F9 Investments Comments on Bloomberg Report That LL Flooring Has Hired a Consultant with Restructuring Capabilities and is Desperate for Cash

Rhea-AI Summary

F9 Investments, which holds an 8.85% stake in LL Flooring (NYSE: LL), has commented on a Bloomberg report revealing that LL Flooring has hired AlixPartners to explore restructuring options and boost cash reserves. The advisory firm previously worked with Bed Bath & Beyond on its bankruptcy proceedings. F9 criticized LL Flooring's current leadership, citing poor performance and an ineffective sale process that has endangered the company’s future.

F9 is pushing for significant changes in LL Flooring's boardroom to secure shareholder investments and has nominated Tom D. Sullivan, Jason Delves, and Jill Witter to the board. They urge shareholders to vote for their nominees using the GOLD proxy card to restore long-term value and avoid potential bankruptcy.

Positive

• F9 Investments holds an 8.85% stake in LL Flooring, demonstrating significant investor interest.
• F9 has nominated experienced candidates with a strong track record in the flooring industry to the board.

Negative

• LL Flooring is facing severe liquidity issues with only $63.3 million available, mostly from a credit line.
• The company has hired a restructuring consultant, implying financial distress and potential risks of going out of business.
• Current Board's leadership has led to poor performance and a failed sale process.

Reinforces Urgent Need for Change in LL Flooring’s Boardroom

Current Board Has Overseen Staggering Underperformance, Conducted a Sham Sale Process, and Put LL Flooring at Immediate Risk of Going out of Business

F9’s Three Highly Qualified Nominees – Tom D. Sullivan, Jason Delves, and Jill Witter – Are the Right Individuals to Restore Long-Term Value to LL Flooring

F9 Urges Shareholders to Vote the GOLD Proxy Card “FOR” its Three Highly Qualified Director Nominees and “WITHHOLD” on All LL Flooring Nominees to Protect the Value of Their Investment

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- F9 Investments, LLC (“F9”), which together with its affiliates collectively owns approximately 8.85% of LL Flooring Holdings, Inc. (“LL Flooring” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LL) common stock and is the Company’s largest shareholder, today commented on a June 27, 2024 Bloomberg news report that the Company has retained AlixPartners, a financial services consultancy that recently advised Bed Bath & Beyond on its bankruptcy proceedings, to receive assistance with operations and explore ways to boost its cash reserves.¹

The report also detailed that LL Flooring’s advisors at Houlihan Lokey Inc. have been “reaching out to potential investors about a deal to inject fresh capital” into the Company, and that LL Flooring had just $63.3 million of liquidity as of March 31, most of which was available under a credit line.²

Tom Sullivan, Chairman of F9, commented, “This report reinforces that LL Flooring is poorly run, desperate for cash, and teetering on the brink of going out of business as a result of the current Board’s failed leadership and sham sale process. It should be clear to shareholders now more than ever that urgent, meaningful change is needed in LL Flooring’s boardroom if the Company is to survive. F9’s director nominees bring significant flooring industry expertise, a strong track record of creating value for businesses, and an actionable plan to protect the value of shareholders’ dwindling investments in the Company before they are permanently destroyed.”

VOTE ON THE GOLD PROXY CARD TODAY “FOR” F9’S NOMINEES TOM SULLIVAN, JASON DELVES, AND JILL WITTER AND “WITHHOLD” ON ALL LL FLOORING NOMINEES AND JERALD HAMMANN

Shareholders must act decisively to safeguard their investment. YOUR VOTE MATTERS, NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN. We urge all shareholders to protect the value of their investment by voting for F9’s nominees today using the GOLD proxy card.

You can cast your vote online at www.ProxyVote.com or by completing, signing and dating the GOLD proxy card or GOLD voting instruction form and mailing it in the postage paid envelope provided.

If you have not received the GOLD proxy card from F9 and have only received a WHITE proxy card sent to you by the Company, you can still support F9’s nominees using the WHITE proxy card. You can do so by checking the “WITHHOLD” boxes on all of the Company nominees and Jerald Hammann and checking the “FOR” boxes for all F9 nominees – Tom Sullivan, Jason Delves, and Jill Witter.

If you have any questions about how to vote your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, Campaign Management, by telephone 1-(855) 264-1527 (shareholders) or (212) 632-8422 (banks & brokerages) or by email at info@campaign-mgmt.com.

For more information about F9 and detailed voting instructions, visit our website at www.LLGroove.com.

Solomon Partners Securities, LLC is serving as F9’s financial advisor and Dentons US LLP is serving as its legal advisor.

