Sorenson Communications emerged from Chapter 11 today, the company announced, after a quick two-month trip through the Wilmington, Del., bankruptcy court.
Sorenson, a provider of communications equipment for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, filed a pre-packaged Chapter 11 on March 3. In addition to strengthening its balance sheet, the company said today it now has the financial runway needed to work with the FCC on addressing the future regulatory framework of the industry. Prior to its bankruptcy filing, Sorenson became involved in a dispute with the FCC over rules related to alleged misuse of Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Services, according to FCC filings.
Under the company’s reorganization plan, holders of $550 million of first-lien debt will be paid in full in cash and will be unimpaired, as will general unsecured creditors. Second-lien noteholders will receive 87% of the reorganized company’s equity, along with a pro rata share, respectively, of $375 million of new second-lien notes, 95% of a $300 million issue of new unsecured notes, and $77.175 million in cash.
According to the company’s disclosure statement, that would translate into a recovery rate for the second-lien holders, with principal of $735 million, of 55-94%.
Sorenson’s existing equityholders are to receive the remaining 13% of the equity and 5% of the unsecured notes.
As for the new debt to be issued under the plan, according to court filings, the new exit facility will be comprised of a $550 million, six-year term loan, priced at L+575, with a 2.25% LIBOR floor, and a 0.5% OID, and a $25 million first-out revolver at L+325, with a LIBOR floor of 1.25%. The term facility will carry call protection of 102 in year one, 101 in year two, and 100 in year three and thereafter.
The new second-lien secured notes will have a term of six years and pay interest at 9% per year, which will be payable in kind if the company’s first-lien leverage is greater than 4.5x, subject to a minimum cash balance of $20 million.
The new unsecured notes, meanwhile, will have a term of 7.5 years and will pay interest of 13% per year, if sufficient cash is available, with interest otherwise payable in kind.
The company estimated its going-concern enterprise value at $900 million to $1.2 billion, assuming maximum pro forma indebtedness of $1.225 billion, according to disclosure statement exhibits. – John Bringardner/Alan Zimmerman