Representative Experience > Consumer & Retail


JIFFY LUBE INTERNATIONAL / HEARTLAND AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

Restructuring, Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • Heartland Automotive Services, Inc. (the “Company”), the largest franchisee of Jiffy Lube service centers, operated approximately 440 quick-oil-change stores in major markets.

Challenges Faced:

  • The Company experienced declining profitability resulting from increasing competition, changing automotive service requirements, and negative press related sales of unnecessary services.
  • The declining profitability and operating trends forced the Company to seek bankruptcy protection.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Served as financial advisor to the unsecured creditors’ committee led by Blackstone as the Company’s largest mezzanine lender.

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professional facilitated the following restructuring initiatives:
    • Responsible for negotiation of a significant up-front funding from the Company’s franchisor and primary oil company allowing for a $40,000 “re-imaging” of each of the 440 Heartland Jiffy Lube outlets.
    • Negotiated the Company’s new oil contract, the single largest cost component in the Company.
    • Negotiated the Company’s franchise agreements with Jiffy Lube leading to significant improvements in operating performance.
    • Negotiated the Company’s senior lender credit facilities.
    • Identified and elected a new management team.
    • Orchestrated the final plan of reorganization thru which the largest unsecured creditor (Blackstone) became the Company’s largest equity holder
  • The Company subsequently emerged from Chapter 11, executed a performance improvement plan and ultimate successful sale to Sun Capital.

SUR LA TABLE

Financial Advisor

Company Description:

  • Sur La Table is a privately-held specialty retailer based in the Northwest U.S., that sells kitchenware products, including cookware, cutlery, cooks’ tools, bakeware, glassware and bar, and housewares.

Challenges Faced:

  • In the face of retail industry headwinds, the Company experienced declining financial performance due to falling store traffic, web platform implementation and re-launch challenges, high-fixed cost structure, and above-market leases for its retail fleet. The Company’s challenged financial situation was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic requiring the almost immediate closure of its retail fleet.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • SOLIC professionals are currently serving as exclusive financial advisor:
    • Provided a review and assessment of the Company including: cash flow and liquidity requirements, financial performance and forecast, competitive position, viability of the Company’s business plan, and capitalization
    • Developed various analyses in support of a strategic alternatives assessment including: going concern/sum-of-part valuation analyses, debt capacity and capitalization analyses
    • Identification and evaluation of strategic alternatives, including: going concern/sum-of-parts sale, re-capitalization and/or capital restructuring
    • Engaged in negotiations (on behalf of the Company) with various stakeholders to align interests and support Company operations and liquidity during the implementation of value maximizing strategic alternatives

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals assisted the Company in identifying operational restructuring initiatives including:
    • Fleet rationalization and related store closure support services
    • Evaluated opportunities for above-market lease renegotiations
    • Improvement of inventory and working capital management (i.e. drop ship, SKU rationalization)
    • E-Commerce platform optimization
    • Inventory liquidation
  • SOLIC, in conjunction with management, developed a comprehensive response plan to the COVID-19 pandemic including liquidity preservation initiatives and transitioning sales to the Company’s e-Commerce platform
  • Assisted in renegotiating over 50 store leases including transition to “Percent of Sales” rent structure and forgiveness of past-due amounts from pandemic closures
  • SOLIC coordinated a highly competitive solicitation process that included contacts over 125+ strategic and financial buyers
    • Included specialty retailers, eCommerce operators, brand aggregators, grocers, vendors and leading institutional funds
    • Resulted in value increasing by over 2x from initial LOI to sale valuation

LOEHMANN’S

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • Loehmann’s Holdings, Inc. is the nation’s leading specialty retailer of well-known designer and brand name women’s fashion apparel, accessories and shoes.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Engaged by private equity group as its buy-side advisor in connection with the acquisition

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals contacted qualified buyers and orchestrated a successful acquisition process.

