Empire Amends Senior Credit Agreement
October 07 2020 - 4:00PM
Empire Industries Ltd. (TSX-V: EIL, OTC:ERILF) (“Empire”, “EIL” or
the “Company”) with reference to its prior news releases dated
April 29, 2019 and July 15, 2020 is pleased to announce that it has
amended its USD $28.7 million senior Credit Agreement effective as
of today. The material amendments to the Credit Agreement include:
(i) extending the repayment dates for each of the facilities to
align with the Company’s forecasted cash availability; (ii)
reducing the annual interest from a variable prime plus 9.5% to a
fixed rate of 10%; (iii) accruing and deferring 3% of the interest
until the maturity of each facility and paying the remaining 7% on
a monthly basis; and (iv) removing certain financial covenants
altogether and revising the remaining financial covenants to allow
the Company to remain in compliance to the end of the term of the
loan.
To date, USD $1.5M of the loan has been repaid and another
USD$16.5 million (including additional interest) is scheduled to be
repaid throughout 2021 by way of payments directly to the lender
from accounts receivables that have been assigned by the Company to
the lender, which will leave an operating loan balance of USD $11.1
million outstanding as at December 31, 2021. The expected payments
to be made are in the following amounts (USD): $1.5 million, $0.4
million, $4.3 million, $1.5 million, $0.2 million, $3.5 million,
$0.7 million, $4.3 million and $0.1 million. The repayment of the
operating loan has been extended to June 30, 2022.
In addition, the Company also amended the terms of its USD $4.0
million term loan with another lender to push out the repayment of
the loan in four equal, quarterly payments starting July 16, 2022
and ending on April 16, 2023.
“We are pleased to have satisfied our senior lender’s conditions
and finalized a loan accommodation with our two lenders that better
matches our future expected cashflow and gets us back in compliance
with our loan covenants,” said Guy Nelson, Executive Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Empire. “It is indeed a
challenging time for the entertainment industry, but we are
confident that the steps we have already taken combined with our
revised strategy will stand us in good stead as the market emerges
from this pandemic.”
About Empire Industries Ltd.
Empire focuses on designing, supplying, and installing iconic
media-based attractions and ride systems for the global theme park
industry. Empire also uses these same turn-key integration services
for special projects such as large optical telescopes and
enclosures. Empire also has commenced an initiative to leverage its
world class flying theater and attraction development capability on
a co-venture ownership basis. Empire was selected as a 2020 TSX
Venture 50 company. The 2020 TSX Venture 50 is a ranking of top
performers on the TSX Venture Exchange over the past year. The
ranking is comprised of 10 companies from each of 5 industry
sectors, with Empire being selected in the Diversified Industry
category. Selection was based on three equally weighted criteria;
share price, trading and market capitalization. Empire’s common
shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol
EIL.
For more information about the Company, visit empind.com or
contact:
Guy Nelson |
Allan Francis |
Chief Executive Officer |
Vice President – Corporate
Affairs and Administration |
Phone: (416) 366-7977 |
Phone: (204) 589-9301 |
Email: gnelson@empind.com |
Email: afrancis@empind.com |
Reader AdvisoryThis news release contains
forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable
securities legislation, concerning Empire’s business and affairs.
In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of words such as ‘‘plans’’, ‘‘expects’’ or ‘‘does not
expect’’, ‘‘budget’’, “booked”, ‘‘scheduled’’, “positions”,
‘‘estimates’’, “forecasts’’, ‘‘intends’’, ‘‘anticipates’’,
“believes” or variations of such words and phrases or state that
certain actions, events or results ‘‘may’’, “may be”, ‘‘could’’,
“should”, ‘‘would’’, ‘‘might’’ or ‘‘will’’, ‘‘occur’’ or ‘‘be
achieved’’. Such statements include statements with respect to: (i)
USD$16.5 million (including additional interest) being repaid
throughout 2021 in the amounts specified, (ii) that the market will
emerge favourably from the current pandemic, and that the Company’s
actions will be sufficient to position it favourably. These
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results or events to differ
materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements. Although Empire believes these statements to be
reasonable, no assurance can be given that these expectations will
prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in
this news release should not be unduly relied upon. Actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of prevailing economic
conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control
of Empire. The forward-looking statements contained in this news
release represent Empire’s expectations as of the date hereof, and
are subject to change after such date. Empire disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities
regulations.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
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