Coming days 'crunch time' for Punch Taverns, warns boss
Billingham has stressed that “everyone has something to gain by voting for the proposals”. Votes will be held across a series of noteholder meetings on 14 February.
Last week a group representing Punch Taverns noteholders, under the auspices of the Association of British Insurers, said it was unable to support the restructure proposals.
Billingham said: “The next few days will be some of the most important in the company’s history. The Punch board calls on all parties to vote in favour of the restructuring proposals.
'Middle way'
“It is well known that certain creditors with blocking stakes have said they do not support the proposals. There are also other creditors with conflicting views who have blocking stakes. We have tried to listen to everyone and find a middle way. While it is not possible to accommodate all of the conflicting views, Punch has attempted over a 14 month period of engagement and at significant financial cost and management time to find a balance between these conflicting views.
“The restructuring proposals incorporate a significant number of stakeholder requests, as set out on 15 January 2014. The proposals would deliver a capital structure with material deleveraging of senior notes, and enhanced junior note PIK interest. Although they would result in debt to EBITDA of c.9 times and an interest expense of c9% per annum, which is at the upper limit for a pub securitisation, the board believes that they would provide a stable capital structure.
“The board believes that the restructuring proposals deliver more value for all Noteholders than default. Everyone has something to gain by voting for the proposals.
Default
He added: “Failure to effect a restructuring will lead to a default in the securitisation, which is expected to have a material negative impact on the business.
“Punch has a very good underlying business with a positive future and its assets provide a focal point for 4,000 communities across the UK.
Just as Punch’s operational performance is turning the corner, the last thing the business needs is for continued uncertainty. The restructuring would provide certainty and stability for the business from which all stakeholders will benefit.
“In the next few days stakeholders have it in their hands to vote in favour of the restructuring proposals to end this uncertainty.”
'Real concerns'
Meanwhile, talking to The Telegraph, Billingham made a last minute plea to creditors to back the proposals, warning that negotiations would likely go on for years if the deal isn’t passed.
He said: “An administrative receivership of this company could last four to five years, it could last longer. We can’t see, post a default, a very simple way these structures would get sorted out.”
“It just ends up with a mess,” Billingham told the paper. “I have real concerns that nobody has an alternative out there that is realistic or sensible.”
