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UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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In re
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FAIRWAY GROUP HOLDINGS
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CORP., et al.,
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Debtors.
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Chapter 11
Case No. 16-[______] (___)
(Joint Administration Pending)

DECLARATION OF DENNIS STOGSDILL

PURSUANT TO RULE 1007-2 OF LOCAL BANKRUPTCY
RULES FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
I, Dennis Stogsdill, make this declaration under 28 U.S.C. 1746:
1.

I am a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC

(A&M). I have more than 20 years of financial restructuring and management consulting
experience. I have been involved in all aspects of the reorganization process, including the
development and evaluation of strategic business plans, the implementation of liquidity
management strategies, and advising on numerous out-of-court and chapter 11 proceedings.
2.

On March 10, 2016, A&M was engaged by Fairway Group Holdings

Corp. (Holdings) and its debtor affiliates (collectively, the Debtors and, together with their
non-debtor affiliate, Fairway) to, among other things, provide Fairway and its other
professionals financial advisory services in connection with Fairways evaluation and
development of strategic alternatives and to assist Fairway in its negotiations with creditors. As
1

The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases, along with the last four digits of each Debtors federal tax identification
number, are as follows: Fairway Group Holdings Corp. (2788); Fairway Group Acquisition Company (2860);
Fairway Bakery LLC (4129); Fairway Broadway LLC (8591); Fairway Chelsea LLC (0288); Fairway Construction
Group, LLC (2741); Fairway Douglaston LLC (2650); Fairway East 86th Street LLC (3822); Fairway eCommerce
LLC (3081); Fairway Georgetowne LLC (9609); Fairway Greenwich Street LLC (6422); Fairway Group Central
Services LLC (7843); Fairway Group Plainview LLC (8643); Fairway Hudson Yards LLC (9331); Fairway Kips
Bay LLC (0791); Fairway Nanuet LLC (9240); Fairway Paramus LLC (3338); Fairway Pelham LLC (3119);
Fairway Pelham Wines & Spirits LLC (3141); Fairway Red Hook LLC (8813); Fairway Stamford LLC (0738);
Fairway Stamford Wines & Spirits LLC (3021); Fairway Staten Island LLC (1732); Fairway Uptown LLC (8719);
Fairway Westbury LLC (6240); and Fairway Woodland Park LLC (9544). The location of the Debtors corporate
headquarters is 2284 12th Avenue, New York, New York 10027.

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of the date hereof, I was appointed the Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) of Fairway. As
CRO, I report and provide advice to Fairways Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer in
connection with these chapter 11 cases.
3.

On the date hereof (the Commencement Date), Holdings and its

affiliated Debtors each commenced with this court (the Court) a voluntary case under chapter
11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code). I am knowledgeable and
familiar with Fairways day-to-day operations, business and financial affairs, books and records,
and the circumstances leading to the commencement of these chapter 11 cases (the Chapter 11
Cases).
4.

Except as otherwise indicated herein, the facts set forth in this Declaration

are based upon my personal knowledge, my review of relevant documents, information provided
to me by employees of A&M or Fairway or advisors and counsel to Fairway, or my opinion
based upon my experience, knowledge, and information concerning Fairways operations. If
called upon to testify, I would testify competently to the facts set forth in this Declaration.
5.

This Declaration is submitted pursuant to Rule 1007-2 of the Local

Bankruptcy Rules for the Southern District of New York (the Local Rules) for the purpose of
apprising the Court and parties in interest of the circumstances that led to the commencement of
these Chapter 11 Cases and in support of the motions and applications that the Debtors have filed
with the Court, including the first-day motions (the First-Day Pleadings). I am authorized
to submit this Declaration on behalf of Fairway.
6.

Section I provides an overview of these Chapter 11 Cases. Section II

describes Fairways business.

Section III describes the circumstances that led to the

commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases. Section IV describes Fairways corporate and capital

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structure. Section V provides a summary of the First-Day Pleadings and factual bases for the
relief requested therein. Section VI identifies the attached schedules of information required by
Local Rule 1007-2.
I.
Overview2
7.

Prepackaged Plan. The Debtors are pleased to appear before the Court

after commencing the solicitation of votes on their prepackaged chapter 11 plan3 from the only
class of voting creditorsthe Senior Secured Lendersand having already received acceptances
by more than one-half in number and two-thirds in amount of Secured Loan Claims that have
voted. The Prepackaged Plan provides for a substantial reduction of Fairways existing funded
debt under its Credit Agreement4 by $140 million and a reduction of Fairways annual debt
service obligations by up to $8 million. The Prepackaged Plan and the commencement of these
prepackaged chapter 11 cases are milestone achievements that will benefit Fairway and all of its
stakeholders. The reorganization transaction embodied in the Prepackaged Plan will right-size
the Companys balance sheet and set Fairway on a path to emerge from bankruptcy as a leaner,
healthier enterprise that is positioned to thrive and grow its iconic New York City brand.
8.

The Plan provides for a pure balance sheet restructuring that impairs the

Senior Secured Lenders. All of the Debtors other creditors, such as trade vendors, employees

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this overview section shall have the meanings assigned to them below.

See Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and its Affiliated Debtors (the
Prepackaged Plan) and Disclosure Statement for Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Fairway Group
Holdings Corp. and its Affiliated Debtors (the Disclosure Statement), each filed contemporaneously herewith.

The Credit Agreement means that certain credit agreement (the claims arising under the Credit Agreement, the
Secured Loan Claims; the lenders under the Credit Agreement, the Senior Secured Lenders), dated as of
February 14, 2013, by and among Holdings, as parent, Fairway Acquisition (defined below), as borrower, the
lenders party thereto, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, (the Credit Agreement Agent) as amended,
modified, or supplemented from time to time.

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and landlords, are unimpaired under the Prepackaged Plan and will be satisfied in full in the
ordinary course of business.

