Rite Aid Receives Court Approval of "First Day" Motions to Support Business Operations
October 17 2023 - 10:05AM
Business Wire
Secures Interim Approval to Access Up to $3.45
Billion in Debtor-in-Possession Financing
Continues to Serve Customers and Deliver
Healthcare Products and Services Across Retail and Online
Platforms
Rite Aid Corporation (OTC: RADCQ) (“Rite Aid” or the “Company”)
today announced that it has received approvals from the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey for its “First Day”
motions related to the Company’s voluntary Chapter 11 petitions
filed on October 15, 2023.
The Court granted interim approval to access up to $3.45 billion
in debtor-in-possession financing from certain of its lenders. This
financing is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to support
the Company throughout this process. Among other things, the Court
has authorized the Company to continue to pay associate wages,
salaries and benefits without interruption, pay vendors and
suppliers in full for goods and services provided on or after the
filing date of October 15, 2023, and otherwise continue to deliver
leading healthcare products and services across its retail and
online platforms.
“We are pleased to have received Court approval of these
critical First Day motions, which will enable Rite Aid to continue
serving our customers and meeting their pharmacy needs throughout
this process,” said Jeffrey S. Stein, Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Restructuring Officer of Rite Aid. “With the support of
certain of our lenders and the majority of our bondholders, we look
forward to moving through this process and emerging as a stronger
company, well-positioned for long-term success. We thank our
associates, partners, suppliers and vendors for their continued
support and our associates for their hard work and dedication.”
As previously announced, Rite Aid reached an agreement in
principle with certain of its senior secured noteholders on the
terms of a financial restructuring plan that will allow the Company
to accelerate its ongoing business transformation. Implementing the
contemplated restructuring plan will significantly reduce the
Company’s debt, increase its financial flexibility and enable it to
execute on key initiatives.
Additionally, as previously announced, Rite Aid has also entered
into an agreement with MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
(“MedImpact”), an independent pharmacy benefit solutions company,
pursuant to which MedImpact will acquire Rite Aids’ Elixir
Solutions business. Under the terms of the agreement, MedImpact
will serve as the “stalking horse bidder” in a court-supervised
sale process under section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Accordingly, the proposed transaction is subject to higher and
better offers, court approval and other customary conditions.
Elixir Solutions is operating normally and continuing to serve
clients, plan sponsors, members and customers as usual. Elixir
Insurance is not included in Rite Aid’s Chapter 11 process or the
proposed transaction with MedImpact, and it is continuing to
operate and serve members as usual.
Additional Information
Additional information regarding the Company’s court-supervised
process is available at www.riteaidrestructuring.com. Court filings
and other information related to the proceedings are available on a
separate website administrated by the Company’s claims agent,
Kroll, at https://restructuring.ra.kroll.com/RiteAid; by calling
Kroll toll-free at (844) 274-2766, or (646) 440-4878 for calls
originating outside of the U.S. or Canada; or by emailing Kroll at
RiteAidInfo@ra.kroll.com.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor, Guggenheim
Securities is serving as investment banker and Alvarez & Marsal
is serving as transformation officer and financial advisor to the
Company.
About Rite Aid
Rite Aid is a full-service pharmacy that improves health
outcomes. Rite Aid is defining the modern pharmacy by meeting
customer needs with a wide range of vehicles that offer
convenience, including retail and delivery pharmacy, as well as
services offered through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Elixir,
Bartell Drugs and Health Dialog. Elixir, Rite Aid’s pharmacy
benefits and services company, consists of accredited mail and
specialty pharmacies, prescription discount programs and an
industry leading adjudication platform to offer superior member
experience and cost savings. Health Dialog provides healthcare
coaching and disease management services via live online and phone
health services. Regional chain Bartell Drugs has supported the
health and wellness needs in the Seattle area for more than 130
years. Rite Aid employs more than 6,100 pharmacists and operates
more than 2,100 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. For
more information, visit www.riteaid.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes statements that may constitute
“forward-looking statements,” including expectations regarding the
Company’s business plan and initiatives, the Company’s ability to
continue to operate its business as currently contemplated, the
effect of the Chapter 11 reorganization and the sufficiency of the
financing package described above, including the ability to access
the portion of the financing that is not currently accessible, the
Company’s ability to emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization as a
stronger and more competitive enterprise, the Company’s continued
engagement in discussions with the potential bidders regarding the
Company’s sale processes for all, or a portion of the Company’s
assets, including the Company’s ability to consummate any
particular sale transaction, and other statements regarding the
Company’s plans and strategy. When used in this document, the words
“will,” “target,” “expect,” “continue,” “believe,” “seek,
“anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “strives” and
similar expressions are generally intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These statements are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. A number of important factors could cause actual
results of the Company and its subsidiaries to differ materially
from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These
factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties
outlined in the risk factors detailed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors,”
of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended March 4, 2023 (as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) on May 1, 2023) and other risk factors
identified from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.
Readers should carefully review these risk factors, and should not
place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors,
new information, future events or other changes.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231017882369/en/
INVESTORS: Byron Purcell (717) 975-3710
investor@riteaid.com
MEDIA: Joy Errico (717) 975-5718 press@riteaid.com
Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024