Francesca’s Holdings Corporation announced that it has entered into a second lien term loan Credit Agreement with Tiger Finance, LLC. The Company simultaneously announced the completion of its previously announced strategic alternatives review. Following a thorough review process, the board of directors has concluded that the Company will best serve the interests of its stockholders at this time by focusing on the continued execution of its turnaround plan.
Michael Prendergast, Interim CEO, stated, “We are pleased to have closed the term loan agreement as it provides additional financial flexibility to our organization as we continue to advance our strategic initiatives. We believe that the additional liquidity provided by the term loan agreement, in combination with previously announced cost savings and operating initiatives, will allow the Company additional cushion as it implements its turnaround plan, and represents a vote of confidence in the Company’s turnaround efforts.”
“We are pleased to provide additional liquidity at this important point in francesca’s evolution,” said Robert DeAngelis, Executive Managing Director of Tiger Finance, LLC. “This term loan facility is one example of how Tiger partners with our clients to help them achieve long-term sustainable growth.”
The Term Loan Credit Agreement provides for an aggregate term loan of $10.0 million and matures on August 13, 2022. The Term Loan Credit Agreement is subject to a combined borrowing base together with the Company’s existing asset based revolving credit facility. This combined borrowing base, after taking into account the Term Loan Credit Agreement, is expected to provide approximately $7.0 million of net additional liquidity to the Company.
The Term Loan Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations, subject to customary exceptions in addition to limitations on the amount of capital expenditures that francesca’s is permitted to make through the fiscal year ending in 2021, provided that the loan parties may make unlimited amounts of capital expenditures if certain payment conditions are met. Further details about the Term Loan Credit Agreement will be contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Concurrently with the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Company obtained an amendment from the lenders under its existing asset based revolving credit facility to permit the new financing.
francesca's® is a specialty retailer which operates a nationwide-chain of boutiques providing customers a unique, fun and personalized shopping experience. The merchandise assortment is a diverse and balanced mix of apparel, jewelry, accessories and gifts. As of August 13, 2019, francesca's® operated approximately 718 boutiques in 47 states throughout the United States and the District of Columbia and also serves its customers through francescas.com. For additional information on francesca's®, please visit www.francescas.com.
Tiger Financial, LLC is an affiliate of Tiger Capital Group, LLC. Based in New York, Tiger provides asset valuation, advisory and disposition services to a broad range of retail, wholesale, and industrial clients. Tiger helps clients identify the underlying value of assets, monitor asset risk factors and, when needed, provides capital quickly and decisively. Tiger maintains domestic offices in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Houston and Toronto.