DALLAS, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Community Newspapers Inc. (Pink Sheets: ACNI) today announced that its subsidiary operating company American Community Newspapers LLC ("ACN" or the "Company") has voluntarily filed petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
ACN will continue to operate its businesses during the reorganization process. There will be no change in the Company's day to day operating activity and its newspapers will continue to serve their local communities, readers and advertisers without interruption. ACN's secured creditors will be providing a $5 million debtor in possession credit facility. In addition, the secured creditors are the contemplated stalking horse bidder for ACN's assets.
"A difficult economic environment and weak advertising market have created a number of challenges for our industry and our company," said Gene Carr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ACN. "While we have proactively managed our business by right sizing our cost structure and driving efficiencies to maximizing our cash flows our operations are not able to support our current capital structure. As a result we intend to reorganize via the 363 sale process with continuing support from our lenders which, if approved, will reduce our debt. This will place us in a better position to execute on our business plan and serve our communities. We worked with our financial advisors to explore a wide range of alternatives before making this filing, however the decision to proceed with the reorganization was determined to be the best alternative."
Mr. Carr concluded, "The community newspaper business model places us in the unique position to deliver truly local content and be the mainstay of the markets we serve. The value we provide has been recognized many times over the years with our employees, newspapers, Web sites and niche publications winning numerous awards. Our readers and advertisers are our most important assets and we are committed to providing them with outstanding service in the months and years ahead."
About American Community Newspapers
ACN is a community newspaper publisher in the United States, operating within four major U.S. markets: Minneapolis - St. Paul; Dallas; Northern Virginia (suburban Washington, D.C.); and Columbus, Ohio. These markets are some of the most affluent, high growth markets in the United States, with ACN strategically positioned in many of the wealthiest counties within each market. ACN's goal is to be the preeminent provider of local content and advertising in any market it serves.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to ACN's future financial or business performance, strategies and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "trend," "potential," "opportunity," "pipeline," "believe," "comfortable," "expect," "anticipate," "current," "intention," "estimate," "position," "assume," "outlook," "continue," "remain," "maintain," "sustain," " seek, " "achieve," and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," "may" and similar expressions.
American Community Newspapers Inc.
CONTACT: Investors, Corey Kinger, kinger@braincomm.com, +1-212-986-6667,
or Media, Joe LoBello, lobello@braincomm.com, +1-212-986-6667, both of
Brainerd Communicators for American Community Newspapers
