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SlowYaRole
01-29-2008, 08:02 AM
Business Wire - Press Release
American LaFrance Files for Bankruptcy, Intends to Reorganize in 60 Days
01.28.08, 2:39 PM ET

American LaFrance LLC (the "Company" or "ALF") announced today that it has filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Company announced that it will request approval of $50 million in debtor-in-possession financing from its pre-bankruptcy lenders. The Company will continue to operate its manufacturing facilities and provide repair services as a debtor-in-possession. The Company has retained William K. Snyder, a Managing Partner with CRG Partners Group, LLC, as Chief Restructuring Officer.

The Company will shortly file a Plan of Reorganization along with a motion for sale under Section 363 of the bankruptcy code in case the Plan of Reorganization is not approved. It is anticipated that the reorganization process will be completed in less than 90 days, at which time the Company will emerge from bankruptcy with ample liquidity for ongoing operations and a more viable debt structure. The Company will file today motions to honor customer warranties and employee wages, among other relief. The Company intends to honor its obligations to supply vehicles that are supported by performance bonds.

ALF's Chapter 11 filing is the result of several factors, including significant operational difficulties encountered upon the separation of ALF's business from the business of ALF's former parent, Freightliner LLC. To address these operational problems and to fund general operating expenses, ALF has incurred approximately $150 million in secured debt since the business was purchased from Freightliner LLC.

American LaFrance LLC, through its predecessor entities, is one of the oldest fire, rescue, and EMS vehicle manufacturers in the United States, dating back to the its founding in 1832. The Company operates 8 manufacturing/servicing facilities and two company-owned vehicle dealerships.

TaskForce
01-29-2008, 10:14 AM
Role,

Remember this is a Chapter 11 filing, not Chapter 13 or 17. They have a plan to reemerge in 90 days....

Quacker
01-29-2008, 11:19 AM
It is just official now. They have shut down most operations back in late November and early December and let a lot of folks off "on vacation". This is the same as Maxim and Peter Pirsch did when they went under and CLOSED the doors.

What is bad are orders are now right at 2 years to be completed and parts are getting hard to get as some departments apparatus is just sitting awaiting needed parts!

With Elite going under and some other small companies and Federal Signal dumping Emergency-One, who know who will bite the dust next! If it wasn’t for the FDNY Seagrave would be in the same boat as American LaFrance is now. I knew when ALF moved from Elmira to Bluefield and then to North Carolina and now to South Carolina, time would tell and they would be closing the doors to a long old company.

Jack Schit
01-29-2008, 08:20 PM
Questions and answers about ALF's status.....

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=58112

DvlsAdvct
01-29-2008, 11:10 PM
Didnt Hahn suffer a sililar fate? Ranger is totally gone now too, right?

TaskForce
01-30-2008, 08:20 AM
It is just official now. They have shut down most operations back in late November and early December and let a lot of folks off "on vacation". This is the same as Maxim and Peter Pirsch did when they went under and CLOSED the doors.

What is bad are orders are now right at 2 years to be completed and parts are getting hard to get as some departments apparatus is just sitting awaiting needed parts!

With Elite going under and some other small companies and Federal Signal dumping Emergency-One, who know who will bite the dust next! If it wasn’t for the FDNY Seagrave would be in the same boat as American LaFrance is now. I knew when ALF moved from Elmira to Bluefield and then to North Carolina and now to South Carolina, time would tell and they would be closing the doors to a long old company.

Quacker,

They aren't closing. They had 50 million dollars in debt to start with, thanks to Freightliner. They have a plan to reemerge in 90 days.

Quacker
01-30-2008, 11:03 AM
Quacker,

They aren't closing. They had 50 million dollars in debt to start with, thanks to Freightliner. They have a plan to reemerge in 90 days.



I sure wouldn't hold by breath on that! :eek: Time will tell.