America LLC (David Coles)

    • Investment Banker: Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (Reid Snellenbarger, Jeffrey Levine, Jeffrey Lewis, James Page, Daniel Martin, Derek Kuns)

    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on case name above for free docket access)

  • Other Parties in Interest:

    • Administrative Agent: Credit Suisse AG

      • Legal: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Brian Resnick, Michelle McGreal)

    • Consenting Term Lenders (Carlson Capital LP, TAO Fund LLC, Credit Suisse Asset Management LLC, Marathon Asset Management LP, Nuveen, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Eaton Vance Management)

      • Legal: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Patrick Nash, Gregory Pesce)

      • Financial Advisor: FTI Consulting Inc.

    • Consenting Senior Noteholders (Canyon Capital Advisors LLC, CQS UK LLP, Deer Park Road Management Company LP, Lion Point Capital LP, Oaktree Capital Management LP, Omega Advisors Inc.)

      • Legal: Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP (Dennis Dunne, Gregory Bray, Haig Maghakian, Rachel Franzoia)

      • Financial Advisor: Moelis & Co.

    • Prepetition Indenture Trustee: Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB

      • Legal: Pryor Cashman LLP (Patrick Sibley, Seth Lieverman, Matthew Silverman)

    • Prepetition Convertible Notes Indenture Trustee: Wells Fargo Bank NA

      • Legal: Thompson Hine LLP (Curtis Tuggle)

    • Administrative Agent for DIP Warehouse Facilities: Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC

      • Legal: Alston & Bird LLP (Gerard Catalanello, Karen Gelernt, James Vincequerra)

    • Fannie Mae

      • Legal: O'Melveny & Myers LLP (Darren Patrick, Steve Warren, Jennifer Taylor)

    • Freddie Mac

      • Legal: McKool Smith (Paul Moak, Kyle Lonergan)

First Day Declaration

First Day Declaration

Updated 11/30/17 10:05 CT

New Chapter 11 Filing - Pacific Drilling S.A.

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Pacific Drilling S.A.

  • 11/12/17 Recap: Another offshore driller finds its way into bankruptcy and, boy!, does its filing attempt to paint one rosy optimistic picture of its particular "competitive strength[]" in the offshore drilling space. But, first, let's take a step back: here, Pacific Drilling ($PACDF), an offshore drilling company formed in 2011 under Luxembourg law, filed bankruptcy in the Southern District of New York after over a year - and we mean YEAR - of speculation that this would end up where it now is. After all, when oil prices are where they are and you provide global ultra-deepwater drilling and complex well construction services to the oil and natural gas industry with high-specification drillships generally stationed in the Gulf of Mexico, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, well, we'd venture an educated guess that the math simply ain't gonna add up. Certainly not at "day rates" averaging an estimated $155k. And so the company has three drillships contracted currently: two on short term agreements and, luckily, one at a well-above market contractual dayrate through September 2019. The others sit "smart-stacked." Choice quote, "My view in light of over 20 years in the industry is that recovery in the market for drilling contracts is a question of “when” not “if”. Pacific Drilling continues to have advantages over competitors with older fleets, as high-specification drilling units are generally better suited to meet the requirements of customers for drilling in deepwater, complex geological formations with challenging well profiles or remote locations. Furthermore, the uniformity and mobility of the Company’s fleet allow a Smart Stacking strategy that will continue to yield cost savings and flexibility if the downturn is prolonged." Clearly those advantages weren't so clear as to form consensus around the negotiating table with the various parties in interest as there is no restructuring support agreement in place here. Nothing like a good old-fashioned free fall into bankruptcy court, an increasingly-rare occurrence these days. 
  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of New York
  • Capital Structure: $3.188b total debt. Ship Group A Debt: $475mm RCF (Citibank NA), $750mm '20 5.375% Notes (Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas), $718mm Term Loan B Credit Facility (Citibank NA). Ship Group B Debt (SSCF): $492.5mm 3.75% commercial tranche and $492.5mm (Wilmington Trust NA), combined post-amort equaliing $661.5mm outstanding. Ship Group C Debt: $438.4mm '17 7.25% senior secured notes (Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas)
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (Andrew Dietderich, Brian Glueckstein, John Hardiman, Noam Weiss) & Togut Segal & Segal LLP (Albert Togut, Frank Oswald, Scott Ratner)
    • Financial Advisor: Evercore Partners International LLP 
    • Investment Banker: AlixPartners LLP (James Mesterharm)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • RCF Agent: Citibank NA
      • Legal: Shearman & Sterling LLP (Fredric Sosnick)
      • Financial Advisor: PJT Partners LP
    • Ad Hoc Group of RCF Lenders
      • Legal: White & Case LLP
    • SSCF Agent: Wilmington Trust NA
      • Legal: Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP (Dennis Dunne, Tyson Lomazow, Matthew Brod)
      • Financial Advisor: Moelis & Company LLC
    • Ad Hoc Group of Ship Group C Debt, 2020 Notes and Term Loan B
      • Legal: Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP (Andrew Rosenberg, Elizabeth McColm, Christopher Hopkins)
      • Financial Advisor: Houlihan Lokey
    • 2017 and 2020 Notes Indenture Trustee(s): Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
      • Legal: Moses & Singer LLP
    • Large Equityholder: Quantum Pacific (Gibraltar) Limited
      • egal: Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP (Jay Goffman, George Howard)

Updated 11/15/17 at 5:09 pm CT

New Chapter 11 Filing - True Religion Apparel Inc.

