Restructuring
Update
Arclin Reaches
Agreement In Principle With Key Lenders To Restructure Debt
Customer Supply to Continue Uninterrupted
Receives US$25 Million Financing Commitment
Elects to File Voluntary Chapter 11 and CCAA Proceedings to Implement
Financial Restructuring
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – July 27, 2009 – Arclin, a privately
held provider of bonding and surfacing solutions, announced today that it has
reached an agreement in principle (“the agreement”) with certain
of its key senior lenders on the terms of a financial restructuring to strengthen
the Company’s balance sheet and enhance its financial flexibility.
Under terms of the agreement, Arclin’s funded indebtedness will
be reduced from US$234 million to US$60 million. A post-petition
financing facility of US$25 million is also part of the financial restructuring.
In order to facilitate its financial restructuring, Arclin today elected
to file for court-supervised restructuring proceedings in the United
States and in Canada. Arclin’s U.S. companies have filed
voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District
of Delaware. Arclin’s Canadian companies have made a filing
with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and have obtained an Initial
Order authorizing Arclin to reorganize under the Companies’ Creditors
Arrangement Act (“CCAA”). Arclin’s subsidiaries
in Mexico are not included in the filings.
Claudio D’Ambrosio, Arclin’s President and Chief Executive
Officer, said, “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement
in principle with certain of our key senior lenders, which we believe
underscores their confidence in our business, and represents an important
step forward for our company. Although our operations are strong
and our diverse portfolio of businesses has helped us maintain positive
operating EBITDA in 2009, continued weakness in our core markets has
reduced our cash flow and our ability to comply with certain covenants
under our debt obligations. Our current capital structure was
put in place in 2007, under a different economic climate and at the
top of the last business cycle. We are now taking appropriate
steps to align our capital structure with the realities of today’s
markets and economy. Having reviewed the options available, we determined
that the court-supervised restructuring proceedings will accelerate – and
finalize – our financial restructuring and that this is the best
course of action for Arclin. This restructuring process will
allow us to continue to support our customers, suppliers and employees
while we work to enhance Arclin’s position as a strong and innovative
supplier.”
In conjunction with the filings, Arclin has received a commitment
for US$25 million in financing. Upon approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the new financing,
combined with cash generated from the Company’s ongoing operations,
will be used to support the business during the restructuring process. Arclin
intends to continue to meet its obligations going forward to its customers,
suppliers and employees.
Mr. D’Ambrosio added, “We look forward to working together
with all of our stakeholders to complete a successful financial restructuring. Arclin
remains committed to providing our customers with innovative bonding
and surfacing solutions for today’s building and construction,
engineered materials and natural resource markets. We appreciate
the ongoing dedication of all of our employees, whose hard work is
critical to our success and the future of Arclin. I also would
like to thank our customers, suppliers, lenders and business partners
for their support as we work to position Arclin for continued profitable
growth.”
Arclin has established a toll-free Restructuring Information Hotline
for interested parties, at (866) 967-1787 in the U.S. or at (888) 802-3216
in Canada. In addition, websites have been set up by Arclin’s
Court appointed Monitor in Canada and by the Company’s Claims
Agent in the U.S., both of which contain Court documents and other
updates (www.ey.com/ca/arclin and www.kccllc.net/arclin).
About Arclin
Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Arclin is a leading provider of innovative
bonding and surfacing solutions for the building and construction,
engineered materials and natural resource markets. Arclin provides
bonding solutions for a number of applications including wood based
panels, engineered wood, non-wovens and paper impregnation. As a
world leader in paper overlays technology, Arclin provides high value
surfacing solutions for decorative panels, building products and
industrial specialty applications for North American and export markets.
Contacts
Kevin Griffin Director, Marketing and Communications (919) 542-2526 ext 3020
Andy Brimmer / Andrew Siegel / Ariel LeBoff Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449