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Henry Juszkiewicz

Gibson’s Speedy Bankruptcy Exit Hits a Big Roadblock

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Gibson's G-Force auto-tunerI have to admit, Strata-gee was considering moving on from its Gibson Brands (Gibson Guitar) coverage, first started in 2012 when the company made several acquisitions as part of an ill-advised foray into the consumer electronics business. As delineated in our copious coverage, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz turned to OPM (other people’s money) loading the company up with over half a billion dollars in debt to pursue a business in which the company had no expertise…ultimately resulting in Gibson’s bankruptcy filing in May of this year.

Gibson’s major creditors banded together, put together what some would call a pre-packaged bankruptcy plan and looked as though they would exit bankruptcy late November/early December. They were wrong. As they tried to power out of bankruptcy, they hit a brick wall – the United States Trustee who has filed a serious objection to their motion to exit bankruptcy.

Now what? See what the U.S. Trustee objects to in Gibson’s plans… [Read more…] about Gibson’s Speedy Bankruptcy Exit Hits a Big Roadblock

Gibson to Emerge from Bankruptcy & Stop Singing the Blues

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With Old Debt Gone, A New Leader & Team Arrives

Logo for Gibson BrandsGibson Brands is on the verge of emerging from bankruptcy a much healthier business in many respects – with less debt, more money in the bank, and a new leader to help the company shed its consumer electronics debacle and reconnect with the musical instrument market. The fifth time, it appears, was a charm as the court has approved the fifth revision of a company submitted turnaround plan that, cuts debt, jettisons former CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and puts bondholders KKR in the driver’s seat.

See more on Gibson’s dramatic turnaround… [Read more…] about Gibson to Emerge from Bankruptcy & Stop Singing the Blues

Gibson Begins Leadership Makeover w/New CFO

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Gibson's 2019 guitar lineupGibson Brands’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings have continued to incessantly march forward, the gritty work of a large scale matter such as this occurring mostly in the background. However, occasionally a major factor emerges to be picked up by the media. One thing the new owners of Gibson made a fundamental part of this initiative, was to change  the organization’s leadership.

This week, we learned that the company will soon emerge from bankruptcy with a new chief financial officer (CFO) – announcing the appointment of Kimberly Mattoon for the role.

See more on this Gibson news… [Read more…] about Gibson Begins Leadership Makeover w/New CFO

Gibson, Protected from Creditors, Still Loses Money

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News of Gibson’s $10M Monthly Loss Gives Some Pause

Photo of Gibson CES promoGibson Brands, Inc. declared bankruptcy on May 1, 2018, thereby placing themselves in Chapter 11 protection from creditors. Now under the guidance of bankruptcy court, the company buys itself time to put a plan together to present to the judge offering a path out of bankruptcy for the company. During this time, debts are frozen until the judge determines the final disposition – a disposition that typically includes some level of payment to debtors, both secured and unsecured.

So how is Gibson doing? According to a story by the Nashville Post, Gibson posted a loss of nearly $10 million in May – its first month under bankruptcy court protection from creditors.

See more on the bumpy bankruptcy road upon which Gibson finds itself… [Read more…] about Gibson, Protected from Creditors, Still Loses Money

Gibson Hits a Sour Note with Philips & Creditors

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Photo of Gibson CES promoGibson, as Strata-gee previously reported, filed for bankruptcy protection on May 1st in a pre-negotiated package with principal noteholders of the company’s substantial debt – debt that was now in default. But while that deal suggested a smooth path for the case through the bankruptcy court, it did not take into account the position of unsecured creditors, and especially Philips who describes itself as the largest unsecured creditor in the matter.

See more on the discord in Gibson’s bankruptcy proceedings… [Read more…] about Gibson Hits a Sour Note with Philips & Creditors

Painting the Gibson Bankruptcy by the Numbers

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Gibson Memphis facility artworkWe have been closely following – first Gibson Guitar and then Gibson Brands – from their decision in 2012 to shoot for the stars by using OPM (other people’s money) to make highly leveraged…and highly questionable…acquisitions of various consumer electronics brands (a category in which the CEO and his team had no experience) to their recent 2018 bankruptcy. Gibson was trying to diversify their musical instrument business into something that now former CEO Henry Juszkiewicz called a music lifestyle brand. Instead, they wound up in bankruptcy.

Let’s look at what some of the numbers in the Gibson filings reveal… [Read more…] about Painting the Gibson Bankruptcy by the Numbers

Docs Show Gibson Bankruptcy Bigger Than You Think

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Photo of Gibson CES promoFounded in 1894, it is a mark of their long-term brand success that Gibson has become such a large and far-flung international organization. In a cursory review of documents submitted to the court as part of their bankruptcy filing shows, legendary performers such as Muddy Waters, BB King, Elvis Presley, Pete Townsend, Keith Richards, Duane Allman, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, Slash, Dave Grohl, Joe Bonamassa all used various Gibson products that, in some cases, became a signature of that performer. And yes, the bankruptcy filing promotes these iconic names.

But from these Gibson filings, we’ve learned so much more… [Read more…] about Docs Show Gibson Bankruptcy Bigger Than You Think

Gibson Brands Files for Bankruptcy

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BREAKING NEWS

Filing Pre-Negotiated with Bondholders, CEO & Pres Stay thru Transition

Logo for Gibson BrandsGibson Brands Inc. announced today that it has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 11 denotes the company plans a reorganization and the company says it has reached an agreement with certain existing bondholders called a “Restructuring Support Agreement.” This agreement is with holders of more than 69.0% of the debt due in 2018

See more on this anticipated development… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Files for Bankruptcy

A Gibson Pile-On: Now Hit With a $50 Million Lawsuit

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Tronical logo

Gibson Brands CEO Henry Juszkiewicz has been very busy lately as he scrambles to arrange a $550 million bailout package in a desperate attempt to avoid bankruptcy for the storied brand. But he’s about to get a little busier as one of Gibson Guitar’s vendors, Tronical of Hamburg, Germany, sues the company for $50 million it says it is owed.

So now Tronical gets in line behind Gibson bondholders seeking payment… [Read more…] about A Gibson Pile-On: Now Hit With a $50 Million Lawsuit

Options Narrowing as Gibson & KKR Talks Fail

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Photo of Gibson CES promoWe learned last week that talks between Gibson Brands and deal making king KKR Credit Advisors fell apart in a dispute over “the appropriate consideration for the various parties involved,” according to a statement from Gibson Brands. As yet another bail-out opportunity slips by them, Gibson Brands sees their options narrowing, with an August deadline on a required financial restructuring of more than $500 million of debt rapidly approaching.

See more on this dire situation at Gibson Brands… [Read more…] about Options Narrowing as Gibson & KKR Talks Fail