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True Religion Apparel Inc.

  • 7/5/17 Recap: Another private equity backed retailer files for bankruptcy. Here, the "brand that is globally recognized for innovative, trendsetting denim jeans and apparel" has a fast-tracked prepackaged deal with its lenders and private equity sponsor to shed approximately 72% of its debt and continue its operational restructuring (read: more store closures). The Manhattan Beach California 128-store retailer (down after closing 30 stores worldwide) blamed a (i) "a macro consumer shift away from brick-and-mortar to online retail channels," (ii) a decline in the premium denim market segment in the fashion industry and corresponding rise of athleisure, (iii) fast fashion, (iv) the rise in competitive discounting to make up for lost foot traffic and sales, and (v) an over-levered balance sheet. We believe that the decline is primarily attributable to cheesy AF bedazzled and bejeweled jeans with heinous a$$-designs and stitching that no one other than the cast of the Jersey Shore would want to be caught dead in. Its initial claim-to-fame is its "iconic and trademarked" horsesh*t symbol...we mean, "iconic and trademarked horseshoe symbol." Seriously, how is True Religion ONLY #15 on this list of "50 Men's Fashion Trends That Never Should Have Happened"? We're truly asking. Anyway, the de-levered and operationally stream-lined company hopes to restructure around a business plan predicated upon a global e-commerce expansion, increased licensing, deployment of pop-up outlet stores, an expansion of its "Last Stitch" line, and other shenanigans in an attempt to keep this ugly brand from filing for Chapter 22 after the holiday season. On an aside, the pop-up strategy is interesting: the company notes that the outlet concept has been profitable, primarily because they are based on short-term 18-month-or-less leases with "little downside" for the company. Yikes, landlords. The company further noted that the conversion of True Religion locations to "Last Stitch" branded locations has been successful. Curious. Doesn't this signal that the True Religion brand is, uh, kinda worth f*ck all and the company's success is dependent upon shying away from it? Hmmm. 
  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware (Sontchi)
  • Capital Structure: $60mm ABL (Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch), $400mm first lien TL (Delaware Trust Company, as successor to Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch), $85mm second lien TL (Wilmington Trust National Association, as successor to Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch)
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (Laura Davis Jones, David Bertenthal, James O'Neill)
    • Financial Advisor: Maeva Group LLC (Harry Wilson)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Sponsor: Towerbrook Capital Partners LP
      • Legal: Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz LLP (Joshua Feltman, Emil Kleinhaus) & (local) Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP (Derek Abbott, Daniel Butz)
    • Ad Hoc Group of Lenders (Apex Credit Partners LLC, Farmstead Capital Management LLC, Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP, Investcorp Credit Management US LLP, Palmer Square Capital Management LLC, Southpaw Asset Management LP, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company and Ivy Investment Management Company, 
      • Legal: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Arik Preis, Allison Miller, Jason Rubin, Yochun Katie Lee) & (local) Ashby & Geddes PA (Karen Skomorucha Owens, Stacy Newman)
      • Financial Advisor: Moelis & Company LLP
      • DIP Lender: Citizens Bank NA 
        • Legal: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (Robert A.J. Barry, Julia Frost-Davies, Christopher Carter) & (local) Reed Smith LLP (Kurt Gwynne, Emily Devan)
      • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
        • Legal: Cooley LLP (Jay Indyke, Cathy Hershcopf, Seth Van Aalten, Max Schlan, Lauren Reichardt) & (local) Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP (Michael Yurkewicz, Sally Veghte)
        • Financial Advisor: Province Inc. (Peter Kravitz)

Updated 8/8/17

New (Chapter 22) Filing - American Apparel Inc.

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American Apparel Inc.

