Projected Lower Management Fees and Increased Liquid Cryptocurrency Distributions for Creditor Payouts Beginning in January 2024
Debtors to File Motion for Revised Transaction with Focus on Bitcoin Mining
HOBOKEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On November 9, 2023, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”) confirmed Celsius Network LLC’s (“Celsius” and together with its debtor affiliates, the “Debtors”) chapter 11 plan (the “Plan”).
Following confirmation, Celsius received feedback from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on certain aspects of the Plan, which has resulted in Celsius now intending to begin the process to apply to register the shares in a new publicly traded Bitcoin mining company that will be owned by Celsius customers (the “Mining NewCo”). This was the core business of the new company that was proposed to be created with Fahrenheit, LLC that was described in the Plan (the “Fahrenheit NewCo”). However, based on the SEC’s feedback, the Debtors, in consultation with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”), have determined that certain of the assets that were to be transferred to the Fahrenheit NewCo must, for regulatory reasons, be retained by Celsius’s estates to be administered and monetized by the Plan Administrator and/or Litigation Administrator for the benefit of creditors.
Celsius is in discussions with certain parties regarding the terms and conditions of the future management of the Mining NewCo. More details will be provided as soon as they are available. Although negotiations are ongoing, due to the reduction in scope and scale of the Mining NewCo when compared to the Fahrenheit NewCo, the Debtors expect that the aggregate fees and other economic incentives to be paid to the operators of the Mining NewCo will be lower than the aggregate fees and economic incentives associated with the Fahrenheit NewCo, and that the amount of liquid cryptocurrency to be available for distribution directly to customers will be greater than the amount that would have been distributable had the Debtors moved forward with the Fahrenheit NewCo.
In the coming weeks, the Debtors intend to file a motion with the Bankruptcy Court to approve modifications to the Plan to reflect the new Mining NewCo transaction. The Debtors do not believe that these modifications will require resolicitation of the Plan. The Debtors still anticipate that distributions to creditors will commence in January of 2024.
Additional Information about the Restructuring Process
The full terms of the Plan and Disclosure Statement, as well as additional information about the chapter 11 filing, including court documents, can be found online free of charge at https://cases.stretto.com/celsius. Stakeholders with questions may call Stretto at +1 (855) 423-1530 (U.S.) or +1 (949) 669-5873 (international) or email celsiusinquiries@stretto.com.
Advisors
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel, Centerview Partners is serving as financial advisor, C Street Advisory Group is serving as strategy and communications advisor, and Alvarez & Marsal is serving as restructuring advisor to the Debtors.
White & Case LLP is serving as legal counsel, Perella Weinberg Partners is serving as investment banker, and M3 Partners is serving as financial advisor to the Committee.
About Celsius
Celsius is a global cryptocurrency platform and a well-recognized leader in Bitcoin mining. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.celsius.network. For additional information on Celsius’ ongoing chapter 11 cases, please visit http://www.cases.stretto.com/celsius.
Contacts
Media Inquiries
C Street Advisory Group
celsius@thecstreet.com