New Look Financing PLC, Re

This is an application by New Look Financing plc ("the Company") for an order convening a single meeting of the Scheme Creditors to consider and, if thought fit, approve a Scheme of Arrangement ("the Scheme") proposed by the Company pursuant to section 896 of the Companies Act 2006. The application was made by a Part 8 claim form dated 18 September 2020.

The Company is the issuer pursuant to a New York law governed indenture dated 3 May 2019 ("the Indenture") of (i) £400,131,636 12 per cent Senior Secured Notes due 3 May

The Company is part of a group of companies which operate in the retail, clothing, footwear, and accessories business. The Company, which has the function of a finance company within the Group, is an indirect subsidiary of New Look Retail Holdings Limited ("the Parent"). The principal operating company in the Group is New Look

The holders of the SSNs and the beneficial holders of those notes entitled to the issue of definitive notes are the Scheme Creditors under the terms of the Scheme. As is customary in schemes involving such notes, only the beneficial holders shall vote on the Scheme. The other holders of the legal right to the notes, including GLAS Trustees Limited as trustee, have confirmed in writing that they will not vote on the Scheme.

In broad outline the purpose of the Scheme is to equitize the debt owed to Scheme Creditors under the Indenture as part of a wider financial restructuring ("the Financial Restructuring") which is intended to recapitalise the Company and the Group to enable the Group to continue as a going concern. The Financial Restructuring is linked to an operational restructuring to be implemented by a company voluntary arrangement proposed by NLRL that was approved by a meeting of creditors on 15 September 2020

The Company is incorporated in England and Wales, has its COMI in the UK and at least one of the Scheme Creditors is understood to be domiciled in the UK.

I should say something more about the factual background to the application. The Group operates as a clothing, footwear and accessories retailer in the UK and Republic of Ireland. It principally sources and retails clothing, footwear, and accessories. The Group employs approximately 11,260 people. NLRL is, as I have said, the main operating company for the Group and for the business in the UK it is the main employer and is the primary leaseholder of the New Look branded stores in the United Kingdom.

The Group's debt structure is in summary as follows:

The SSNs, RCF and the Operating Facilities are secured by a common security package with amounts owed by the Group secured by an English law governed debenture dated 3 May 2019, which includes the shares and assets of the Company and NLRL.

As of 22 August 2020 the Group's outstanding debt pursuant to the above instruments and agreements came to a total of c. £295 million.

The Group's trading performance has been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown imposed in the UK.

The Group expects the pandemic to have a permanent impact on its business. It has forecasted that, as a result of a permanent structural shifting in consumer spend and habits from in-store shopping to online shopping, in-store footfall and sales will significantly reduce, which will result in many stores probably becoming unprofitable without securing significant changes to the economics of the Group's liabilities, including financial and lease liabilities. As a result, the directors of the Group consider that it needs to make permanent adjustments to its operating model. This has led to the CVA for NLRL and the Financial Restructuring of the financial liabilities.

On 26 August 2020 the directors of NLRL proposed the CVA with the overall objective of restoring the Group's viability through a combination of compromising rent arrears

On 13 August 2020 the Parent, the Company and other Group companies entered into a lockup agreement with certain financial creditors of the Group ("the Lock-up Agreement"). The parties to that agreement include all of the Group's lenders under the RCF and the Operating Facilities and now some 92 per cent of Scheme Creditors. The parties to the agreement have agreed to support, implement, and consummate the Financial Restructuring on the terms set out in a steps plan and term sheets contained within it.

The Financial Restructuring involves the following.

Only the second part of this restructuring (the equitization) is to be given effect by the Scheme. However, the Company submits that the court should also at least consider the third and fourth parts (the participation in the new money and the issue of A-ordinary shares) as part of the compromise or arrangement to be given effect to by the Scheme when considering class issues. I shall return to this point in a moment.

