UBS is leading a $275 million credit facility to back Department 56's $190 million acquisition of Lenox from Brown-Forman Corp. The credit consists of a five-year, $175 million asset-based revolver priced at LIBOR plus 2 1/4% and a six-year, $100 million first-lien term loan priced at LIBOR plus 4%. A bank meeting is scheduled for Tuesday Aug. 9.
The two parties entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement on July 21, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information provided by Brown-Forman indicates it was exploring strategic alternatives for Lenox in February. It undertook a competitive bidding process and hired Goldman Sachs as its exclusive financial advisor. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Ogden Newell & Welch law firms are providing legal counsel. Brown-Forman will retain ownership of the Lenox properties located in Lawrenceville, N.J., but plan to sell it in the future. It will also retain ownership of Lenox's Brooks & Bentley subsidiary in the U.K. but is continuing a strategic review of that asset.
Brown-Forman officials and Timothy Schugel, Department 56's executive v.p. and cfo, did not return calls.