The Chefs’ Warehouse Announces Pricing of $250 Million of 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

Rhea-AI Summary

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHEF) has priced $250 million of 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028, expected to yield approximately $243.2 million net after discounts. An additional $37.5 million may be purchased within 13 days. Proceeds will primarily fund cash payments in exchange transactions amounting to $159.8 million, with the remainder for corporate purposes. The conversion rate is set at 22.5912 shares per $1,000, offering a 30% premium over the stock price. The offering closes on December 13, 2022. Risks related to the offering and market conditions are highlighted.

Positive

• Successful pricing of $250 million Convertible Notes indicates market confidence.
• 2.375% interest rate is favorable compared to market rates, lowering financing costs.
• Potential to raise up to $279.7 million with the option purchase increase.

Negative

• Significant dilution risk for shareholders due to potential stock conversion.
• Exchange or repurchase of existing convertible notes may pressure stock price.
• Market conditions and investor sentiment may adversely impact the offering's success.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Dec. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHEF) (the “Company”) today announced the pricing of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Convertible Notes”) in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company also granted the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the Convertible Notes are first issued, up to an additional $37.5 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The sale of Convertible Notes to the initial purchasers is expected to settle on December 13, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to result in approximately $243.2 million (or approximately $279.7 million if the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Notes in full) in net proceeds to the Company after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

The Convertible Notes will bear interest at a rate of 2.375% per year and will pay interest semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2023. The Convertible Notes will mature on December 15, 2028, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased in accordance with their terms.

The Company expects to use approximately $159.8 million of the net proceeds from the offering to pay the cash portion of the consideration in the concurrent exchange transactions described below. The Company intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes.

The conversion rate for the Convertible Notes is 22.5912 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes (which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $44.27 per share of the Company’s common stock, representing a premium of approximately 30% over the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock on December 8, 2022 of $34.05 per share), subject to adjustment. Before September 15, 2028, holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to convert their Convertible Notes only upon the occurrence of certain events. From and after September 15, 2028, holders of the Convertible Notes may convert their Convertible Notes at any time at their election until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. The Company will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at the Company’s election.

Concurrently with the offering, in separate, privately negotiated transactions with a limited number of holders of its 1.875% convertible senior notes due 2024 (the “existing convertible notes”) the Company expects to exchange or repurchase approximately $158.4 million principal amount of the existing convertible notes for aggregate consideration consisting of approximately $159.8 in cash, which includes accrued interest on such existing convertible notes, and approximately 324,066 shares of the Company’s common stock. Following the completion of the offering, the Company may engage in additional exchanges, or the Company may repurchase or induce conversions, of the existing convertible notes. Holders of the existing convertible notes that participate in any of these exchanges, repurchases or induced conversions may purchase or sell shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market to unwind any hedge positions they may have with respect to the existing convertible notes or to hedge their exposure in connection with these transactions. These activities may adversely affect the trading price of the Company’s common stock and the notes. Moreover, market activities by holders of the existing convertible notes that participate in the concurrent exchanges may have impacted the initial conversion price of the notes.

This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Convertible Notes or the shares of the Company’s common stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes or issuable in the exchange transactions described above, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The offer and sale of the Convertible Notes and the shares of the Company’s common stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes or issuable in the exchange transactions described above have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

About The Chefs’ Warehouse

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. is a premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States, Canada and the Middle East focused on serving the specific needs of chefs who own and/or operate some of the nation’s leading menu-driven independent restaurants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, caterers, culinary schools, bakeries, patisseries, chocolateries, cruise lines, casinos and specialty food stores. The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. carries and distributes more than 50,000 products to more than 35,000 customer locations throughout the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements include, but are not limited to, risks related to the expected closing of the offering and the exchange transactions described above, prevailing market and other general economic conditions, and the fact that the Company’s management will have broad discretion in the use of the proceeds from any sale of the Convertible Notes. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative, but is not exhaustive. A more detailed description of other potential risk factors that could affect the Company’s business and financial results is contained in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 22, 2022 and other reports filed by the Company with the SEC since that date. The Company is not undertaking to update any information except as required by applicable laws.

Contact:
Investor Relations
Jim Leddy, CFO, (718) 684-8415

FAQ

What is the total amount for the Convertible Notes issued by Chefs’ Warehouse?

The Chefs’ Warehouse issued $250 million in Convertible Senior Notes.

When is the maturity date for the Convertible Notes issued by CHEF?

The Convertible Notes mature on December 15, 2028.

What will Chefs’ Warehouse do with the proceeds from the Convertible Notes?

Approximately $159.8 million will be used to pay cash in exchange transactions, and the rest for general corporate purposes.

What is the conversion price of the Convertible Notes for CHEF?

The conversion price is approximately $44.27 per share, a 30% premium over the last reported price.

When will interest payments for the Convertible Notes begin?

Interest payments will start on June 15, 2023.