There are two reasons for the steps involving new money not being proposed as part of the Scheme. First it was necessary to determine which Scheme Creditors were willing to invest new money as early as possible given the liquidity needs of the Company and the Group and because of various regulatory filings and antitrust filings that are required to be made before closing. Those matters meant that the new money subscribers had to be identified by 14 September 2020. Second, there is a potential legal issue about the extent to which a scheme of arrangement may impose new obligations on scheme creditors. The course adopted by the Company means that this issue does not arise.

The amendments to the RCF and the Operating Facilities have nothing to do with the Scheme Creditors and were capable of being delt with bilaterally with the relevant facility lenders.

As to the structuring of the PIK Loan and the issue of the A-shares, these occur outside the Scheme, albeit they are linked to the Scheme in the sense that they are part of the Financial Restructuring and the Scheme is itself an integral part of the Financial Restructuring. All Scheme Creditors have an equal entitlement to lock-up in support of the Scheme under the terms of the Lock-up Agreement and all Scheme Creditors who have done so have an equal entitlement to elect to participate pro rata in the PIK Loan.

I turn to what would happen were the Scheme not to be sanctioned and become effective. I am satisfied on the evidence that the likely alternative to the Scheme is a formal insolvency of the Company and of the other Group companies either in administration or in liquidation in which the business of the Company ceases and the assets are realised on a breakup basis rather than a going concern basis. As to this, I note the following.

In these circumstances, in the absence of the Scheme, the directors consider that they would probably have no choice other than to initiate formal insolvency proceedings. I am satisfied that that is probable. The directors of the Company consider that in that event the outcome for Scheme Creditors and indeed for all creditors of the Group would be materially worse than the outcome offered by the Scheme and the Financial Restructuring.

Their assessment is supported by two further matters: (i) the Group, assisted by its advisors, has already initiated a process to solicit potential interest in the Group by way of a sale or an alternative recapitalisation transaction (as I have already indicated, no better offers than the consideration offered under the Scheme have been made in response to those solicitations); and (ii) the Group has instructed KPMG to undertake an independent valuation of the Group's business as at 30 June 2020 and the directors have then undertake a consequential indicative analysis as to how this might translate into recoveries for Scheme Creditors if the Financial Restructuring were not to succeed.

KPMG's analysis is summarised in the explanatory statement. They give an estimated market value of the Group's business ranging from £117 million to £378 million on a going concern basis, assuming the Group have no issues regarding liquidity. On a highlevel liquidation valuation based on an orderly wind-down scenario, KPMG has given estimates for the market value of the Group's business ranging from £93.4 million to £175.9 million.

The directors have produced an illustrative application of estimated values in an orderly liquidation scenario using the security proceeds waterfall set out in the intercreditor agreement under which the RCF and Operating Facilities rank super-senior to and would recover ahead of the SSNs. This results in prospective estimated recoveries for Scheme Creditors on a low case of 0p in the pound and on a high case of 2.59p in the pound. There is no guarantee that any liquidation would be orderly, and therefore the returns may be lower than those estimated in the high case.

The directors also consider that the high end of the brand recovery analysis used in the KPMG valuation may be over-optimistic compared to brand valuations on comparable transactions. In the light of these factors, when set against the potential recoveries in the likely comparator of liquidation or administration, KPMG have opined that the value to be received by Scheme Creditors pursuant to the Scheme is fair from a financial point of view, taking into account all the circumstances, and appears likely to be greater than the value to be realised through an administration or liquidation. I should mention that KPMG have undertaken a duty of care to the Company in preparing these estimates but not to the Scheme Creditors, and this is reflected in the explanatory statement.

It is ultimately for Scheme Creditors to make their own assessment of the benefits they may or may not derive under the Scheme. The potential return via the equitization of the SSNs is not free from risk and is in a form different from the debt obligations presently owned. However, it appears to be a potential return that is capable of being attractive to Scheme Creditors, particularly when compared to the write-off of the SSNs as a failed investment if the Scheme were not to be approved. This is supported by the fact that over 92 per cent of the Scheme Creditors have entered into or acceded to the Lock-Up Agreement.

