SFX Entertainment [SFXE] Explores Bankruptcy, Hires Restructuring Experts 26 Weeks After $260 Million IPO

SFX is exploring the protections available in federal bankruptcy, according to a new SEC filing. The EDM conglomerate also announced that it had hired restructuring experts TI Consulting to lead the effort. SFXE stock fell 10.5% on Thursday to $.22.In a Thursday SEC filing. SFX Entertainment (SFXE) said it would explore bankruptcy options and hired restructuring experts TI Consulting. From the filing:

"In connection with its obligations under the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement, the Company has retained financial advisory firm FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”) to serve as the Company’s Chief Restructuring Officer…There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in identifying or implementing, on favorable terms or at all, any financial or strategic alternatives, which may include restructuring the Company’s debt, the issuance of additional equity or debt, or the sale of some or all of the Company’s assets. In order to facilitate its reorganization, the Company may consider utilizing the available protections under the federal bankruptcy laws."SFX owns or controls a variety of EDM promoters and festival brands including Tomorrowland, Electric Zoo, Stereosonic, Voodoo Experience and Rock in Rio. Other holdings include online EDM destination Beatport and marketing firm Fame House.Dramatic FallThe company's dramatic fall comes just 26 weeks after the company filed its IPO raising $260 million at a $1 billion valuation. Investors originally flocked to SFXE hoping that controversial founder Robert Sillerman could bring disparate players in the hot electronic dance music sector together, as he did with concert promotion in 1990's. Then Sillerman spent $1.2 billion buying regional concert promoters before selling to Clear Channel for $3.3 billion in 2000. Full SEC FilingSFX Entertainment (NASDAQ: SFXE) disclosed in an SEC filing:On December 31, 2015, GoldenTree Asset Management LP assigned all of its rights as lender under SFX Entertainment Inc.’s $30 million revolving credit facility to Catalyst Fund Limited Partnership V (“Catalyst”). Concurrently with such assignment, SFX Entertainment Inc. and certain of its affiliated companies (the “Company”) and Catalyst entered into that certain forbearance agreement and first amendment to credit agreement (the “Forbearance and Amendment Agreement”), dated as of December 31, 2015, amending certain terms of the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), dated as of September 17, 2015.Among other things, the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement modifies the Credit Agreement by (i) providing for a forbearance period through the earlier to occur of January 28, 2016, or the occurrence of an event of default under the Credit Agreement, during which Catalyst will not exercise its rights with respect to certain existing and identified defaults by the Company under the Credit Agreement, (ii) appointing Catalyst as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement in replacement of Barclays Bank PLC, (iii) increasing the applicable interest rates for loans under the Credit Agreement to 20.00% per annum, (iv) providing for interest payments to be due on the last day of each calendar month, (v) providing for an early termination payment of $1.5 million in the event the Company pre-pays the loans under the Credit Agreement, (vi) requiring the Company to engage a Chief Restructuring Officer reasonably acceptable to Catalyst, and (vii) restricting and limiting certain commercial and dividend payments and asset sales by the Company during the term of the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement contemplates Catalyst providing $20.0 million in credit to a material European subsidiary of the Company to be guaranteed on a first lien basis by select non-domestic subsidiaries of the Company (the “Foreign Loan”), which Foreign Loan shall be used to support the operations of the Company and its European operations. Under the terms of the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement, the Company shall pay a $1.0 million forbearance fee to Catalyst simultaneous with the closing of the Foreign Loan.The foregoing description of the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement in this Current Report does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.Item 8.01 Other Events.In connection with its obligations under the Forbearance and Amendment Agreement, the Company has retained financial advisory firm FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”) to serve as the Company’s Chief Restructuring Officer. FTI will assist the Company in evaluating and assessing various restructuring and strategic alternatives, including working with management to analyze and optimize operations and financial performance. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in identifying or implementing, on favorable terms or at all, any financial or strategic alternatives, which may include restructuring the Company’s debt, the issuance of additional equity or debt, or the sale of some or all of the Company’s assets. In order to facilitate its reorganization, the Company may consider utilizing the available protections under the federal bankruptcy laws.