New Chapter 11 Filing - 4 West Holdings LLC

4 West Holdings LLC

3/6/18 

Texas-based licensed operator or manager of 42 skilled nursing facilities in 7 states has filed a prearranged bankruptcy. The company blames "the performance of the current group of operating Facilities has been negatively impacted by industry headwinds, regulatory actions at certain Facilities, and an inefficient geographic footprint in certain regions in the United States" for its filing.

Similar to HCR Manorcare which filed for bankruptcy earlier this week, 4 West and its affiliates emanate out of a sale leaseback transaction with a publicly-traded REIT counterparty, Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. ($OHI). And, similarly, this business suffers from many of the same problems, 

Since 2015, the Debtors have faced significant liquidity constraints caused principally by: (a) unfavorable commercial agreements and certain liabilities assumed as part of Merger, including regulatory and personal liability claims; (b) historical losses at certain of the Debtors’ previously-operated facilities, (c) a decline in performance within the current portfolio for a variety of industry-wide developments; and (d) significant capital expenditure needs. Further, the Debtors also faced rent payment obligations to the Omega Parties under the Master Leases, which were significantly higher than their operating income could support.

Consequently, the debtor has entered into a restructuring support agreement with Omega that is predicated upon two parts: (i) a transaction whereby certain unprofitable facilities will transition to a designee of Omega and (ii) a transfer of the more successful facilities to the Plan Sponsor, SC-GA 2018 Partners LLC, which is injecting the company with $225mm of new liquidity by way of $195mm in cash and $30mm note. The Omega Parties will provide a $30mm DIP credit facility to fund the cases. 

  • Jurisdiction: N.D. of Texas (Judge Hale)

  • Capital Structure: $14.2mm funded RCF (Sterling National Bank), secured Master Leases (Omega), $15mm funded LOC (OHI Asset RO, LLC), $6.2mm secured note (New Ark Mezz Holdings, LLC), $1.1mm unsecured promissory note (SA Mezz Holdings, LLC)

  • Company Professionals:

    • Legal: DLA Piper (US) LLP (Thomas Califano, Daniel Simon, Dienna Corrado, Andrew Zollinger, David Avraham)

    • Financial Advisor: Crowe Horwath LLP

    • Restructuring Advisor/CRO: Ankura Consulting (Louis Robichaux, Ben Jones, Chris Hebard)

    • Investment Banker: Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (Andrew Turnbull, Ryan Sandahl, Angus Schaller, Adam Montague)

    • Independent Director: Drivetrain Advisors LLC (John Brecker)

    • Healthcare Ombudsman: Melanie Cyganowski

      • Legal: Otterbourg P.C. (Keith Costa)

    • Claims Agent: Rust Consulting/Omni Bankruptcy (*click on company name above for free docket access)

  • Other Parties in Interest:

    • DIP Lender: OHI Asset RO, LLC

      • Legal: Bryan Cave LLP (Keith M. Aurzada, Michael P. Cooley, Mark Duedall, Leah Fiorenza McNeill, David Unseth)

    • Plan Sponsor: SC-GA 2018 Partners, LLC

      • Legal: Nelligan LLP (Patrick Nelligan, James Muenker)

    • Sterling National Bank

      • Legal: King & Spalding LLP (Arthur Steinberg, Scott Davidson, Bradley Giordano, Edward Ripley)

    • Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (Pharmerica Corporation, Healthcare Services Group, Medline Industries, Alana Healthcare, Ominicare Inc., Joerns Healthcare LLC, Regional Ambulance

      • Legal: Pepper Hamilton LLP (Francis Lawall, Donald Detweiler, Joanna Cline) & (local) Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP (Louis Strubeck Jr., Ryan Manns, Elizabeth Boydston)

      • Financial Advisor: CohnReznick LLP (Clifford Zucker)

Updated 5/18/18

New Chapter 11 Filing - Oconee Regional Health Systems Inc.

Oconee Regional Health Systems Inc.

  • 5/11/17 Recap: Georgia-based not-for-profit healthcare system filed for bankruptcy to pursue a sale to Prime Healthcare Foundation Inc., armed with a $5mm DIP credit facility to fund operations during the case. The company notes the following as factors leading up to its bankruptcy: (1) an older Medicare-based population, revenue from which is subject to discounts and write-offs; (2) a large Medicaid-dependent population, reimbursements for which result in financial losses on many patients; (3) The State of Georgia's election NOT to partake in the Medicaid expansion program which left a pool of patients with modest means uncovered and uncompensated-for upon treatment; (4) hospital consolidation providing newer larger options (PETITION note: this seems dubious considering there were no other hospitals within a 30-mile radius but what do we know?); (5) lack of doctors in in-demand specialty areas; (6) inability to finance large capital intensive projects; and (7) service to "self-pay" (read: uninsured) patients as part of its non-profit charitable function - despite efforts by the ACA to cover everyone. Sadly, the company's filings paint a picture of a dire healthcare situation in and around the Georgia with healthcare operators all around the state failing for many of the same reasons above.
  • Jurisdiction: M.D. of Georgia
  • Capital Structure: $22mm principal and interest Series 1998 Bonds, $7.3mm principal and interest Series 2016 Bonds     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Bryan Cave LLP (Mark Duedall, Leah Fiorenza McNeill)
    • Financial Advisor: Grant Thornton LLP
    • Investment Banker: Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc.
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Buyer: Prime Healthcare Foundation Inc.
      • Legal: King & Spalding LLP (Paul Ferdinands)

New Chapter 11 Filing - Ameriforge Group Inc.