The Scheme is set out in the Scheme Document and summarised in the explanatory statement. I have already explained its commercial essence. The Scheme Document confers authority on the Company and others to execute the implementation documents. The Scheme also gives effect to releases to third parties, including the directors involved in the formulation and promotion of the Scheme and to guarantors of the debt owed to Scheme Creditors. The detailed implementation steps are provided for in a restructuring implementation deed. This is a technical document that deals with the sequencing of the execution of documents to implement the Scheme. The explanatory statement includes an explanation of the steps contained in the restructuring implementation deed, together with copies of all of the documents to be executed pursuant to the authority conferred by the Scheme and in order to give definitive effect to its releases.

The application before me today is made under section 896(1) of the Companies Act 2006. The Practice Statement dated 26 June 2020 in relation to schemes of arrangement makes provision for the procedure to be followed where applications are made to convene meetings of creditors for the purpose of considering proposals for a scheme of arrangement.

The Practice Statement indicates that: (i) the applicant should draw to the attention of the court as soon as possible any issues concerning the jurisdiction to sanction the scheme and the composition of classes; (ii) for this purpose, unless there are good reasons for not doing so, the applicant should take all steps reasonably open to it to notify any person affected by the scheme that is being promoted, the purpose which the scheme is designed to achieve, the meetings of creditors which the applicant considers will be appropriate and their composition, any matters affecting the jurisdiction to sanction the scheme or other matter save in relation to the merits of the scheme which might lead the court not to do so (see paragraphs 6 and 7); and (iii) in deciding whether or not to order meetings of creditors, the court will consider whether more than one meeting of creditors is required, and, if so, the appropriate composition of those meetings (see paragraph 11).

No creditors have appeared at this hearing to raise any objections to the proposed class composition.

The function of the court at the convening stage is emphatically not to consider the merits or fairness of the proposed Scheme which will arise for consideration at the future sanction hearing if the Scheme is approved by the statutory majority of creditors. However, the court should consider whether there is any jurisdictional roadblock that would unquestionably lead the court to refuse to sanction the Scheme and, as the Practice Statement shows, the court will also consider whether more than one meeting of creditors is required.

Dealing first with notification to the Scheme Creditors, paragraph 8 of the Practice Statement requires that persons affected by the Scheme be notified in sufficient time before the convening hearing. In this case a Practice Statement letter dated 2 September 2020 was transmitted to Scheme Creditors on that date. I consider that the period of notification of three weeks is appropriate, particularly in the light of the related CVA timetable and the Company's and Group's anticipated critical liquidity issues during the week commencing 26 October 2020 if a concluded restructuring has not occurred by that time.

As I have already said, no Scheme Creditor has raised any creditor issues in relation to the Scheme which require resolution at this stage.

It is well established that beneficial owners of notes held through a clearance system are capable of voting on a scheme of arrangement. It is sufficient if a beneficial holder of notes is a contingent creditor of the issue provided that the security documentation contains a mechanism by which he can upon request or on default become a direct creditor of the issuer (here, the Company). I am satisfied that this applies to the SSNs in the present case. As I have already indicated, the other potential Scheme Creditors, such as the trustee under the Indenture, have indicated in writing that they will not vote, so there is no risk of double counting.

I turn now to the question of the composition of the class or classes of Scheme Creditors. Whether Scheme Creditors fall into the same class or different classes depends on the question of whether their rights in relation to the relevant Scheme Company are so dissimilar that it is impossible for them to consult together with a view to their common interest: see Re Hawk Insurance Co Ltd [2001] 2 BCLC 480 at [30]-[33]. The answer to this question depends on an analysis of (a) the rights against the relevant Scheme Company which are to be released or varied under the Scheme, and (b) the new rights which the Scheme gives to the Scheme Creditors by way of compromise or arrangement. This two-stage test is applied broadly so as not to create an unwarranted veto in the hands of the minority: see Hawk at [33]. Where, in the absence of the Scheme, it is likely that the Company would enter into a formal insolvency process, the existing rights of creditors are the rights they would have in such insolvency process. In applying the twostage test, the court is concerned with the rights as between the Company and the Scheme Creditors and not the interests of those creditors: see Re Primacom Holding GmbH [2013] BCC 201 at [44]-[45].