Trade contracts and terms will be maintained.

Collective

bargaining agreements will be honored. Leases will be assumed. Store operations and quality
customer service will continue in the ordinary course without interruption. Given that the
Debtors Senior Secured Lenders are agreeing to compromise their claim, the Debtors existing
equity will be cancelled upon emergence. However, the Debtors believe the reorganization
transaction embodied in the Prepackaged Plan will maximize the value of the business and
maintain Fairways iconic brand for the benefit of all stakeholders through these prepackaged
Chapter 11 Cases.
9.

Restructuring Support Agreement. The Prepackaged Plan is the result of

months of negotiations among the Debtors and an informal steering committee of Senior Secured
Lenders collectively holding more than 70% in amount of Secured Loan Claims (the Steering
Committee). The Debtors developed the Prepackaged Plan and their reorganized business
strategy in close consultation with the Steering Committee. On May 2, 2016, the Debtors
executed a restructuring support agreement (the Restructuring Support Agreement or
RSA) with Senior Secured Lenders, including the members of the Steering Committee (the
Consenting Creditors), pursuant to which such Consenting Creditors agreed to vote in favor
of and support confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan. As stated, prior to the commencement of
these cases, Consenting Creditors holding more than 70% in amount of Secured Loan Claims
already have submitted their votes to accept the Prepackaged Plan.5 The solicitation period for
the Prepackaged Plan will remain open for another ten (10) days until May 12, 2016.

Fairway believes that these holders constitute more than 50% of the number of holders of all Secured Loan Claims.

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10.

DIP Financing.

In addition, certain Senior Secured Lenders are also

providing debtor-in-possession financing to Fairway in the amount of $55 million plus

approximately a $30.6 million revolving credit facility, including letters of credit (the DIP
Loans), to support the Companys working capital needs during the chapter 11 cases and
beyond. Upon emergence from bankruptcy, the DIP Loans will be converted into an exit facility
on a first out senior secured basis and leave an estimated $42 million of cash and cash
equivalents on Fairways balance sheet to maintain operations and satisfy obligations in the
ordinary course of business, and position Fairway for long term success. In addition, the DIP
Lenders under the term loan will be entitled to a fee equal to 10% of the New Common Stock
(defined below) of Reorganized Holdings.

While the DIP Loans are fully committed, all

prepetition secured lenders have the opportunity to participate as lenders under the DIP facility.
11.

Chapter 11 Plan. Generally, under the Prepackaged Plan, in exchange for

the reduction and modification of the existing Secured Loan Claims in the amount of
approximately $279 million, the Senior Secured Lenders will receive, on the Effective Date, a
pro rata share of:
ninety percent (90%) of the ordinary shares of reorganized Holdings (the
New Common Stock), subject to the issuance of up to 10% of New
Common Stock by the new board of directors in its discretion to the
reorganized Debtors management team pursuant to a post-emergence
management incentive plan;
a $45 million last out exit term loan (the Last Out Exit Term Loans), with
Reorganized Acquisition as borrower, and each of the other Fairway entities,
as guarantors, which shall be secured by all of the assets of Fairway, subject to
the terms of an amended and restated exit agreement (the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, the term sheet for which, the Exit Term
Sheet); and
an unsecured subordinate term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $39
million (the Subordinated Holdco Loans), with Reorganized Holdings as

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borrower. None of the other Fairway entities will guarantee Reorganized

Holdings obligations under the Subordinated Holdco Loan.
12.

The effect of the restructuring on Fairways capital structure is

summarized as follows:
Current

Reorganized

Proposed DIP Financing

$55M Term Loans
$30.6M Letters of Credit

$55M First Out Exit Term Loans (Secured)

$30.6M Letters of Credit (pari passu with First
Out Exit Term Loans)
10% of New Common Stock

$279M Senior Secured Debt

$270M Senior Secured Term Loan
$9M Drawn Revolver

90% of New Common Stock

$45M Last Out Exit Term Loan (Secured)
$39M Subordinated Holdco Loans (Unsecured)

Total Current Funded Debt = $279M

Total Reorganized Funded Debt = $139M

General Unsecured Claims

Unimpaired

Union and Pension Obligations

Unimpaired

Existing Equity

Cancelled

13.

Proposed Timeline.

The Debtors believe that, to be successful, these

Chapter 11 Cases must proceed in the most expeditious manner permitted by the Bankruptcy
Code. The terms of the RSA reflect that belief. Among other milestones contained in the RSA
is a deadline for entry of an order by the Bankruptcy Court approving the Disclosure Statement
and solicitation procedures and confirming the Prepackaged Plan within sixty (60) calendar days
after the Commencement Date. To meet this deadline, the Debtors have proposed the following
timeline for these Chapter 11 Cases (subject to the Courts calendar):
Proposed Timeline
Commencement of Solicitation

May 2, 2016

Commencement Date

May 2, 2016

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Proposed Timeline
Plan Supplement Deadline

May 10, 2016

Plan Voting Deadline

May 12, 2016

Objection Deadline

May 24, 2016

Reply Deadline

May 31, 2016

Combined Hearing

On or about June 1, 2016

14.

The Debtors believe that a quick Chapter 11 Case is essential to the

preservation of the value of their assets and estates. Fairways stakeholders have supported
Fairways business leading up to the filing in anticipate of a quick balance sheet restructuring
that does not impact Fairways operations or its trade creditors, employees or landlords. To
ensure that result, the Debtors negotiated a favorable transaction with their Senior Secured
Lenders. In exchange for that consideration, the Senior Secured Lenders have insisted that
chapter 11 costs be minimized and that the transaction be effectuated promptly to avoid delay,
disruption to operations and degradation of value.
II.
Fairways Businesses
15.

