Pace Industries Reaches Agreement to Strengthen Its Balance Sheet, Announcing Plan to Position the Business to Realize the Full Benefit of Its Operational Improvements Following COVID-19
Expects to Deleverage Balance Sheet, Creating Sustainable Capital Structure
Initiates Voluntary, Prepackaged Chapter 11 Process to Achieve Its Financial Goals
Anticipates Completing the Process in Q2 2020, Paying All Unsecured Creditors in Full
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., April 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Pace Industries, LLC (“the Company”) today announced that it has reached an agreement with its senior secured lenders on the terms of a comprehensive financial restructuring plan, which will deleverage the Company’s balance sheet. This agreement has support from 100% of the holders of its senior secured notes as well as its revolving credit facility lenders.
Upon implementation, this agreement will give the Company the financial foundation necessary to resume normal-course operations following the COVID-19 outbreak, realize the full benefit of its cost-savings initiatives and strategic investments recently executed, and continue to serve its customers as a leading fully-integrated provider of die cast aluminum, magnesium and zinc components.
To effectuate the plan and facilitate these important changes to the Company’s capital structure, the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries have initiated a voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 process in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
The Company’s operations in Mexico are unaffected by the filings, although they will benefit long-term from the actions the parent company is taking to strengthen its financial position.
The Company’s senior secured noteholders, along with its existing revolving credit lenders, will provide commitments for up to $175 million in debtor-in-possession financing to help ensure that the Company can meet its commitments during the process. Under the terms of the proposed prepackaged plan, the Company will convert its existing senior secured notes into 100% of the equity in the reorganized Company. As a result of its noteholder and lender support, the Company expects to complete the process in the second quarter of 2020 – emerging as a financially stronger company that is well-positioned to succeed in the post-COVID-19 environment.
“Over the past two years, we launched significant new programs for the automotive industry to further penetrate this important growth market and implemented a series of cost-saving initiatives to position our business for long-term success,” said Scott Bull, Chief Executive Officer. “Unfortunately, we were not able to realize the full benefits of these new programs and initiatives before the coronavirus weakened demand, disrupted our supply chain and forced us to temporarily close many of our plants in the United States.”
“We are confident in our go-forward direction and the underlying strength of our business and are taking these actions now to ensure we are positioned to realize our full potential when we – and our customers – are able to resume normal-course operations,” Mr. Bull continued. “We thank our lenders, employees, customers and suppliers for their support and look forward to being an even stronger partner as a result of the actions we’re taking to enhance our financial position.”
The Company has filed customary motions that will allow it to maintain employee wage and benefit programs, honor customer warranties as usual and continue to pay suppliers. Although the motions remain subject to Court approval, the Company expects that all trade creditors, employees, sales agents and unsecured creditors will be paid in full and on time in the normal course of business. Additionally, the Company will maintain all of its current standards for safety, quality and corporate citizenship both during and after the Chapter 11 process.
Further information about the case can be found at https://www.kccllc.net/pace or by calling (866) 967-0269 (in the U.S. and Canada) or (310) 751-2669 (outside the U.S. and Canada). Implementation of the restructuring plan and other relief is subject to Court approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Pace Industries is represented by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP. FTI Consulting is serving as financial advisor. The senior secured noteholders are represented by Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP and the revolving credit facility lenders are represented by McGuireWoods LLP and Conway MacKenzie.
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About Pace Industries, LLC
Pace is North America’s leading full-service aluminum, zinc and magnesium die casting company. Pace offers end-to-end, nonferrous, die cast supply chain solutions, and a wide array of capabilities and services, including advanced engineering, tool and die fabrication, prototyping, precision machining, assembly, finishing and painting. Headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Pace operates the largest number and broadest range of clamping force die-casting machines in North America, which has positioned Pace uniquely to offer die-cast products for practically any customer requirement. Indeed, Pace is the only vertically integrated major die casting supplier in North America providing customers one-stop-shop services on a mass scale. For more information, visit paceind.com.
This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute a solicitation to accept or reject the Prepackaged Plan or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any offer or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
Media Contact:
John Wisdom
+1 (479) 973-2164