The Company here considers that the Scheme Creditors fall into a simple class. I agree for the following reasons.

First, all Scheme Creditors have the same antecedent rights against the Company under the Indenture and are being treated in the same way under the Scheme in terms of the rights that the Scheme releases and confers, in particular:

Second, the fact that some 92 per cent of Scheme Creditors have agreed to the Lock-up Agreement does not of itself affect this conclusion. No consent fee has been paid or is payable under or in connection with the Lock-up Agreement. A lock-up agreement which binds signatories to support a scheme does not of itself fracture the putative single class between those who have and those who have not locked up: see Re Telewest Communications plc (No 1) [2005] 1 BCLC 752 at [53].

Third, a series of recent cases has emphasised the need for the court to look beyond the four corners of the Scheme Document when assessing class composition: see, for instance, Re Stemcor plc [2016] BCC 194, Re Global Garden SPA [2016] EWHC 1884 (Ch) and Re Codere Finance 2 (UK) Ltd [2020] EWHC 2441. Where the steps to be taken under the scheme are part and parcel of a wider restructuring, it may be necessary to consider other aspects of the restructuring. Some creditors may obtain forms of hidden consideration or other benefits under the restructuring which are unavailable to others, and this may affect their ability to consult together with a view to their common interest. The Company submits in the present case that it is appropriate to consider the right to participate in the PIK Loan and the A-shares as part of the overall arrangement to be given effect to in connection with, but not under, the Scheme.

The Company submits and I agree that even taking that wider view, no separate class issues arise: under the terms of the Lock-up Agreement all Scheme Creditors had the same right to elect to participate in the PIK Facility Loan by agreeing to do so before the cut-off date of 14 September 2020. In order to participate they had to agree to advance new monies, which involved them in taking on additional risk. 14 September 2020 was (as I have said) the latest date on which that opportunity could remain open because of a need for those who would hold the A ordinary shares to make necessary regulatory and antitrust filings in order for Scheme Creditors to receive equity in time for the Financial Restructuring to be concluded during the week commencing 26 October 2020. There is no reason to think it was an arbitrary or unrealistic deadline. It follows that any difference in rights between Scheme Creditors as at the date of the Scheme meeting arising from the entitlement to take part in the PIK Loan arises out of the choice to participate (and assume fresh risk) that was open to all Scheme Creditors equally. Though not all made that choice, all Scheme Creditors at the Scheme meeting will, in my view, be united in their consideration of whether the Scheme consideration offered is fair consideration in exchange for the release of their rights as Scheme Creditors. Equally, to my mind no material difference in rights arises from the fact that, as a result of the election described above, the Scheme Creditors participating in the PIK Loan will be allotted voting A-shares in the Parent or from the fact that the most substantial holders of such A-shares will have certain special rights, for example, in relation to the appointment of board members arising from the level of their holding of A-shares. The first of these differences arises from the decision whether or not to participate in the PIK Loan (a choice that was open to all Scheme Creditors equally) and the second is merely a function of the number of shares held as a result of that choice, not any difference in rights as between the A-ordinary shareholders: cf. In Re Hibu Group Ltd [2016] EWHC 1921 (Ch).

The next point to note is that there is a backstop commitment in connection with the PIK Loan. There is however no backstop fee or other backstop consideration provided to the backstop providers. This point therefore does not disturb my prima facie conclusion about classes.

For these reasons I agree with the Company's assessment that they should be a single class of Scheme Creditors.

Though it is a matter going to sanction rather than calling of meetings, I note that the Scheme contains various releases. It is customary for such releases to given as part of a scheme: see Lecta Paper UK Ltd [2020] EWHC 382 and Re Matalan Finance plc [2020] EWHC 2345 (Ch). I do not consider that the inclusion of such releases operates as a roadblock or is relevant to the composition of the Scheme meeting.

I turn now to the question of whether there are any jurisdictional roadblocks that would prevent the Scheme going forward to a meeting. The first point is that the court has jurisdiction to sanction a scheme in relation to a "company" being "any company being liable to be wound up under the Insolvency Act 1986": see section 895(2) of the Companies Act 2006. The Company is such a company, being formed and incorporated in England and Wales.

