Well, we saw it coming. Electric scooter manufacturer Vectrix Motorcycles has finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. For those that didn’t learn the intricacies of Chapter 11 filings from the recent reorganization of General Motors, Vectrix as we know it will be transfered to a new corporation (New Corp.), while the bad assets and debt of the company remain in old company (Old Corp.). In this case, New Corp. will take the form of “New Vectrix LLC” and the move will leave the brand with minimal debt obligations (at the detriment of its current creditors).
While a pretty standard announcement for a Chapter 11 filing, Vectrix isn’t out of the woods yet. This filing will give Vectrix the second chance it needs, but it does nothing to address the fundamental problems that caused the company to go bankrupt in the first place (much like GM you say??!).
Hopefully with proper management, this move will give Vectrix the second chance it needs to be successful. The Chapter 11 filing is at least a good sign for the company and creditors as a Chapter 7 filing would have meant both parties would have been S.O.L. Such is the miracle of the United States Bankruptcy Court. Press release after the jump.
Vectrix Bankruptcy Press Release:
MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Vectrix Corporation (AIM: VRX) (www.vectrix.com), a leader in Personal Electric Vehicles, announced today that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell most of the assets of the Company to New Vectrix LLC (”New Vectrix”), a Delaware limited liability company sponsored by GH Venture Partners LLC. As part of the agreement, Vectrix has filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in Wilmington, Delaware whereby the sale of the assets, including its stock ownership of its European subsidiaries, will be effected pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. The assets will be sold pursuant to a sales and procedures order that is anticipated to be approved by the Bankruptcy Court to either New Vectrix LLC or to another buyer who is determined by the Bankruptcy Court to have offered a higher and better bid for the assets of the Company. During this process, the Company expects to continue normal business operations consistent with its obligations as a chapter 11 debtor-in-possession company under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court. The Company’s subsidiary, Vectrix Poland Sp. z.o.o., will continue to produce the Vectrix bike and will provide customers with accessories, spare parts and technical support.
Commenting on the sale, Mike Boyle, CEO of Vectrix, said, “This transaction provides a platform to continue the Vectrix brand and its advanced electric vehicle technology. We want to express our appreciation to our partners and customers for their continued patience and support during this transition.”
Terms of Asset Purchase Agreement
Under the Asset Purchase Agreement, New Vectrix LLC would purchase substantially all of the Company’s assets and assume certain of the Company’s liabilities through a supervised sale under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Providing New Vectrix LLC is the winning bidder they have also agreed to extend warranty coverage on the Vectrix vehicles previously sold to dealers and consumers up to a $2,000,000 cap for claims filed 60 days post-petition. The total purchase price consists of a cash payment of $1,750,000 plus the assumption of up to $3,306,000 in specified liabilities for a total purchase price of up to $5,056,000, but is subject to higher and better bids, approval of the Bankruptcy Court and customary closing conditions. The Company expects to engage in a bidding process with other interested parties. Those interested in submitting bids should contact John D. McGuinness, Chief Financial Officer, at 401-848-9993 ext 103, or via email at jmcguinness@vectrixusa.com, as soon as possible as competing bids are expected to be due by October 27, 2009.
The Company’s report and accounts for the year ended September 30, 2008 will not be published before September 30, 2009. On that date, trading on AIM in the Company’s securities will have been suspended from trading for six months, and as a consequence of AIM Rule 41 those securities’ admission to AIM will be cancelled with effect from October 1, 2009.
About Vectrix Corporation
Vectrix Corporation was formed in 1996 to develop and commercialize zero-emission vehicle platform technologies focused on two-wheel applications. The single focus of Vectrix has been to provide clean, efficient, reliable and affordable urban transportation. Vectrix Corporation has headquarters in Middletown, R.I., engineering and test facilities in New Bedford, Mass., sales offices in the UK and a manufacturing facility in Wroclaw, Poland.
Source: Vectrix Motorcycles via HFL
What about that “bidding process” the company has to go through? Any thoughts about who might be interested in Vectrix?