Automotive transportation provider Allied Systems Holdings on Sunday, June 10, announced that the company has implemented a financial restructuring through Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as part of its plan to eliminate debt and strengthen its balance sheet. The company said it will continue normal operations in the meantime.
Allied said this final phase of its financial restructuring follows an operational restructuring through which the company reduced expenses. The company also announced that it intends to seek foreign recognition of its Chapter 11 cases in Canada.
“We believe the financial restructuring will strengthen Allied’s balance sheet and position the company for a long and profitable future,” said Mark Gendregske, president and chief executive officer. “All of our customers can be sure that the filing will have no impact on our ability to maintain our best-in-class service levels. We understand the trust our customers place in us, and we are committed to serving them without interruption.”
Allied said its majority lenders have committed to provide up to $20 million in debtor-in-possession financing to support the company’s operations during its voluntary restructuring. The financing is subject to court approval.
Allied previously filed for Chapter 11 protection in July 2005. Since emerging in May 2007, the company said business was sales was impacted adversely by the reduction in vehicle production and sales due to the global economic crisis that began in 2008. Additionally, the company and its majority lender Yucaipa have been in litigation with certain minority lenders since 2009. Two of those lenders filed involuntary Chapter 11 proceedings against Allied on May 17, 2012.
“After exploring all of our options with respect to the company’s current financial position and the involuntary petitions, it became clear that implementing the financial restructuring through a court proceeding presents the most effective means to improve our balance sheet,” Gendregske said. “Chapter 11 allows us to move forward with our planned improvements in operations and systems and allows us to achieve our restructuring objectives in a controlled, orderly and timely manner.”
Allied said that while it completes its restructuring, the company’s terminals and locations will continue to operate as usual. The Company’s employees will continue to be paid without interruption, and it will continue to pay vendors for products and services provided after the June 10 filing date. The company said it also is seeking court approval to pay key providers in the normal course for services provided on or prior to the filing to ensure uninterrupted delivery on all routes.