Fairway is a growth-oriented food retailer, offering customers a

differentiated one-stop shopping experience Like No Other Market. Fairway began in the
1930s as a fruit and vegetable stand located on Broadway and 74th Street in Manhattanthe
current location of one of its storesunder the name 74th Street Market. In 1954, Fairway
expanded the 74th Street location, adding groceries, meat, cheese, dairy products and frozen
foods, and renamed the store Fairway to convey the concept of fair prices. In the mid1970s, Fairway began expanding into gourmet and specialty categories, transforming its retail
grocery operations into a full service food superstore known for high quality and value pricing.

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During this transformation, Fairway also began hiring a team of ambitious, hardworking
foodies who would eventually become its category experts and senior merchants. In the late
1970s, Fairway adopted the slogan Like No Other Market in recognition of its distinctive
format.
16.

Fairway has established itself as a leading food retailing destination in the

Greater New York City metropolitan area. Fairways stores emphasize an extensive selection of
fresh, natural, and organic products, prepared foods, and hard-to-find specialty and gourmet
offerings, along with a full assortment of conventional groceries. Fairway operates fifteen (15)
locations in the Greater New York City metropolitan area, including four (4) Fairway Wines &
Spirits locations. Seven (7) Fairway stores are located in New York City (referred to as urban
stores) and the remainder of Fairways stores are located in New York (outside of New York
City), New Jersey and Connecticut (referred to as suburban stores).

For each location, a

Fairway subsidiary is the lessee. Holdings or Fairway Acquisition guarantee some but not all of
the leases, and certain leases are supported by letters of credit under the Credit Agreement.
17.

Fairway proudly employs almost 4,000 individuals, approximately 3,400

(85%) of whom are unionized. Fairway is party to five (5) collective bargaining agreements
(collectively, the CBAs) with various bargaining units of certain international and local
unions: (a) United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1500 (which
represents 2,852 or approximately 84% of Union-Represented Employees), (b) United Food and
Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1262 (which represents 292 or approximately
9% of Union-Represented Employees), (c) United Food and Commercial Workers International
Union, Local 371 (which represents 211 or approximately 6% of Union-Represented
Employees), (d) United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1500

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(Drivers) (which represents 30 or approximately 1% of Union-Represented Employees), and (e)

United Service Workers Union, Local 339 (which represents 5 or less than 1% of UnionRepresented Employees).
18.

For the nine months ended December 27, 2015, the unaudited consolidated

financial statements of Fairway reflected total revenues of approximately $565 million and a net
loss of approximately $36 million. As of December 27, 2015, Fairways unaudited consolidated
financial statements reflected assets totaling approximately $346 million and liabilities totaling
approximately $397 million.
III.
Circumstances Leading to Chapter 11 Cases
19.

As stated, the Debtors are filing the chapter 11 cases to implement a

Prepackaged Plan that provides for a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring of the Secured
Loans with the consent of the Senior Secured Lenders, preserves the going-concern value of the
Debtors businesses, maximizes creditor recoveries, provides for an equitable distribution to the
Debtors stakeholders and protects the jobs of approximately 4,000 employees.
20.

2014 Initiatives. Since late 2014, Fairway has implemented a number of

initiatives to address changing market conditions. Those initiatives have been implemented by a
new and highly talented executive management team with the skills and experience to effectuate
a top to bottom operational turnaround for the business. The new management team has
implemented an array of transformational initiatives to move Fairway in the right direction. Due
to Fairways burdensome secured debt obligations, however, Fairway is unable to invest in
certain capital improvements and marketing activities it believes to be necessary to effectively
compete in the highly-competitive New York metropolitan area market.

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Investment / Sale Process. Before commencing these chapter 11 cases, the

Debtors conducted an extensive process to sell the company or raise additional capital to invest
in the business with the assistance of their investment bankers, Greenhill & Co., LLC
(Greenhill), commencing in January 2015.

The capital raise and sale process extended

throughout 2015 and into early 2016. During that process, Greenhill contacted over 60 potential
investors for or purchasers of the business. Unfortunately, no acceptable proposals were put
forward.
22.

Given these and other considerations, the Debtors have concluded in the

exercise of their business judgment and as fiduciaries for all of the Debtors stakeholders that the
best and only viable path to maximize the value of their business and preserve thousands of jobs
is a strategic prepackaged chapter 11 filing to implement the Prepackaged Plan.
A.

Competitive Industry
23.

The food retail industry as a whole, particularly in the Greater New York

City metropolitan area, is highly competitive. Fairway offers a full assortment of fresh, natural
and organic products, prepared foods and hard-to-find specialty and gourmet offerings, along
with a full assortment of conventional groceries. As a result, Fairway experiences competitive
pressures from multiple market segments. In addition, some of Fairways competitors have
expanded aggressively in marketing a range of natural and organic foods, prepared foods and
quality specialty grocery items. Some of Fairways competitors have more experience operating
multiple store locations and have greater financial or marketing resources than Fairway, which
allow them to devote greater resources to sourcing, promoting, and selling their products.
24.

The density of the Greater New York City metropolitan area compounds

the problem because of the geographic proximity between Fairways stores and those of their
competitors. For example, Fairways comparable store sales decreased approximately 6% in the

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fifty-two weeks ended April 3, 20166 compared to the fifty-two weeks ended March 29, 2015, in
part due to a decrease in sales at Fairways Upper Eastside location as a result of a competitive
opening within half a mile of that location and higher promotional activity during the period.
25.

Fairway also faces challenges from mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs,

drug stores, dollar stores, and convenience stores. This challenging operating environment has
been compounded by falling produce and retail food prices, and competitors increased
willingness to engage in price-based competition. Due to its competitive pressures, the food
retail industry is characterized by slim profit margins.
26.

