BEACHWOOD, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Real Alloy Holding, Inc. (“Real Alloy” or the “Company”) today announced
several operational updates.
Real Alloy Receives Court Approval on Debtor-in-Possession (“DIP”)
Financing
On January 17, 2018, Real Alloy received final approval from the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware for its DIP financing,
which is the existing $265 million Real Alloy DIP facility provided
by Bank of America and certain bondholders of the Company approved in
November. This DIP financing allows Real Alloy to continue uninterrupted
operations throughout the reorganization process, giving Real Alloy the
authority to make payments to suppliers and service providers as well as
to continue to pay employees wages, salaries and benefits.
Real Alloy’s DIP financing is entirely separate from the DIP financing
provided to Real Industry, Inc. (“Real Industry”).
Significant Progress Made from Real Alloy Since Filing
Since the filing of Chapter 11 in November 2017, Real Alloy has
successfully negotiated contracts for 2018 production with several
longstanding customers including major multinational automobile
manufacturers and large-scale aluminum producers. The Company’s average
tenure on its relationship with these customers is over 20 years.
Real Alloy has continued to work closely with its suppliers and critical
vendors throughout this restructuring process, and has received strong
support from customers and vendors alike.
Strategic Review of Existing Operations
As part of the Company’s continued focus on rationalizing costs and
improving efficiency, Real Alloy announced that it will cease operations
at its Mt Pleasant, WI facility, which was acquired from Beck Aluminum
at the end of 2016. Real Alloy expects to utilize available production
capacity in nearby Indiana and Michigan facilities, and feels
that shutting down the facility allows the business to better utilize
production capacity and reduce overall capital needs.
Real Alloy does not expect significant customer disruption as a result
of the Mt. Pleasant closing and will handle customer needs from
its other facilities.
Real Alloy Sales Process
Real Alloy continues to receive a significant amount of interest in its
sales process and remains on track to receive multiple bids in line with
the court approved bid deadline of January 31, 2018. Real Alloy does not
expect any customer disruption as part of the sale.
Management Comments
Terry Hogan, President of Real Alloy, stated, “We have been very pleased
with the progress made since our filing in November, and appreciate the
support and patience of many of our customers, suppliers, and vendors
throughout our restructuring. Given our strong liquidity position, the
support from our customers and suppliers and the favorable spread
prices, we believe we are well positioned for strong performance in the
future. We look forward to completing our sale process with the right
capital partner in the near future and continuing to grow our core
operations in North America and Europe.”
Additional Information on the Chapter 11 Proceedings
Court filings and other information related to the court-supervised
proceedings are available at a website administered by the Company’s
claims agent, Prime Clerk, at https://cases.primeclerk.com/realindustry.
Additional information on Real Alloy can be found at its website www.realalloy.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on our
current expectations, estimates, and projections about the businesses
and prospects of Real Industry, Real Alloy and their subsidiaries (“we”
or “us”), as well as management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made
by management. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,”
“plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “should,” “will” and
variations of these words are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof and are
subject to change. We undertake no obligation to revise or update
publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. These statements
are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain
risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Forward-looking statements discuss, among other matters: our financial
and operational results, as well as our expectations for future
financial trends and performance of our business in future periods; our
strategy; risks and uncertainties associated with Chapter 11
proceedings; the negative impacts on our businesses as a result of
filing for and operating under Chapter 11 protection; the time, terms
and ability to confirm a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization for our
businesses; the adequacy of the capital resources of our businesses and
the difficulty in forecasting the liquidity requirements of the
operations of our businesses; the unpredictability of our financial
results while in Chapter 11 proceedings; our ability to discharge claims
in Chapter 11 proceedings; negotiations with the holders of Real Alloy’s
Senior Secured Notes, its asset-based facility lender, and its trade
creditors; risks and uncertainties with performing under the terms of
the Debtors’ debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financing arrangements and any
other arrangement with lenders or creditors while in Chapter 11
proceedings; our ability to operate our businesses within the terms of
our respective DIP financing arrangements; the forecasted uses of funds
in our DIP budgets; the impact of Real Alloy’s Chief Restructuring
Officer on its restructuring efforts and negotiations with creditors and
other stakeholders in the Chapter 11 proceedings; our ability to retain
employees, suppliers and customers as a result of Chapter 11
proceedings; Real Alloy’s ability to conduct business as usual in the
United States and worldwide; Real Alloy’s ability to continue to serve
customers, suppliers and other business partners at the high level of
service and performance they have come to expect from Real Alloy; our
ability to continue to pay suppliers and vendors; our ability to fund
ongoing business operations through the applicable DIP financing
arrangements; the use of the funds anticipated to be received in the DIP
financing arrangements; the ability to control costs during Chapter 11
proceedings; the risk that our Chapter 11 proceedings may be converted
to cases under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code; the ability of Real
Industry to preserve and utilize the NOLs following Chapter 11
proceedings; our ability to secure operating capital; Real Industry’s
ability to take advantage of opportunities to acquire assets with upside
potential; Real Industry’s ability to execute on its strategic plan to
evaluate and close potential M&A opportunities; our long-term outlook;
our preparation for future market conditions; and any statements or
assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Accordingly, actual results could differ materially and adversely from
those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various
factors.
Important factors that may cause such differences include, but are not
limited to, the decisions of the bankruptcy court; negotiations with
Real Alloy’s debtholders, our creditors and any committee approved by
the bankruptcy court; negotiations with lenders on the definitive DIP
financing, equity investment and post-emergence credit facility
documents; Real Industry’s ability to meet the closing conditions of its
DIP financing, equity investment or post-emergence credit facilities;
our ability to meet the requirements, and compliance with the terms,
including restrictive covenants, of our respective DIP financing
arrangements and any other financial arrangement while in Chapter 11
proceedings; changes in our operational or cash needs from the
assumptions underlying our DIP budgets and forecasts; changes in our
cash needs as compared to our historical operations or our planned
reductions in operating expense; adverse litigation; changes in domestic
and international demand for recycled aluminum; the cyclical nature and
general health of the aluminum industry and related industries;
commodity and scrap price fluctuations and our ability to enter into
effective commodity derivatives or arrangements to effectively manage
our exposure to such commodity price fluctuations; inventory risks,
commodity price risks, and energy risks associated with Real Alloy’s
buy/sell business model; the impact of tariffs and trade regulations on
our operations; the impact of the recently approved U.S. tax legislation
and any other changes in U.S. or non-U.S. tax laws on our operations or
the value of Real Industry’s NOLs; Real Industry’s ability to
successfully identify, acquire and integrate additional companies and
businesses that perform and meet expectations after completion of such
acquisitions; our ability to achieve future profitability; our ability
to control operating costs and other expenses; that general economic
conditions may be worse than expected; that competition may increase
significantly; changes in laws or government regulations or policies
affecting our current business operations and/or our legacy businesses,
as well as those risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections
entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Real Industry, Inc.’s
Forms 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on
May 10, 2017, August 8, 2017 and November 9, 2017 and Form 10-K filed
with the SEC on March 13, 2017, and similar disclosures in subsequent
reports filed with the SEC.
Cautionary Note Regarding Real Industry Common Stock
Real Industry cautions that trading in its securities during the
pendency of the Chapter 11 proceedings is highly speculative and poses
substantial risks. Trading prices for Real Industry’s securities may
bear little or no relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by
holders of such securities in the Chapter 11 proceedings.
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Source: Real Industry