CHURCH’S CHICKEN

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • Church’s Chicken is a 1,500 restaurant franchisor located in 28 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and nine other countries.

Challenges Faced:

  • One of Church’s largest franchisees was experiencing insolvency issues.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Retained to provide restructuring and financial advisory services

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals assisted in developing and implementing a successful §363 bid by Church’s to purchase the franchisee’s assets for significantly less than originally anticipated by Church’s management.

BIJOUX TERNER

Restructuring

Company Description:

  • Bijoux Terner is an international operator / licensor of retail boutiques selling all merchandise at a $10 price point. Its stores are located primarily in airports and other destination locations.

Challenges Faced:

  • The Company was suffering from a failed sales strategy to increase all merchandise to a $15 price point which caused a significant decline in overall revenue and a loss of a number of stores from the system. The Company was in covenant violation with its senior lenders after receiving five previous amendments to its credit agreement.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Provided a review and assessment of the Company including: cash flow and liquidity requirements, financial performance and forecast, competitive position, viability of the Company’s business plan, and debt transaction documents
  • Provided an assessment of the Company’s restructuring alternatives (including valuation analysis, strategic alternatives determination, and capital structure modifications)
  • Negotiated and executed a financial restructuring consisting of new equity money, a conversion of mezzanine debt and a senior credit facility providing the required financial relief to execute the Company’s strategic plan

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals assisted the Company with identifying operational improvements including overhead cost savings and retail contract improvement, and negotiated an out of court financial restructuring.

Alfred Angelo Bridal

Restructuring

Company Description:

  • Alfred Angelo Bridal (“AA”) was one of the world’s largest manufacturers and retailers of wedding dresses. Headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, the Company also designs bridesmaid dresses, fashions for the mother of the bride, flower girl dresses, and wedding accessories.

Challenges Faced:

  • AA was a family-controlled business that had experienced significant management turnover and was facing growing challenges with both its retail distribution network as well as overseas suppliers. In addition, the Company had under invested in IT infrastructure and was experiencing significant disruption in managing its inventory. As a result, AA was in default of $40+ million loan.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • A SOLIC professional was named as Chief Restructuring Officer, replacing the CEO, and serving as an independent Officer of AA. SOLIC professionals undertook a review of all Company contracts, leases, litigation, to identify legacy problems; facilitated the consolidation of the corporate operations to Florida; expedited a transition plan for the IT systems; and, oversaw completion of a long-term business forecast and facilitated the foreclosure by the lender.

Result Highlights:

  • After facilitating an effective debt for equity exchange through a foreclosure process, SOLIC professionals were retained in an advisory position to continue to oversight the restructuring initiatives and turn-around plan that successfully stabilized the company, revamped its organizational design, consolidated its manufacturing operations, and renewed its growth trajectory.

HARTZ

Restructuring

Company Description:

  • The Hartz Mountain Corporation manufactures, distributes and markets pet supply products in a multitude of distribution channels including toys, health and beauty and OTC health remedies with revenues of $350 million, senior debt of $90 million and sub-debt of $75 million.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Retained by the Company to review their short and long-term business plans and amend the existing credit agreement with the Company’s senior secured lenders

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals’ recommendations were all ultimately approved by senior and subordinated creditors, and provided significant flexibility for the Company to implement its operational and strategic plans.

RADICA GAMES LIMITED

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • Radica Games Limited (“Radica”), a leading $165 million revenue pure-play developer, manufacturer and distributor of classic electronic entertainment products, had experienced a 24.4% CAGR in sales over the three-year period prior to its sale. Radica’s strong growth was a result of new product innovation, consistent revenue from classic offerings and diversified distribution channels. Radica expected this growth to continue due to the extension of its highly profitable Cube World and 20Q games and anticipation over the Girl Tech division’s Digi Makeover product.