In addition to more traditional competition, the influence of technology

and eCommerce has had a larger impact on Fairway than competitors in other markets. This is
due to Fairways concentration in the dense urban New York market where consumers are more
willing to pay for the convenience of home delivery for certain items in their grocery basket.
Further, New York often serves as a test-market or launch market for product innovations. As
such, Fairway has been more affected than other grocers by the proliferation of online retailers,
online grocers, delivery services, and meal kits.
27.

In light of all of the foregoing, Fairway requires capital resources to

effectively compete for market share.

B.

Capital Investment
28.

In this highly competitive environment, food retailers must invest in

operations to stay up to speed with the latest industry developments to survive. Now is a pivotal
time in the industry, with market participants introducing technological advances and other
initiatives to customize and improve consumer experience.
6

Moreover, companies are also

The amount for fiscal year 2016, ending April 3, 2016, has been decreased (by subtracting one week of average
weekly net sales) to reflect a 52-week year so as to be comparable to fiscal year 2015, ending March 29, 2016.

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implementing cost-saving technologies and practices that allow them to further lower their
prices, including in the areas of labor scheduling, ordering, receiving, payment processing and
data analytics. Capital improvements are thus imperative for food retailers to keep pace with
their competition. Additionally, because more companies are beginning to provide what used to
be considered difficult-to-find organic, natural, and other specialty products, it has become
increasingly important for industry participants to invest in marketing efforts in order to
differentiate their offerings in front of consumers. In sum, the current market values the ability
to spend cash on capital improvements and marketing at a premium.
C.

Fairways Position
29.

Fairway is saddled with significant debt obligations.

The Credit

Agreement mandates recurring interest and amortization payments. Moreover, as of April 1,

2016, the maximum total leverage ratio covenant contained in the Credit Agreement stepped
down from 6.0:1 to 5.75:1. These factors have significantly limited the financial flexibility that
Fairway requires to invest in their business and, as a result, Fairway has started to fall behind its
competitors with respect to technology and other related areasplacing Fairway at a competitive
disadvantage when compared to its traditional and non-traditional peers.

Moreover, while

Fairways iconic brand remains intact, it has been unable to invest in the necessary marketing
efforts to translate that brand value into revenue growth.
D.

New Management
30.

In 2014, Fairway brought in a new Chief Executive Officer to address

issues hindering the business. The new Chief Executive Officer and his management team have
been successful in achieving several of their goals. For example, the new management team has
streamlined the labor force and executed new union contracts, which Fairway believes will be
more conducive to productive and efficient operation of the stores. The collective bargaining

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agreements provide flexibility to Fairway in its operations. Accordingly, under the Prepackaged
Plan, the Debtors are honoring the obligations and assuming the collective bargaining
agreements.
31.

Fairway has also completed the build out of its central production center,

which will allow further operating flexibility, cost leverage and enhanced quality control as
Fairway continues to grow the business. In addition, the new management redesigned Fairways
model for new-store openings, which lowers the capital expenditure and pre-opening overhead
cost requirements of the old model. Fairway also exited certain leases that were unnecessarily
risky for new store opening locations due to competition or customer demographics.
32.

Perhaps most importantly, the new management tested a new

merchandising initiative at one of Fairways store locations, which proved to be successful in

delivering incremental sales growth and profitability at that location. With the financial relief
contemplated by the Plan, the Debtors intend to apply many of these strategies throughout all of
their stores.
33.

Fairway is at a point, however, where continued growth and improvements

to the business to increase profitability and success require the flexibility to invest in capital
expenditures and marketing to promote and grow the Fairway brand.
E.

Deleveraging Initiatives

(1)

Capital Raise and Sale Process

34.

Since 2014, Fairway worked extensively with its advisors on a process to

find a buyer for, or attract a meaningful investment in, Fairway. In January 2015, Greenhill,
Fairways investment banker, undertook a targeted process to solicit interest in such a
transaction. Greenhill focused the outreach to relevant potential strategic acquirers and select
private equity funds with significant retail experience.

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outreach to parties with a higher likelihood of interest. In total, Greenhill contacted thirteen (13)
parties, eleven (11) of which signed a non-disclosure agreement in connection with receiving
access to certain of Fairways confidential information.

One financial party submitted an

indication of interest for a private investment in public equity transaction. However, Fairway
concluded that the offer was inadequate. A second financial party submitted an initial indication
of interest for a take-private transaction, but later withdrew from the process.
35.

In September 2015, Greenhill undertook a second, broader, marketing

process. In total, Greenhill contacted 66 parties including certain parties involved in the first
process. Eighteen (18) parties participated in calls or meetings with the management team and
four (4) submitted an initial expression of interest to invest in and/or acquire the Debtors
business. Ultimately, however, none of the parties made an offer that the Debtors and their
advisors believed to be adequate or better than the reorganization transaction embodied in the
Prepackaged Plan.
36.

Furthermore, in late 2015, global debt and equity capital markets

deteriorated, leading to a decline in valuation multiples and a reduction in the availability of debt
capital for grocers. These factors further restricted the ability for potential counterparties to
submit an executable proposal.
(2)

Restructuring Support Agreement

37.

In light of the unsuccessful process coupled with Fairways unsustainable

level of secured debt, in February 2016, Fairway commenced negotiations and discussions with
an informal group of its Senior Secured Lenders in parallel with the continuation of the capital
raise and sale process. Those discussions and negotiations occurred over a period of several
months, ultimately resulting in the restructuring transaction embodied in the Plan.

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On May 2, 2016, the Debtors entered into the Restructuring Support

Agreement. Under the Restructuring Support Agreement, each of the Consenting Lenders has
agreed to, among other things, vote any claim it holds against the Debtors to accept the Plan in
exchange for the Debtors agreement to prosecute the Plan.
39.