The next question relevant to jurisdiction is whether the fact that certain of the Scheme Creditors may be incorporated in UK member states other than the UK has any impact on the jurisdiction of the court to sanction the Scheme. It has become customary for the English court to assume (without deciding) that the recast Judgments Regulation applies to schemes of arrangement then to determine on that assumption whether the court would have jurisdiction. The Company submits that, on that assumption, article 8 of the Regulation is satisfied on the basis that at least one Scheme Creditor is domiciled here.

In another series of cases the court has indicated that a sufficient number of creditors must be domiciled within the UK: see, eg, Re Van Gansewinkel Groep BV [2016] 2 BCLC 138. Under those cases it is suggested that, while a majority of UK-domiciled creditors is not a requirement, there needs to be a sufficient number to support the conclusion that a hearing in the UK would be expedient. In Re Lecta Paper UK Ltd [2020] EWHC 382 (Ch) at [48], Trower J said that he preferred the first line of cases, and I agree. The requirement of at least one defendant domiciled within the contracting state under article 8 is separate from the requirement that it be expedient for the proceedings to take place in that state.

In the present case the Company believes that at least one of the Scheme Creditors is domiciled in this jurisdiction. It also contends (with force) that it is expedient for the claim to be brought before the English courts on the footing that the Company is incorporated here, has its COMI here and because the business and assets of the Company and Group are predominantly based in the UK. It is not necessary for the court to reach a final decision on this point, and it may be that, after the meeting of creditors, it becomes clearer what proportion and number of the creditors are domiciled in the UK.

As to the effectiveness of the Scheme, the Company intends to adduce and rely on expert evidence at the sanction hearing to establish that the Scheme will be effective in practice

For these reasons I do not think that there is any roadblock to the effectiveness of the Scheme at this stage.

I turn to the question of notice, timing, and conduct of the Scheme meetings. The Company seeks directions that it be entitled to conduct the Scheme meeting via webinar and the order contains details of how it is to be carried out. The means by which an effective remote hearing may be held so as to conform with the requirements of the Act were set out by Trower J in In Re Castle Trust Direct plc [2020] EWHC 969 (Ch) at [36]-[44]. I consider that the course proposed by the Company in the present case complies with that guidance. One point specifically to mention is that provision should be made for a virtual breakup facility to enable the Scheme Creditors to confer amongst themselves if required at any point in the meeting. It will, of course, be a matter for the court hearing the sanction application to decide whether the meeting conducted in accordance with the order of the court was effective and fair and constituted a meeting for the purposes of the Companies Act. It will do so in the light of the report from the meeting chair. I am satisfied that the detailed proposals for notification and conduct of the meeting set out in the draft order are appropriate.

The Company seeks a special order in respect of the court file. CPR 5.4C(4) permits the court to restrict access to non-parties. The court is asked that access is restricted in respect of certain confidential and commercially sensitive documents save with the permission of the court, which permission is to be applied for on three days' written notice to the Company. There is, however, no intention to preclude access by Scheme Creditors or their representatives. The reason for this order being sought is that the specified documents are confidential and commercially sensitive and unrestrained inspection may prejudice the Company by, for example, advantaging a competitor of the Company which would thereby require knowledge of details about its debt and maturity dates, its costs of funds, and covenants. Orders of this kind have been made in other schemes: see, eg, Re Stripes US Holdings Inc [2018] EWHC 2912 (Ch). I consider that it is appropriate to make such an order, restricting it to specified identified documents rather than the whole of the evidence filed in support of this application.

Finally, I am asked to make a declaration that Mr Collier is the appointed foreign representative, to act as such in any Chapter 15 proceedings in the US Bankruptcy Court in respect of the Scheme Company and that he is authorised to take all necessary and appropriate steps for that purpose. I am prepared to make that order.

I have been taken through the draft order by counsel for the Company and, with some amendments which have been discussed during the hearing, I am satisfied that it is appropriate to make such an order.