Ameriforge Group Inc. (d/b/a AFGlobal Corporation)

  • 5/1/17 Recap: Houston-based manufacturer of products for a variety of markets (oil and gas, power, aerospace and industrial) filed a prepackaged bankruptcy case to delever its balance sheet by approximately $680mm. The company's first lien lenders will get nearly all of the equity in the reorganized entity. Second lien lenders will get some option value in the form of an equity kiss and warrants/options. The company has secured $70mm in new money and seeks to be out of bankruptcy in roughly three weeks: some of these cases are getting VERY speedy.
  • Jurisdiction: S.D. of Texas
  • Capital Structure: $89.5mm '17 first lien funded RCF and $519mm '19 first lien senior secured TL-B (Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas), $143.3mm '20 second lien secured TL (Delaware Trust Company).   
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (James Sprayragen, Edward Sassower, William Guerrieri, Christopher Hayes, Bradley Giordano, Chad Husnick) & (local) Jackson Walker LLP (Patricia Tomasco, Matthew Cavenaugh, Jennifer Wertz)
    • Financial Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal LLC (James Grady)
    • Investment Banker: Lazard Middle Markets LLC (Brandon Aebersold, Parry Sorenson)
    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Ad Hoc Group of First Lien Lenders (Carlyle Strategic Partners, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Eaton Vance Management, Stellex Capital Management)
      • Legal: Jones Day LLP (Scott Greenberg, Michael Cohen, Bryan Kotliar, Paul Green)
      • Financial Advisor: Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (Adam Dunayer)
    • Ad Hoc Group of Second Lien Lenders
      • Legal: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Ira Dizengoff, Philip Dublin, Jason Rubin, Charles Gibbs)
      • Financial Advisor: PJT Partners LP (Jon Walters, Paul Sheaffer)
    • Sponsor: First Reserve Heavy Metal LP
      • Legal: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (Sandy Qusba, Elisha Graff)
  • Prepetition 1L Agent & DIP Agent: Deutsche Bank Trust Company
    • Legal: White & Case LLP (Scott Greissman, Adam Zatz)
  • Prepetition 2L Agent: Delaware Trust Company
    • Legal: Bryan Cave LLP (Jeremy Finkelstein, Stephanie Wickouski, Keith Miles Aurzada)

Updated 7/13/17

New Filing - La Paloma Generating Company LLC

La Paloma Generating Company LLC

  • 12/06/16 Recap: California-based (NW of LA) nat-gas fired merchant power provider that services SoCal files for bankruptcy citing a litany of reasons: (i) adverse market for nat-gas fired electricity given the rise of wind and solar power in CA; (ii) the regulatory environment; (iii) cap and trade; (iv) its unsustainable debt load; and (v) the army of O'Melveny lawyers servicing the deal. Okay, not the last part but see below: that sure is a surge of (man)power. 
  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware
  • Capital Structure: $524mm of total funded debt. $35mm '20 1st lien (BofA), $292mm '20 1st lien TL (BofA), $110mm '20 second lien TL (Sun Trust), $87mm '19 LPAC TL, $34mm LOCs (SunTrust)     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: O'Melveny & Meyers LLP (John Rapisardi, George Davis, Peter Friedman, Diana Perez, Andrew Sorkin, Matthew Kremer, Valerie Cohen) & (local) Richards Layton & Finger PA (Mark Collins, Jason Madron, Andrew Dean) & (conflicts counsel) Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle LLP (Steven Reisman, Turner Smith, Peter Behmke, Cindi Giglio)
    • Financial Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal LLC (Emmett Bergman)
    • Investment Banker: Jefferies LLC (Jeffrey Finger)
    • Claims Agent: Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions LLC (*click on company name for docket)
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Sponsor: EIG Global Partners LLC (Niranjan Ravindran)
    • First Lien Lender: Bank of America
      • Legal: Moore & Van Allen (David Eades, Glenn Huether) & (local) Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (Mary Caloway, Kathleen Murphy)
    • Ad Hoc Group of Second Lien Noteholders
      • Legal: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (Glenn Siegel, Joshua Dorchak, Elaine Fenna, Jody Barillare)
    • Second Lien Lender: Sun Trust Bank
      • Legal: King & Spalding LLP (Sara Borders, Thaddeus Wilson) & (local) Morris James LLP (Stephen Miller)
    • 1st Lien Debtholder: Beal Bank USA (LNB)
      • Legal: White & Case LLP (Thomas Lauria, Christopher Shore) & (local) Fox Rothschild LLP (Jeffrey Schlerf)
    • Collateral Agent: Bank of New York Mellon
      • Legal: Bryan Cave LLP (Stephanie Wickouski, Michelle McMahon)

Updated 12/29/16