The Restructuring Support Agreement provides for various termination

events. Depending on the termination event, Consenting Lenders holding a majority of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Secured Loan Claims held by all the Consenting
Lenders (the Required Lenders), or the Debtors, may terminate the Restructuring Support
Agreement. The Restructuring Support Agreement could be terminated by the Requisite Lenders
upon the occurrence of various events or the Debtors failure to satisfy certain milestones in the
chapter 11 cases, including if:
on the Commencement Date, the Debtors have not filed the Plan, the
Disclosure Statement, the motion to approve the Plan and the Disclosure
Statement and the motion to approve the DIP Facility;
if the Plan and Disclosure Statement have not been approved within 60 days
after the Commencement Date; or
if the Plan has not become effective within 75 days after the Commencement
Date.
40.

The Restructuring Support Agreement and the obligations of all parties

thereto may also be terminated by mutual agreement among the Debtors and the Requisite
Lenders.
41.

The Debtors believe that the de-leveraging transaction contemplated by

the Restructuring Support Agreement and the Plan is the best approach for relieving Fairway
from the constraints that currently restrict continued growth and success of its business. Not
only will the contemplated transaction lower Fairways debt obligations, it will also eliminate the

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The restructuring will allow

Fairway to emerge as a stronger company with a healthy balance sheet that can focus on
expanding the business and the iconic Fairway brand rather than on managing burdensome
financial covenants. Most importantly, Fairway will have the capital needed to invest in its
business to effectively compete in the food retailer market space and save thousands of jobs.
IV.
Corporate and Capital Structure
A.

Corporate Structure
42.

Holdings was founded in September 2006 as a Delaware corporation.

Holdings address is 2284 12th Avenue, New York, New York 10027. Holdings is the sole
owner of Fairway Group Acquisition Company (Fairway Acquisition), which was also
formed in September 2006 as a Delaware corporation. A separate Delaware limited liability
company houses each individual Fairway grocery market. Fairway Acquisition is the sole equity
holder of each of these limited liability companies. Thus, all of the Debtors are direct or indirect
subsidiaries of Holdings.

The chart annexed hereto as Exhibit A illustrates Fairways

organizational structure, as of the date hereof.7

43.

Holdings current board of directors is comprised of six (6) members,

including three (3) independent directors: (i) Charles W. Santoro, Chairman, (ii) Michael Barr,
(iii) Howard Glickberg, (iv) Stephen L. Key, (v) General Robert Magnus, and (vi) Farid
Suleman. Fairways current senior management team is comprised of (i) John E. Murphy, Chief
Executive Officer, (ii) Edward C. Arditte, Co-President and Chief Financial Officer, and
(iii) Kevin McDonnell, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer. Other senior officers of
7

As stated and reflected in the chart, Fairway Lake Grove LLC is not a Debtor in these proceedings. The Lake
Grove store will continue operations in the ordinary course and the DIP Lenders have consented to the use of
proceeds from the DIP for such operations.

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Fairway include (a) Dorothy Carlow, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising
Officer, (b) Nathalie Augustin, Senior Vice PresidentGeneral Counsel and Secretary,
(c) Maureen Minard, Senior Vice PresidentChief Information Officer, and (d) Linda M. Siluk,
Senior Vice PresidentFinance and Chief Accounting Officer.
44.

Additional information regarding the Debtors senior management team is

set forth in Schedule 10 annexed hereto.

B.

Capital Structure
45.

The Debtors primary prepetition indebtedness are secured financing

obligations in the amount of approximately $279 million as of the date hereof. The Debtors
secured financing obligations are described in greater detail below.

The Fairway entities

represent the entire business, and as such, all of the Debtors operations are conducted, and debt
is issued or guaranteed, by the Debtors.
(1)

Secured Credit Facility

46.

Fairway Acquisition, as borrower, and Holdings, are parties to the Credit

Agreement, dated February 14, 2013. The Credit Agreement provides for a senior secured credit
facility consisting of an initial $275 million term loan (the Secured Term Loan, the lenders
under which, the Secured Term Loan Lenders) and a $40 million revolving credit facility
(the Revolving Credit Facility, the lenders under which, the Revolving Credit Facility
Lenders), including a letter of credit line. The Secured Term Loan matures in August 2018.
The Revolving Credit Facility matures in August 2017. As of the date hereof, the aggregate
amount outstanding under the Secured Term Loan is approximately $270 million, and the
aggregate amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility is approximately $9 million,
for total funded indebtedness of approximately $279 million. Additionally, as of the date hereof,

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there are approximately $30.6 million in undrawn letters of credit issued under the Revolving
Credit Facility.
47.

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, Holdings, Fairway Acquisition, the

remaining Fairway Entities (including Fairway Lake Grove LLC), and Credit Suisse AG, as
collateral agent for the secured parties thereunder, entered into that certain Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2013 (the Security Agreement). Under the
Security Agreement, each of Fairway Acquisitions subsidiaries and Holdings guaranteed the
Secured Loans. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, the obligations of Holdings, Fairway
Acquisition, and the Fairway guarantors under the Secured Term Loan and the Revolving Credit
Facility are secured on a pari passu basis in all of Fairways assets.
(2)

Trade Claims
48.

In the ordinary course of business, the Debtors incur various fixed,

liquidated, and undisputed payment obligations (the Trade Claims) to various third-party
providers of goods and services (the Trade Creditors) that are sold in the Debtors stores or
facilitate the Debtors business operations. As of the date hereof, the Debtors estimate that the
aggregate amount of Trade Claims outstanding is approximately $21 $27 million. A majority
of the Debtors General Unsecured Claims are Trade Claims. Certain of the Trade Claims are
entitled to statutory priority, such as under PACA or PASA or under section 503(b)(9) of the
Bankruptcy Code, may give rise to shippers, warehouseman, or mechanics liens against the
Debtors property if unpaid, relate to funds held in trust by the Debtors that are not the property
of the Debtors estates, or are secured by letters of credit, security deposits, or rights of setoff
(collectively, the Priority Trade Claims). Excluding the Priority Trade Claims, the Debtors
estimate that the total Trade Claims equal approximately $6.2 million (the Non-Priority Trade
Claims).

