ascena retail group Reaches Comprehensive Restructuring Agreement to Strengthen Financial Position
Restructuring Support Agreement Supported by Over 68% of Secured Term Lenders; Files Voluntary Chapter 11 Petitions to Implement Financial Restructuring Plan
COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupted Meaningful Progress Underway to Optimize Balance Sheet and Accelerated Need for Proactive, Strategic Step Forward to Protect the Business for All Stakeholders
Talented Leadership Team Established Over the Past Year Remains Focused on
Driving Sustainable Growth and Profitability
Secures
Throughout the restructuring process, the Company’s brands, including
“The meaningful progress we have made driving sustainable growth, improving our operating margins and strengthening our financial foundation has been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we took a strategic step forward today to protect the future of the business for all of our stakeholders,” said
Optimization of Brand Portfolio and Store Fleet
As part of the balance sheet restructuring contemplated by the RSA, the Company will optimize its brand portfolio and strategically reduce its footprint with the closing of a significant number of Justice stores and a select number of
In addition, ascena has entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with City Chic Collective Limited (“City Chic”) to sell the Catherines intellectual property assets and to transition its e-commerce business to a subsidiary of City Chic. The Company intends to conduct the sale process pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Accordingly, City Chic will serve as the “stalking horse bidder” in a court-supervised auction process and the Purchase Agreement is subject to higher and better offers, among other conditions.
The Company will continue to operate its
Financing and Ongoing Operations
ascena has received commitments for
The Company has filed various customary motions with the Court seeking several types of relief to allow ascena to meet necessary obligations and fulfill its duties during the restructuring process, including authority to continue payment of employee wages and benefits, honor certain customer and vendor commitments and otherwise manage its day-to-day operations as usual.
Additional Information
Additional resources for customers and other stakeholders, and other information on ascena’s financial restructuring, can be accessed by visiting the Company’s restructuring website at https://www.ascenaretail.com/restructuring/. Court filings and other documents related to the Chapter 11 process are available at http://cases.primeclerk.com/ascena, by calling the Company’s claims agent, Prime Clerk, toll-free at (877) 930-4319 (toll free) or (347) 899-4594 (international) or sending an email to ascenainfo@primeclerk.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made within this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements are statements related to future, not past, events, and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "preliminary," or "range," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based only on the Company’s current assumptions and views of future events and financial performance. They are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from planned or expected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks attendant to the bankruptcy process, including the Company’s ability to obtain approval from the Court with respect to motions or other requests made to the Court throughout the course of the Chapter 11 petitions (the “Chapter 11 Cases”), including with respect to any proposed debtor-in-possession financing; the ability of the Company to negotiate, develop, confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases, including increased legal and other professional costs necessary to execute the Company’s reorganization, on the Company’s liquidity (including the availability of operating capital during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases), results of operations or business prospects; the length of time that the Company will operate under Chapter 11 protection; risks associated with third-party motions in the Chapter 11 Cases; conditions to which any debtor-in-possession financing is subject and the risk that these conditions may not be satisfied for various reasons, including for reasons outside the Company’s control; more stringent or costly payment terms and/or the decision by a significant number of vendors not to sell the Company merchandise on a timely basis or at all; the Company’s ability to attract, motivate and retain key executives and other personnel; risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (including any resurgence) and actions we have taken in response thereto; general economic conditions that adversely impact consumer spending; disruptions at ports used to import the Company’s products; increases in the price of raw materials, labor or energy and transportation costs; the Company’s ability to anticipate and respond to changing fashion trends and customer preferences in a timely manner; the Company’s ability to maintain its brand image; the impact of cost reduction initiatives; the Company’s ability to successfully achieve its business strategies; and changes in
About ascena retail group, inc.
For more information about ascena retail group, inc. visit: ascenaretail.com, AnnTaylor.com, factory.anntaylor.com, LOFT.com, outlet.loft.com, louandgrey.com, lanebryant.com, Catherines.com, and shopjustice.com.
CONTACT | |
For investors: | For media: |
ascena retail group, inc. | |
Managing Director | Corporate Communications |
(646) 277-1214 | (212) 541-3418 |
Jean.Fontana@icrinc.com | Shawn_buchanan@ascenaretail.com |
OR | |
212-355-4449 |