UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Item 1.03 Bankruptcy or Receivership.
Chapter 11 Filing
On July 24, 2024 (the “Petition Date”), Vintage Wine Estates, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) and certain of its subsidiaries (such subsidiaries, each a “Debtor,” and together with the Company, the “Debtors”) filed a voluntary petition for reorganization (collectively, the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The Debtors are seeking to jointly administer the Chapter 11 Cases under the caption “In re Meier's Wine Cellars Acquisition, LLC, et al.” The subsidiaries that are Debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases are Vintage Wine Estates, Inc., a California corporation; Meier’s Wine Cellars Acquisition, LLC; Vinesse, LLC; Sabotage Wine Company, LLC; Mildara Blass, Inc.; Meier’s Wine Cellars, Inc.; Thames America Trading Company, Ltd.; California Cider Co, Inc.; Girard Winery, LLC; and Grove Acquisition, LLC.
The Debtors expect to continue their operations in the ordinary course of business during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases. To ensure ordinary course operations, the Debtors have filed motions seeking orders from the Bankruptcy Court approving a variety of “first day” motions. In addition, the Debtors have also filed a motion seeking approval of certain procedures relating to the marketing auction (if necessary) and sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (the "Bidding Procedures Motion"). No trustee has been appointed and each Debtor will continue to operate its business as a “debtor-in-possession” (“DIP”) subject to the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and the orders of the Bankruptcy Court.
The Company is seeking approval of a $60.5 million DIP revolving facility with the prepetition lenders under the Credit Agreement (as defined below) on terms and conditions set forth in the DIP credit agreement filed with the Bankruptcy Court (the “DIP Facility”). Upon approval by the Bankruptcy Court and the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the DIP credit agreement, the DIP Facility, along with the Company's existing liquidity and cash generated from ongoing operations, will be used to support the Company’s business during the restructuring process.
The Company has engaged GLC Advisors & Co., LLC and GLC Securities, LLC to advise on its strategic options, including the pursuit of the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets as contemplated by the Bidding Procedures Motion. The Company has received and is currently evaluating multiple preliminary indications of interest with respect to the potential sale of various of its assets. Any of those sales would be subject to review and approval by the Bankruptcy Court and compliance with Bankruptcy Court-approved bidding procedures pursuant to the Bidding Procedures Motion or as otherwise approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
Additional information about the Chapter 11 Cases, including access to Bankruptcy Court documents, may be obtained at https://dm.epiq11.com/VintageWine, a website administered by Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC, a third-party bankruptcy claims and noticing agent. The information on such website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute part of, this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 2.04 Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.
The filing of the Chapter 11 Cases constitutes an event of default that accelerated the Company’s obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2022, by and among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company party thereto from time to time, certain financial institutions party thereto from time to time, and BMO Bank N.A., as successor in interest to Bank of the West, as Administrative Agent (as amended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). As of the Petition Date, the Company had an aggregate of approximately $310 million in outstanding loans and commitments under the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement provides that as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, all outstanding amounts thereunder are automatically due and payable. However, any efforts to enforce payment obligations under the Credit Agreement are automatically stayed as a result of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases and the lenders’ rights of enforcement in respect of the Credit Agreement are subject to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
On July 23, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) concluded that it is in the best interests of the Company to voluntarily delist the Company’s common stock and warrants from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and deregister under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). On July 24, 2024, the Company notified Nasdaq of its intent to file a Form 25 Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration Under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on or about August 5, 2024 to effect the voluntary delisting of the Company’s common stock and warrants from Nasdaq.
The Company expects the delisting of the common stock and warrants to be effective on or about August 15, 2024. Following such delisting, the Company intends to file a Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration on Form 15 with the SEC on or about
August 15, 2024, requesting the termination of registration of the Company’s common stock and warrants under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, if any, and the suspension of the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
The Company has not arranged for listing or registration of its common stock or warrants on another national securities exchange or for quotation in a quotation medium. Following delisting from Nasdaq, the Company’s common stock and warrants may be eligible to be quoted on the Pink Open Market operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. if a market maker sponsors the security and complies with Rule 15c2-11 under the Exchange Act, but the Company can provide no assurances that a trading market for the Company’s common stock or warrants will exist now or in the future.
Cautionary Note Regarding the Company’s Securities
The Company cautions that trading in the Company’s securities during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases is highly speculative and poses substantial risks. Trading prices for the Company’s securities may bear little or no relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by holders of the Company’s securities in the Chapter 11 Cases. The Company expects that holders of the Company’s securities, including common stock, could experience a significant or complete loss on their investment, depending on the outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than those of historical fact and may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “may,” “will,” “would,” or “target.” Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, beliefs, assumptions and estimates and may include, for example, statements regarding the Chapter 11 Cases, the Debtors’ ability to consummate and complete a plan of reorganization and their ability to continue operating in the ordinary course while the Chapter 11 Cases are pending. These statements are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties regarding the Debtors’ ability to successfully complete a restructuring under Chapter 11, including: consummation of a plan of reorganization; potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company’s liquidity and results of operations; the Debtors’ ability to obtain timely approval by the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the motions filed in the Chapter 11 Cases; objections to any plan of reorganization or other pleadings filed that could protract the Chapter 11 Cases; employee attrition and the Company’s ability to retain senior management and other key personnel due to distractions and uncertainties resulting from the Chapter 11 Cases; the Company’s ability to maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties and regulatory authorities as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases; the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents, including holders of the Company’s common stock; the Bankruptcy Court’s rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases, including the approvals of the terms and conditions of any plan of reorganization or DIP Facility; inability to consummate asset sales; the outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases generally; the length of time that the Company will operate under Chapter 11 protection and the availability of operating capital during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases; risks associated with third party motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, which may interfere with the Company’s ability to consummate a plan of reorganization or an alternative restructuring; increased administrative and legal costs related to the Chapter 11 process; finalization and receipt of the DIP Facility, the conditions to which the DIP Facility is subject and the risk that these conditions may not be satisfied for various reasons, including for reasons outside of the Company's control; potential delays in the Chapter 11 process due to unanticipated factors; and potential or existing litigation or administrative or regulatory proceedings and inherent risks involved in a bankruptcy process.
Forward-looking statements are also subject to the risk factors and cautionary language described from time to time in the reports the Company files with the SEC, including those in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates thereto in the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements and does not undertake to do so, except as required by law.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On July 19, 2024, the Company completed the sale of Cosentino Winery's real property and equipment to Gene Wines, LLC, a California limited liability company, for cash proceeds of $10.5 million, subject to customary pro rations and adjustments, that were used to pay down debt.
On July 24, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the matters disclosed in this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. |
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Date: |
July 24, 2024 |
By: |
/s/ Kristina Johnston |
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Chief Financial Officer |