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Intercompany Claims
49.

Certain Fairway entities hold Claims against Debtor entities resulting

primarily from the normal functioning of Fairways centralized cash management system as well
as, in some cases, the provision of intercompany services by one Fairway entity to another
Fairway entity, such as, for example, administrative support services.

Historically, such

intercompany claims are recorded in Fairways books and records but not paid. Pursuant to the
Prepackaged Plan, for administrative convenience only, these Intercompany Claims will be, in
the discretion of the Debtors, adjusted, reinstated, or discharged to the extent reasonably deemed
appropriate by the Debtors and the Required Lenders. Such treatment will have no impact on
creditors that are not Debtor-affiliates.
(4)

Equity Ownership
50.

In April 2013, Holdings completed an initial public offering of its Class A

common stock (Class A Common Stock). Holdings is thus a public company and files annual
and quarterly reports with, and furnishes other information to, the SEC. Since April 16, 2013,
Holdings has listed Fairway Class A Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market under the
symbol FWM. As of April 15, 2016, private equity investment funds affiliated with Sterling
Investment Partners (the Sterling Funds), which acquired 80.1% of Holdings in 2007, own
approximately 27% of Class A Common Stock, approximately 92% of Holdings Class B
common stock (Class B Common Stock), and approximately 81% of the combined voting
power of Fairway Class A and Class B Common Stock.
V.
First-Day Pleadings
51.

As mentioned above, Fairway operates in a highly competitive industry. It

is imperative that it make a seamless transition into chapter 11 to preserve the reputation of its

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Sales and

operations must continue in the ordinary course of business to preserve the value of the business
and implement the reorganization transaction. Accordingly, the Debtors have filed a number of
First Day Pleadings designed to facilitate their transition into these Chapter 11 Cases. The
Debtors anticipate that the Court will conduct a hearing soon after the Commencement Date at
which the Court will hear and consider many of the First Day Pleadings. 8
52.

I have reviewed each of the First Day Pleadings with the Debtors counsel,

and I believe that the relief sought in each of the First Day Pleadings is tailored to meet the goals
described above and will be necessary and critical to the Debtors ability to execute the
Prepackaged Plan and is in the best interests of the Debtors estates and creditors. I adopt and
affirm the factual representations contained in each of the First Day Pleadings. A description of
the relief requested and the facts supporting each of the pleadings is set forth below.
A.

Administrative Motions
(i)

Motion of Debtors to (a) Schedule a Combined Hearing to

Consider Adequacy of the Disclosure Statement for the
Prepackaged Plan and Confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan;
(b) Establish procedures for Objecting to the Disclosure Statement
and Prepackaged Plan; (c) Approve Form, Manner, and
Sufficiency of Notice of Combined Hearing, Commencement of
Chapter 11 Cases, and Deferral of Meeting of Creditors and Equity
Holders; (d) Direct that Section 341(a) Meeting is Deferred until
Confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan; and (e) Grant Related
Relief

53.

The Debtors request that the Court enter an order (i) setting a combined

hearing to (i) approve the Disclosure Statement and confirm the Prepackaged Plan; (ii) approve
objection procedures and deadlines in connection with the Prepackaged Plan and Disclosure

Capitalized terms used below in the descriptions of the First Day Pleadings and not otherwise defined have the
meanings given to them in the applicable First Day Pleading.

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Statement; and (iii) approve the process of soliciting votes in connection with the Prepackaged
Plan. The Debtors also seek (i) deferral of the section 341(a) meeting of creditors unless the
Prepackaged Plan is not confirmed within sixty (60) days after the Commencement Date and
(ii) approve the combined notice of (a) commencement of these Chapter 11 Cases, (b) deferral of
the section 341(a) meeting, and (c) the combined hearing of the Prepackaged Plan and
Disclosure Statement and related deadlines.
54.

The holders of Class 3 Claims, who hold claims arising under the

Prepetition Credit Agreement, are the only class of claims entitled to vote on the Prepackaged
Plan. Accordingly, on May 2, 2016, following execution of the RSA, Prime Clerk (the Debtors
solicitation and voting agent) transmitted a Solicitation Package (defined below) to holders of
Class 3 Claims. The Solicitation Package included: ballots containing instructions on how to
vote on the Prepackaged Plan, copies of the Disclosure Statement, and the exhibits to the
Disclosure Statement, which included the Prepackaged Plan, the Restructuring Support
Agreement, the DIP Term Sheet, the DIP Commitment Letter, the Exit Term Sheet, the Exit
Commitment Letter, the Organizational Chart, and a Schedule of Leases (the Solicitation
Package). Prime Clerk transmitted the Solicitation Package via email to the holders of Class 3
Claims. The Debtors have set a voting deadline of May 12, 2016, giving the holders of Class 3
Claims ten (10) more days to review the Disclosure Statement and vote on the Prepackaged Plan.
55.

I understand from counsel that the Debtors solicitation of the

Prepackaged Plan is in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules and the
Guidelines for Prepackaged Chapter 11 Cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
Southern District of New York. I also believe that the proposed service of the Combined Notice
will provide sufficient notice to all parties in interest in the Debtors Chapter 11 Cases of the

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commencement of such cases, the date, time, and place of the Combined Hearing, and the
procedures for objecting to the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement and the confirmation of the
Prepackaged Plan. Finally I believe that the setting a combined hearing on the Prepackaged Plan
and Disclosure Statement, in combination with the aforementioned noticing and solicitation
procedures, is necessary to allow the Debtors to prosecute these Chapter 11 Cases in an
expeditious manner, thereby minimizing administrative costs and delays and avoiding
operational disruption to the Debtors business for the benefit of all parties in interest.
(ii)

Motion of Debtors for Entry of an Order Directing Joint

Administration of their Related Chapter 11 Cases

56.

