Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc. Enters into Asset Purchase Agreement for the Sale of Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap
Files Voluntary Chapter 11 Petitions to Facilitate Sale; Restaurants
Open and Operating as Usual
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ignite Restaurant Group, owner of the Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House
Tavern + Tap brands, announced that it has entered into an agreement
with an affiliate of Kelly Companies, a San Diego based private equity
firm, pursuant to which it would sell both of its brands for a cash bid
offer.
In order to facilitate the sale, Ignite and certain of its subsidiaries
have filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern
District of Texas.
Pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, Ignite also will be
filing a motion for the implementation of bidding procedures to allow
other companies the opportunity to submit bids through a
Court-supervised process to purchase the assets being sold. Ignite
anticipates the sale transaction, which is subject to customary closing
conditions, will be completed within 60 to 90 days. Piper Jaffray & Co
is being retained to conduct a sale process under the bid procedures,
pursuant to which Piper Jaffray will seek higher or better offers from
prospective bidders interested in purchasing the business as a whole or
any of its component parts.
Both Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap restaurants will
remain open and operating as usual and Ignite customers can expect to
continue to enjoy the same great food and service that they have come to
expect from our brands.
"Today's sale agreement represents the culmination of a long and
thorough process, and is an important step in positioning Joe's and
Brick House for future growth and success," said CEO Jonathan Tibus.
Michael Kelly, CEO of KRG Acquisitions Co, LLC (an affiliate of Kelly
Companies), said that he is "excited about acquiring a well-known
national brand such as Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap. We
look forward to delivering great food and impeccable customer service to
the many valued customers of Joe's and Brick House. KRG believes Joe's
and Brick House will benefit from KRG's experience in the casual dining
industry and its existing operational capabilities."
Ignite has established a Restructuring Information Hotline for
interested parties at (844) 752-2747. Additional information can be
found on the Ignite website at http://www.igniterestaurants.com.
Court filings and information about the claims process can be found at a
separate website maintained by Ignite's claims agent, Garden City Group,
at www.gardencitygroup.com/cases/irg
Alvarez & Marsal is serving as financial advisor, Piper Jaffray & Co is
serving as M&A advisor and King & Spalding LLP is serving as legal
advisor to Ignite.
ABOUT IGNITE RESTAURANT GROUP
Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates
a portfolio of restaurant concepts, including Joe's Crab Shack and Brick
House Tavern + Tap, in a diverse set of markets across the United
States. Each brand offers a variety of high-quality food in a
distinctive, casual, high-energy atmosphere. For more information on
Ignite and its distinctive brands visit www.igniterestaurantgroup.com.
ABOUT KRG ACQUISITIONS CO, LLC
KRG Acquisitions Co, LLC is the acquisitions arm of Kelly Companies of
Southern California, LLC ("Kelly Companies"). Kelly Companies and their
affiliates are a San Diego based private equity firm formed in 1993 that
has been a buyer of real estate, companies and debt. Kelly Companies
currently owns and operates over 100 restaurants nationwide.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release, and other statements that the Company may make, may
contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and include statements
regarding, among other things, expectations about the timing and
execution of the Company's bankruptcy plan, the Company's future
financial condition and future business plans and expectations,
including statements related to the effect of, and our expectations with
respect to, the operation of our business, adequacy of financial
resources and commitments, and the operating expectations during the
pendency of the Company's Chapter 11 cases and impacts to its business
related thereto. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the
current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management, but are
subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results
and/or the timing of events to differ materially from those set forth in
the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the risk that
the Company may not be able to consummate the sale transactions
contemplated by the asset purchase agreement; the fact that the
transactions contemplated by the asset purchase agreement and documents
are subject to certain conditions, which conditions may not be satisfied
for various reasons, including for reasons outside of the Company's
control; risks and uncertainties relating to the Chapter 11 cases,
including but not limited to, (i) the Company's ability to obtain
Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11
Cases, (ii) the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase
Agreement, (iii) the effects of the Company's bankruptcy filing on the
Company and on the interests of various constituents, (iv) Bankruptcy
Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases and the outcome of the cases in
general, (v) the length of time the Company will operate under the
Chapter 11 Cases, (vi) risks associated with third party motions in the
Chapter 11 Cases, which may interfere with the Company's ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase
Agreement, (vii) the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases
on the Company's liquidity or results of operations, (viii) increased
legal costs to execute the Company's reorganization, and other risks and
uncertainties, (ix) the Company's ability to maintain contracts, trade
credit and other customer, joint venture partner and/or vendor
relationships that are essential to the Company's operations, and (x)
the Company's ability to retain key executives and employees, and (xi)
the factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2017 and its
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 3, 2017. You are urged to
consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking
statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by
this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170606006509/en/
Investor Relations
For Ignite
Restaurant Group, Inc.
Fitzhugh Taylor, 203-682-8261
fitzhugh.taylor@icrinc.com
Source: Ignite Restaurant Group
News Provided by Acquire Media
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