Cineworld Group Plc filed for bankruptcy in Texas in an effort to tame its US$5 billion debt pile.
The UK-based movie theater chain, which draws most of its revenues from the US after the acquisition of Regal Cinemas in 2018, filed for Chapter 11 protection on Wednesday. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a company to continue operating while it works out a plan to repay creditors.
Cineworld has commitments for US$1.94 billion of bankruptcy financing lined up from existing secured lenders, the company said in a statement. The company expects to “significantly” slash its debt load with the support of its lenders in Chapter 11, according to the statement.
Earlier in August, Cineworld surprised investors with an announcement that it was looking to restructure its balance sheet, in a move that will “likely result in a very significant dilution of existing equity interests.”
The company said it’s planning to keep its theaters open as it seeks to restructure the debt. Centerbridge Partners, Eaton Vance, Invesco Ltd. and State Street Corp. are among Cineworld’s largest creditors.