The Debtors request entry of an order directing joint administration of

these chapter 11 cases for procedural purposes only pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 1015(b) and
that the Court maintain one file and one docket for all of the Chapter 11 Cases under the lead
case, Fairway Group Holdings Corp.
57.

Joint administration of the Chapter 11 Cases will provide significant

administrative efficiencies without harming the substantive rights of any party in interest. Many
of the motions, hearings and orders that will be filed in the Chapter 11 Cases almost certainly
will affect each of the Debtors. The entry of an order directing joint administration of the
Chapter 11 Cases will reduce fees and costs by avoiding duplicative filings and objections and
will allow all parties in interest to monitor the Chapter 11 Cases with greater ease and efficiency.
The relief requested is in the best interests of the Debtors estates, their creditors, and all other
parties in interest and will enable the Debtors to continue to operate their businesses in chapter
11 with the least disruption.

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(iii)

Motion of Debtors for Entry of an Order (i) Extending Time to File

Schedules of Assets and Liabilities and Statements of Financial
Affairs, (ii) Waiving the Same Upon Confirmation of the Debtors
Prepackaged Plan, and (iii) Waiving Requirement to File a List of
Equity Holders, and (iv) Waiving Requirement to File a List of
Creditors

58.

The Debtors request entry of an order extending the time to file their

schedules of assets and liabilities and statements of financial affairs (the Schedules and
Statements) to allow the Debtors a total of sixty (60) days following the Commencement Date
(the Deadline) to file their Schedules and Statements and a waiver of the same upon
confirmation of the Prepackaged Plan on or before the Deadline. Completing the Schedules and
Statements would be time consuming and unnecessarily expensive. This is particularly true if
the Prepackaged Plan is confirmed. Additionally, the Debtors seek waivers of the requirements
to file lists of equity security holders and creditors. The Debtors propose to retain a claims and
noticing agent to assist the Debtors in preparing creditor lists and mailing initial notices. With
such assistance, the Debtors will be prepared to file a computer-readable consolidated list of
creditors upon request and will be capable of undertaking all necessary mailings in a timely and
efficient manner. I believe that the relief requested by this motion is necessary and appropriate
to maximize the value of the Debtors estates.
(iv)

Motion of Debtors for Entry of an Order Implementing Certain

Notice and Case Management Procedures

59.

The Debtors seek entry of an order approving and implementing certain

notice, case management, and administrative procedures (collectively, the Case Management
Procedures). Given the size and scope of these cases, the Case Management Procedures will
facilitate service of notices, motions, applications, declarations, objections, responses,
memoranda, briefs, supporting documents, and other papers filed in these chapter 11 cases that
will be less burdensome and costly than serving such documents on every potentially interested

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party. This, in turn, will maximize the efficiency and orderly administration of these chapter 11
cases, while at the same time ensuring that appropriate notice is provided.
B.

Operational Motions Requesting Immediate Relief

60.

The Debtors intend to ask for immediate interim relief with respect to the

following First Day Pleadings and, therefore, will present these motions at the First Day Hearing.
(i)

Motion of Debtors pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 105, 361, 362, 363,

and 364 and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4001(B)-(C) for Authority to
(A) Obtain Postpetition Financing, (B) Use Cash Collateral, (C)
Grant Certain Protections to Prepetition Secured Parties, and (D)
Schedule a Final Hearing

61.

To secure the liquidity necessary to administer these Chapter 11 Cases and

continue their operations in the ordinary course of business without serious disruption, the
Debtors sought and procured a (i) $55 million new money non-amortizing senior secured
postpetition term loan facility and (ii) $30.6 million revolving credit facility available for the
issuance of letters of credit (the DIP Loans and the DIP Facility). The DIP Facility
provides the financing necessary to provide the Debtors sufficient liquidity to seamlessly operate
in chapter 11 and maintain key relationships with vendors, suppliers, employees and customers.
Absent the DIP Financing, the Debtors would lack the working capital needed to fund these
cases and continue their operations in the ordinary course. The Debtors request interim funding
in the amount of $15 million upon entry of the interim order and $40 million upon entry of the
final order approving the DIP Facility (together, the DIP Orders). While the DIP Loans are
fully committed, all Senior Secured Lenders have the opportunity to participate as lenders under
the DIP Facility.
62.

In addition, the DIP Facility contemplates that upon emergence from

bankruptcy, the amounts outstanding under the DIP Facility will be converted on a dollar-fordollar basis into a fully committed first-out senior secured exit term loan and a senior secured

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revolving credit facility available for the issuance of letters of credit. The unused cash and cash
equivalents remaining at the end of the Chapter 11 Cases (estimated at approximately $42
million) will fund the reorganized Debtors operations upon emergence from chapter 11. The
DIP Lenders under the term loan will be entitled to a fee equal to 10% of the New Common
Stock.
63.

I am familiar with the terms of the DIP Facility and the Adequate

Protection proposed to be provided by the Debtors in exchange for access to Cash Collateral.
Based on my general experience in the restructuring industry and my experience with the
Debtors businesses, I believe that interim approval of the DIP Facility is necessary and
appropriate to allow the Debtors immediate access to liquidity. A&M worked closely with the
Debtors management team to develop the Budget and to determine the amount of interim
funding required to meet the Debtors short-term liquidity needs pending approval of the Motion
on a final basis. Interim funding in the amount of $15 million and immediate access to Cash
Collateral will provide the Debtors with sufficient liquidity to assure their employees, customers,
vendors, and suppliers that the Debtors have the working capital necessary to continue to their
operations in the ordinary course of business. It is critical that the Debtors be in a position to
restore the confidence of their key constituents at the outset of these Chapter 11 Cases.
64.