Challenges Faced:

  • As a publicly-traded company, Radica’s Board of Directors was seeking to maximize shareholder value through a sale to a strategic buyer.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • As the exclusive sell-side advisor, SOLIC professionals positioned Radica as a company that could stimulate the growth of a large player in an otherwise stagnant toy market. To illustrate Radica’s value to a potential buyer, SOLIC professionals emphasized the Company’s unique position within the market:
    • Radica’s core brands were aligned with the best performing category subsets in the market, specifically electronic games.
    • Electronic games had grown at a CAGR of 26% since 2003 (versus the rest of the industry with a CAGR of -0.7%).
    • Proved that Radica was able to capitalize on this growth by establishing themselves as a market leader in the relatively new “casual game” market, consisting of consumers who enjoy playing video games, but take them far less seriously than users of PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo.

Result Highlights:

  • Served as sell-side advisor in its sale to Mattel, Inc.
  • $232 million all cash transaction, with purchase price multiples of 1.2x Revenue, 15.0x EBITDA, and 18.5x EBIT

TASCO

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • Tasco, Inc. was a $90 million manufacturer and distributor of consumer optical products with $30 million of senior debt and $15 million of sub-debt.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Engaged as exclusive advisor to the Company’s senior secured lenders to perform an initial review and assessment of the Company’s operations

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals subsequently negotiated a capital restructuring which led to a sale of the Company’s assets to third party purchasers which resulted in significant recoveries for Tasco’s capital structure constituents.

AMPAD

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • American Pad & Paper, LLC (“Ampad”) manufactures a complete line of writing pads, specialty papers, filing products and envelopes.

Challenges Faced:

  • The Company faced declining profitability due to consolidation from customer in customer base

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Initiated the purchase of Ampad’s business through a successful “higher and better offer” challenge to a recalcitrant management team’s sub-optimal Chapter 11 plan of reorganization

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC advised a group of investors on successfully structuring and executing a transaction to allow the company to exit bankruptcy.

NATIONWIDE MATTRESS AND FURNITURE WAREHOUSE

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • Nationwide Mattress and Furniture Warehouse is a multi-site furniture retailer of upholstery, bedding, case goods and other accessories. The Company attracts customers through event-driven advertising that positions the Company as a liquidator, warehouse spaces without built-out showrooms as retail outlets, and a “cash and carry” business practice which reduces the risk of uncollected receivables.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • Served as financial advisor to the senior secured lender through a restructuring and subsequent recapitalization

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals successfully orchestrated the sale of substantially all assets to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners.

REVIEW VIDEO LLC

Investment Banking

Company Description:

  • ReView Video LLC was a global distributor and value-added service provider for a full suite of conferencing and collaborative communications products in the audio, video, web collaboration and VoIP markets in the U.S. and U.K. Alpine Investors, a leading growth oriented private equity firm, had invested in ReView Video and worked closely with management to execute a strategic plan that included expanded product and service capabilities and international growth.

Challenges Faced:

  • The Company’s institutional investors were seeking liquidity from their investment in ReView Video.

Solutions Provided by SOLIC Professionals:

  • SOLIC professionals acted as exclusive financial advisor to ReView Video and its shareholders, which included the control investor, Alpine Investors.
  • In connection with marketing the Company to a diverse group of strategic and financial acquirers, SOLIC professionals:
    • Demonstrated the high growth potential of the VoIP sector of the Information Technology Supply Chain industry, and ReView Video’s ability to capitalize on that growth; and
    • Showcased ReView Video’s unique attribute as the last remaining independent, Polycom products distributor in the U.S., with meaningful market share.

Result Highlights:

  • SOLIC professionals’ marketing process generated significant interest in ReView Video and resulted in Review Video being acquired by Westcon Group, Inc., a leading specialty distributor in networking, convergence, security, and mobility equipment, in an all cash transaction which met the needs of the selling shareholders. As a result of the transaction, Westcon is now one of the largest global distributors of Polycom equipment.

Representative experience includes transactions led by SOLIC professionals at predecessor firms