DISCLAIMER

Except as otherwise set forth in this press release, the views expressed in this press release reflect the opinions of F9 Investments, LLC and its affiliates (“F9”) and are based on publicly available information with respect to LL Flooring Holdings, Inc. (“LL” or the “Company”). F9 recognizes that there may be confidential information in the possession of the Company that could lead it or others to disagree with F9’s conclusions. F9 reserves the right to change any of its opinions expressed herein at any time as it deems appropriate and disclaims any obligation to notify the market or any other party of any such change, except as required by law. F9 disclaims any obligation to update the information or opinions contained in this press release, except as required by law. For the avoidance of doubt, this press release is not affiliated with or endorsed by LL.

This press release is provided merely as information and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security nor as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security. Certain of the Participants (as defined below) currently beneficially own shares of the Company. The Participants and their affiliates may from time to time sell all or a portion of their holdings of the Company in open market transactions or otherwise, buy additional shares (in open market or privately negotiated transactions or otherwise), or trade in options, puts, calls, swaps or other derivative instruments relating to such shares.

Some of the materials in this press release contain forward-looking statements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “could,” “opportunity,” “estimate,” “plan,” “once again,” “achieve,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements contained herein that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, speak only as of the date of these materials and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such projected results and statements. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of F9.

The estimates, projections and potential impact of the opportunities identified by F9 herein are based on assumptions that F9 believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release, but there can be no assurance or guarantee (i) that any of the proposed actions set forth in this press release will be completed, (ii) that the actual results or performance of the Company will not differ, and such differences may be material, or (iii) that any of the assumptions provided in this press release are accurate.

F9 has neither sought nor obtained the consent from any third party to use any statements or information contained herein that have been obtained or derived from statements made or published by such third parties, nor has it paid for any such statements. Any such statements or information should not be viewed as indicating the support of such third parties for the views expressed herein. F9 does not endorse third-party estimates or research which are used herein solely for illustrative purposes.

Important Information

F9 Investments, LLC, Thomas D. Sullivan, John Jason Delves and Jill Witter (collectively, the “Participants”) filed a definitive proxy statement and accompanying form of gold proxy card (as supplemented and amended, the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC”) on May 31, 2024 to be used in connection with the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company.

THE PARTICIPANTS STRONGLY ADVISE ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV AND F9’S WEBSITE AT WWW.LLGROOVE.COM. THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD WILL BE FURNISHED TO SOME OR ALL OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS. STOCKHOLDERS MAY ALSO DIRECT A REQUEST TO F9’S PROXY SOLICITOR, CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT, 15 WEST 38TH STREET, SUITE #747, NEW YORK, NY 10018 (STOCKHOLDERS CAN E-MAIL INFO@CAMPAIGNMANAGEMENT.COM OR CALL TOLL-FREE: (855) 264-1527.

Information about the Participants and a description of their direct or indirect interests by security holdings or otherwise can be found in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

___________________________
¹ Bloomberg News – “LL Flooring Taps AlixPartners For Operations as It Seeks Cash”, June 27, 2024, available at: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/ll-flooring-taps-alixpartners-for-operations-as-it-seeks-cash
² Ibid.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628788582/en/

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS

Investors:

Michael Fein

Campaign Management

(212) 632-8422

michael.fein@campaign-mgmt.com

Media:

Jonathan Gasthalter/Nathaniel Garnick

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257-4170

F9Investments@gasthalter.com

Source: F9 Investments, LLC

FAQ

What did F9 Investments comment on regarding LL Flooring in June 2024?

F9 Investments commented on a Bloomberg report that LL Flooring has hired AlixPartners for restructuring and cash reserve enhancement and criticized the current board's performance and sale process.

What is the current financial situation of LL Flooring?

As of March 31, LL Flooring had $63.3 million in liquidity, most of which was from a credit line, and has hired AlixPartners to explore restructuring options.

Why is F9 Investments urging shareholders to vote for their nominees?

F9 Investments believes that their nominees, Tom D. Sullivan, Jason Delves, and Jill Witter, can restore long-term value to LL Flooring and protect shareholder investments amid the company's financial distress.

Who are F9 Investments' nominees for the LL Flooring board?

F9 Investments has nominated Tom D. Sullivan, Jason Delves, and Jill Witter for the LL Flooring board, citing their industry expertise and value creation track record.

How can LL Flooring shareholders vote for F9's nominees?

Shareholders can vote for F9's nominees using the GOLD proxy card by casting their vote online at www.ProxyVote.com or mailing the GOLD proxy card. They can also vote using the WHITE proxy card by withholding votes from company nominees and supporting F9's nominees.