francesca’sĀ® Announces Court Approval of Sale Process and Entry Into Stalking Horse Asset Purchase Agreement

Bids due on January 13, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern Time)
Company Enters Into Stalking Horse Agreement With TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital Group to Acquire Company as Going Concern, Subject to Higher and Better Offers
francescaās® Continuing to Serve Customers in the Ordinary Course
HOUSTON, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FrancescaāsĀ Holdings CorporationĀ (the āCompanyā) today announced that theĀ U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of DelawareĀ (the āCourtā) has authorized francescaāsĀ® to conduct an auction process for the Company. The auction process is designed to achieve the highest and best offer for the Companyās assets and would be conducted under the Courtās supervision and in accordance with the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
As previously announced, the Company entered into a Letter of Intent with TerraMar Capital, LLC (āTerraMarā), an investment firm that provides debt and equity capital to middle-market businesses, for TerraMar or an affiliate to become the stalking horse bidder for the auction and sale process. Today, the Company announced the execution of the stalking horse Asset Purchase Agreement (the āStalking Horse APAā) with TerraMarās affiliate, Francescaās Acquisition, LLC, and with Tiger Capital Group, LLC (collectively, the āBuyersā). The Stalking Horse APA sets the minimum acceptable bid at the auction and will be subject to higher or better offers.
Under the terms of the Stalking Horse APA, the Buyers have agreed to purchase substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries for approximately $17 million of cash, subject to certain adjustments, plus the assumption of substantial liabilities. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. It is also subject to higher or better offers in accordance with the bid procedures previously approved by the Bankruptcy Court, which require other bids to be submitted by January 13, 2021.
“We are pleased to announce the signing of a Stalking Horse Agreement with the Buyers and that the court has authorized us to proceed with the bid, auction and sale process. We are excited to partner with TerraMar, keeping us on track to position francescaāsĀ® for long-term success,ā saidĀ Andrew Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of francescaāsĀ®.
āWe are very excited to have reached an agreement with francescaāsĀ® and are enthusiastic for the strength of the brand and the future prospects for the business,ā said Joshua Phillips, Managing Partner of TerraMar Capital.
OnĀ December 3, 2020, francescaās® and certain of its affiliates commenced its voluntary chapter 11 cases to reorganize under chapter 11 of theĀ U.S.Ā Bankruptcy Code.Ā francescaās® has retained the services of OāMelveny & Myers LLP andĀ Richards Layton & Finger, P.A. as bankruptcy counsel and FTI Consulting, Inc. andĀ FTI Capital Advisors LLCĀ as the Companyās financial advisor and investment banker. TerraMar Capital, LLC and Francescaās Acquisition, LLC have retained the services of McDonald Hopkins LLC and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP as counsel. Tiger Capital Group provides asset valuation, advisory and disposition services to a broad range of retail, wholesale, and industrial clients.
Additional Information
Additional information about the proposed asset sale, as well as other documents related to the restructuring and reorganization proceedings, is available atĀ https://cases.stretto.com/francescas.
AboutĀ Francesca’s Holdings Corporation
francesca’s® is a specialty retailer that 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 today, francesca’s® operates approximately 553 boutiques in 45 states throughoutĀ the United StatesĀ and theĀ District of ColumbiaĀ and also serves its customers throughĀ www.francescas.comĀ and its mobile app. For additional information on francesca’sĀ®, please visitĀ www.francescas.com.
CompanyĀ Contact:
Cindy Thomassee
832-494-2240
IR@francescas.com