  • 11/14/16 Recap: Large US-based apparel manufacturer and retailer with 193 total stores files for bankruptcy - months, uh, after emerging from bankruptcy. Company filed with a $30mm DIP proposal from Encina Business Credit LLC. Plan is to sell (for parts) expeditiously to Gilden Activewear SRL for $66mm (IP, remaining wholesale inventory and wholesale POs during restructuring).  
  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware
  • Capital Structure: $215mm of funded debt ($90mm DIP-rolled-into-TL-exit + $82mm of additional financing) & $15mm unsecured UK facility (Standard General)    
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Jones Day LLP (Carl Black, Scott Greenberg, Michael J. Cohen, Erin Brady, Stacey Corr-Irvine, Genna Ghaul, Christpher Lovrien) & (local) Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (Laura Davis Jones, James O'Neill, Joseph Mulvihill)
    • Financial Advisor: Berkeley Research Group LLC (Mark Weinsten, Joseph D'Ascoli) & FTI Consulting (Andrew Hinkelman, Chuck Goad, Adam Saltzman, Frank Marshall, William Breashears, Zach Contreras)
    • Claims Consultants: Resources Global Professionals (Thora Thoroddsen, Evelyne Anglade, Scott Ashcraft, Luis Barreda, Sharon Dannewitz, Yolanda Hoelscher, Rodney Teruya)
    • Investment Banker: Houlihan Lokey (Saul Burian, Devin Shanahan, Sanaz Memarsadeghi, Ethan Kopp, Alexander Stolarz, Varun Desai)
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk (*click on company name for docket)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • DIP Lender: Encina Business Credit LLC
      • Legal: Riemer & Braunstein LLP (Steven Fox, Donald Rothman, Lon Singer, Alexander Rheaume) & (local) Ashby & Geddes PA (Gregory Taylor)
    • Agent to Prepetition Secured Lenders: Wilmington Trust
      • Legal: Covington & Burling LLP (R. Alexander Clark, Dianne Coffino) & Pepper Hamilton LLP (David Fournier)
    • Buyer: Gilden Activewear SRL
      • Legal: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (Michael Torkin, Brian Hamilton, Miaoting Wu) & (local) Womble Carlyle (Matthew Ward)
    • Lead Lenders & Equityholders: Monarch Alternative Capital LP, Coliseum Capital Management LLC, Goldman Sachs Asset Management LP, Pentwater Capital Management LP, Standard General. 
      • Legal (except Standard General): Milbank Tweed (Gerard Uzzi, Eric Stodola) & (local) Fox Rothschild (Jeffrey Schlerf, L. John Bird)
      • Legal (Standard General): Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (Natasha Labovitz, Shannon Rose Selden, Craig Bruens, Erica Weisgerber) & (local) Young Conaway (Edmon Morton, Joseph Barry)
    • Largest Unsecured Creditors: Standard General, FTI Consulting, Moelis, Garden City Group
    • Unsecured Creditors' Committee:
      • Legal: Cooley LLP (Cathy Hershcopf, Seth Van Aalten, Robert Winning, Sarah Carnes, Michael Klein, Max Schlan) & (local) Bayard PA (Justin Alberto, Evan Miller, Gregory Flasser)
      • Financial Advisor: Emerald Capital Advisors (John Madden, Ryan O'Sullivan, Lawrence Jacobs, Christopher Moffatt, Jack Allen, Christopher Saitta, Daniel Pace, Ryan Feulner)

Updated 3/30/17

New Filing - Basic Energy Services Inc.

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Basic Energy Services Inc.

  • 10/24/16 Recap: Publicly-traded E&P servicer files prepackaged chapter 11 cases to equitize $824.6mm of unsecured debt and bolster liquidity via $125mm rights offering.  
  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware
  • Capital Structure: $100mm '19 ABL, $165mm '21 13.5% TL, $475mm '19 7.75% senior notes, $300m '22 7.75% senior notes. 
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Weil (Ray Schrock, Ronit Berkovich, Jessica Liou, Arkady Goldinstein, David Zubkis, Elizabeth Kagedan, Alexander Welch) & (local) Richards Layton (Daniel DeFranceschi, Michael Merchant, Brendan Schlauch, David Queroli, Zachary Shapiro)
    • Financial Advisor: AlixPartners (David Johnston, Charles Braley, Brian Huffman)
    • Investment Banker: Moelis & Co. (Adam Keil)
    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name for docket)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • ABL Admin Agent: Bank of America
      • Legal: Vinson & Elkins (Paul E. Heath) & (local) Morris Nichols (Robert Dehney, Eric Schwartz, Marcy McLaughlin)
    • Term & DIP Lenders (Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking, Riverstone Holdings LLC)
      • Legal: Davis Polk (Marshall Heubner, Darren Klein, Adam Shpeen) & (local) Potter Anderson LLP (Jeremy Ryan, R. Stephen McNeill)
      • Investment Banker: PJT Partners Inc.
    • Unsecured Bondholders:
      • Legal: Fried Frank (Brad Scheler, Peter Siroka, Carl Stapen) & (local) Blank Rome LLP (Michael DeBaecke)
      • Investment Banker: GLC Advisors
    • Agent to Postpetition Lenders: US Bank
      • Legal: Lowenstein Sandler LLP (Jeffrey Prol, Nicholas Vislocky, Theodore Sica)
    • Bank of America Leasing & Capital LLC
      • Legal: Norton Rose & Fulbright (Kristian Gluck, Greg Wilkes) & (local) Womble Carlyle (Kevin Mangan)
    • Creditors (Ascribe Capital, Atlas Enhanced Master Fund, Broad Street Energy Advisors, Blackgold Capital Management, Brigade Capital Management, Covalent Partners, Susquehanna Advisors Group Inc., Phoenix Investment Advisor LLC, Silver Point Capital LP, Whitebox Advisors LLC)

Updated 12/30/16

New Chapter 15 Filing - Tervita Corporation

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Tervita Corporation