Covia Announces Plan to Create Sustainable Capital Structure and Reduce Long-Term Obligations by More than $1 Billion

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Covia (NYSE:CVIA) today announced that it has taken a major step toward creating a sustainable capital structure by reducing debt and eliminating excess fixed costs by more than $1 billion. The Company has entered into a restructuring support agreement (the "RSA") with holders of a majority of its secured debt for a comprehensive financial restructuring of its debt.

To implement the terms of the RSA, the Company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries have voluntarily filed petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. In addition to reducing its debt, the Company expects to significantly reduce excess fixed costs, improve operating cash flow and position the Company to better execute its go-forward business strategy through the Chapter 11 reorganization process. The Company's foreign subsidiaries, including those in Canada, Mexico and Denmark, were not included in the filings, and its international operations are continuing in the ordinary course.

Covia's U.S. operations will also continue in the ordinary course of business serving customers. The Company's current cash reserves of approximately $250 million are expected to provide substantial liquidity to fund operations, support its long-term investment program, and manage the reorganization process.

"The actions announced today are expected to significantly strengthen our balance sheet and improve our operating cash flow, making Covia an even stronger partner to our customers in both the near- and long-term," said Richard Navarre, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Following a careful and comprehensive review, the Board of Directors and management determined these actions are the best option to ensure the long-term success for Covia. We are pleased to have our lenders' support for our restructuring plan, which demonstrates their confidence in our ongoing operations. Their support of our plan should also allow us to complete this restructuring on an expedited timeframe."

Mr. Navarre noted that the unprecedented backdrop from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent energy price shocks have significantly impacted the Company's end markets and customers. 

"We have made important and substantial progress over the last year executing our strategy and aligning our business with changing market conditions, however, the negative impact of the pandemic and energy downturn has required this action," said Mr. Navarre. "The reorganization process we began today serves as the means to a new beginning, and we expect the actions we have taken recently will enhance the competitive position of our high-quality assets for the future."

Mr. Navarre commented that the Covia team remains steadfastly focused on operating safely and serving the Company's customers with quality products.

"We thank our customers for their support and also appreciate the continued cooperation of our business partners who play a key role in bringing our materials to market," he said. "We also thank our employees for their hard work and commitment to working safely and productively in the face of recent challenges. This gives me great confidence in our ability to continue to meet our customers' needs and successfully exit the process even stronger."

Covia has filed a number of customary motions seeking court authorization to support its operations during the court-supervised process, including the continued payment of employee wages and benefits without interruption. The Company intends to pay vendors and suppliers in full under normal terms for goods and services provided after the filing date. Covia expects to receive court approval for these requests and intends to move through the restructuring proceedings as quickly as possible.

Additional Information
Additional information can be found at ir.CoviaCorp.com. Court documents and other materials related to the court-supervised process are available on a website hosted by the Company's claims agent, Prime Clerk, at https://cases.primeclerk.com/Covia. The Company has established a call center for questions: 877-606-3610 if calling from within the U.S. or Canada, or 929-955-3452 if calling from outside the U.S. or Canada.  

Covia has retained Kirkland & Ellis LLP as its legal advisor, PJT Partners, LP as its investment banker and AlixPartners, LLP as its financial advisor. 

About Covia
Covia is a leading provider of diversified mineral solutions to the oil and gas, glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, sports and recreation markets. The Company serves its Industrial customers through a broad array of high-quality products, including high-purity silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay, kaolin, resin systems and coated materials, delivered through its comprehensive distribution network. Covia offers its Energy customers an unparalleled selection of proppant solutions, additives, and coated products to enhance well productivity and to address both surface and down-hole challenges in all well environments. Covia has built long-standing relationships with a broad customer base consisting of blue-chip customers. Underpinning these strengths is an unwavering commitment to safety and to sustainable development, further enhancing the value that Covia delivers to all of its stakeholders. For more information, visit CoviaCorp.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains statements which, to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"), and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the PSLRA. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of the Company's objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of the Company's management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance. Although the Company's management believes the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may materially affect the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the businesses of our customers; the bankruptcy process and the effects of the Chapter 11 cases, including increased professional costs, on the Company's liquidity, results of operations and business; the Company's ability to obtain approval from the Bankruptcy Court with respect to motions or other requests throughout the Chapter 11 case; the Company's ability to comply with the continued listing criteria of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and risks arising from the suspension of trading of the Company's common stock on, or delisting from, the NYSE; the effects of Chapter 11 on the interests of various constituents and the ability to negotiate, develop, confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; changes in prevailing economic conditions, including fluctuations in supply of, demand for, and pricing of, the Company's products; potential business uncertainties relating to the merger, including potential disruptions to the Company's business and operational relationships, the Company's ability to achieve anticipated synergies, and the anticipated costs, timing and complexity of the Company's integration efforts; loss of, or reduction in, business from the Company's largest customers or their failure to pay the Company; possible adverse effects of being leveraged, including interest rate, event of default or refinancing risks, as well as potentially limiting the Company's ability to invest in certain market opportunities; the Company's ability to successfully develop and market new products; the Company's rights and ability to mine its property and its renewal or receipt of the required permits and approvals from government authorities and other third parties; the Company's ability to implement and realize efficiencies from capacity expansion plans, and cost reduction initiatives within its time and budgetary parameters; increasing costs or a lack of dependability or availability of transportation services or infrastructure and geographic shifts in demand; changing legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to the Company's business, including environmental, mining, health and safety, licensing, reclamation and other regulation relating to hydraulic fracturing (and changes in their enforcement and interpretation); silica-related health issues and corresponding litigation; seasonal and severe weather conditions; other operating risks beyond the Company's control; the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 16, 2020; and the other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all such risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in its public announcements and SEC filings.

Investor contact:
Matthew Schlarb
440-214-3284
[email protected]

Media contact:
Nick Lamplough / Aaron Palash / Amy Feng
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449

SOURCE Covia Holdings Corporation

Related Links

https://www.coviacorp.com