Home video giant Blockbuster announced Monday that it has put itself up for sale, this after the bankrupt Dallas-based company was unable to agree to a recapitalization plan with its creditors.
The company said it has submitted an auction plan to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. A
holding company made up of Blockbuster's four largest creditors, Moncarch Alternative Capital, Owl Creek Asset Management, Stonehill Capital Management and Varde Partners, has submitted an opening stalking-horse bid of $290 million.
Here's the full Blockbuster announcement:
BLOCKBUSTER INITIATES PROCESS TO SELL COMPANY, ENTERS INTO “STALKING HORSE” PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH INVESTOR GROUP Files Motion Seeking to Conduct Auction under Section 363Blockbuster Continuing to Serve Customers in the Ordinary Course
DALLAS, February 21, 2011 – Blockbuster Inc. (OTHER OTC: BLOKA, BLOKB), a leading global provider of rental and retail movie and game entertainment, today announced that it has initiated a process to sell the Company, which it believes represents the best means of maximizing value for Blockbuster’s stakeholders.
In conjunction with this process, Blockbuster has entered into an asset purchase agreement with a “stalking horse” bidder, Cobalt Video Holdco, LLC, a limited liability company formed by funds managed by Monarch Alternative Capital LP, Owl Creek Asset Management LP, Stonehill Capital Management LLC and Värde Partners, Inc., each of which is a secured noteholder of the Company. In addition, Blockbuster has filed a motion seeking authorization from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to conduct an auction process for the Company. The auction process is designed to achieve the highest and best offer for the Company’s assets and would be conducted under the Court’s supervision and in accordance with Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Cobalt agreement serves as the “stalking horse” bid in the auction, which sets the floor or minimum acceptable bid.
Blockbuster expects that its U.S. operations, including a majority of its stores, DVD vending kiosks, by-mail and digital businesses, will continue to serve customers in the ordinary course during the sale process. The Company’s international operations in Canada, Denmark, Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom are also expected to conduct business as usual during the sale process. Blockbuster franchise locations in both the U.S. and abroad are independently owned, operated and funded, and will also continue normal business operations.
Jim Keyes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “By initiating a sale process at this time, we intend to accelerate our Chapter 11 proceedings and move the Company forward. An auction will allow the Company to invite competing bids from both strategic and financial investors. This will also allow for the consolidation of ownership of the Company to those with a clear and focused vision for Blockbuster’s future.”
He continued, “The purchaser will be able to take full advantage of Blockbuster’s many strengths, which include an internationally recognized brand name, an exceptional library of more than 125,000 titles, millions of loyal customers, and a multi-channel content distribution platform.