Prior to the commencement of these cases, as news of the Debtors

financial challenges spread throughout the market, a number of the Debtors suppliers and
vendors contracted trade terms. In addition, in preparation for these Chapter 11 Cases, the
Debtors incurred certain one-time expenses. As a result, during the first four (4) weeks after the
Commencement Date, the Debtors available cashwithout taking account of authorized
proceeds under the DIP Facilityis forecasted to sink as low as negative $6 million. Without

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access to interim funding under the DIP Facility, the Debtors ability to continue their operations
during the first weeks of their Chapter 11 Cases would be in serious jeopardy.
65.

The Debtors anticipate that one-time chapter 11 filing-related expenses

and increased demands by constituents will increase the strains on their free cash during early
phase of these cases. Under these circumstances, for the next four weeks, the Debtors expect to
experience cash losses totaling approximately $6.8 million. As such, immediate access to Cash
Collateral and the interim financing under the DIP Facility is essential to the Debtors ability to
minimize disruptions and avoid irreparable harm to their businesses.
66.

The Debtors surveyed various third party sources of postpetition

financing. In exploring those options, the Debtors were cognizant of the challenges presented by
the fact that substantially all of the Debtors assets are encumbered by the Prepetition Liens. It
became clear to the Debtors that, in order to obtain the necessary liquidity to administer their
Chapter 11 Cases and execute their reorganization strategy, the Debtors either would have to
(i) find a postpetition lender willing to extend credit that would be junior to the Prepetition Liens
or unsecured, or (ii) obtain postpetition financing secured by liens that would prime the
Prepetition Liens.
67.

The Debtors contacted eight (8) parties to solicit offers to provide the

Debtors with postpetition financing.

The Debtors solicitation did not yield any offers.

Accordingly, the Debtors focused their postpetition financing efforts on securing financing from
the DIP Lenders, all of whom also are Prepetition Lenders. Further, the Debtors concluded that
raising postpetition financing on a nonconsensual priming basis would be much more expensive
and disruptive to their businesses than what could reasonably be achieved by entering into the
DIP Facility with the DIP Lenders.

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For several weeks, the Debtors and their advisors engaged in rigorous

negotiations with the Prepetition Secured Parties and their advisors to obtain the best financing
terms available.

The negotiations were conducted at arms length and properly may be

characterized as hard bargaining by all interested parties. The DIP Facility is the only realistic
financing available to the Debtors under the circumstances and is absolutely essential to the
Debtors ability to administer their Chapter 11 Cases.
(ii)

Motion of Debtors for Authorization to (i) Continue Using Their

Existing Cash Management System, Bank Accounts, and Business
Forms, (ii) Implement Ordinary Course Changes to Cash
Management System, (iii) Continue Intercompany Transactions,
and (iv) Provide Administrative Expense Priority for Postpetition
Intercompany Claims and Related Relief

69.

The Debtors request authorization to (i) continue their existing cash

management system, including, without limitation, the continued maintenance of their existing
bank accounts and business forms, (ii) implement changes to their cash management system in
the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, opening new or closing existing
bank accounts, (iii) continue to perform under and honor intercompany transactions with Debtor
and its non-Debtor affiliate in the ordinary course of business, in their business judgment and at
their sole discretion, and (iv) provide administrative expense priority for postpetition
intercompany claims and related relief.
70.

In the ordinary course of business, the Debtors utilize an integrated,

centralized cash management system to collect, transfer, and disburse funds generated by their
operations (the Cash Management System). The Cash Management System is comprised of
approximately 35 bank accounts at Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America) that collect,
organize, and track various forms of customer receipts and cash disbursements (collectively, the
Bank Accounts). The Cash Management System is tailored to meet the Debtors operating

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needs as an operator of a supermarket chain and other retail beverage businesses. The Cash
Management System enables the Debtors to efficiently collect and disburse cash generated by
their business, pay their financial obligations, centrally control and monitor corporate funds and
available cash, comply with the requirements of their financing agreements, reduce
administrative expenses, and efficiently obtain accurate account balances and other financial
data.

It is critical that the Cash Management System remain intact to ensure seamless

continuation of transactions and uninterrupted collection of revenues.

71.

In the ordinary course of business, the Debtors engage in intercompany

transactions with each other and with Lake Grove (the Intercompany Transactions). Such
Intercompany Transactions result in intercompany receivables and payables (the Intercompany
Claims). Intercompany Claims are not settled by actual transfers of cash among the Debtors.
The Debtors track all Intercompany Transactions electronically in their accounting system,
which concurrently are recorded on the applicable Fairway entities balance sheets. The
accounting system requires that all general-ledger entries be balanced at the legal-entity level,
and, therefore, when the accounting system enters an intercompany receivable on one entitys
balance sheet, it also automatically creates a corresponding intercompany payable on the
applicable affiliates balance sheet.
72.

To ensure each individual Debtor will not fund, at the expense of its

creditors, the operations of another entity, the Debtors request that, pursuant to sections
503(b)(1) and 364(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, all Intercompany Claims, including transactions
with Lake Grove, arising after the Commencement Date be accorded administrative expense
priority, provided that such claims will be adjusted, reinstated, or discharged in the discretion of
the Debtors with the consent of the Requisite Lenders.

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To minimize expenses, the Debtors seek authorization to continue using

all business forms substantially in the forms used immediately prior to the Commencement Date,
without reference to the Debtors status as debtors in possession; provided that in the event that
the Debtors generate new business forms during the pendency of these cases other than from
their existing stock, such business forms and checks will include a legend referring to the
Debtors as Debtors-In-Possession. To the extent practicable, the Debtors also will laser print
such legend on any business forms electronically generated during these cases.
74.

Finally, the Debtors seek entry of an order authorizing and directing Bank

of America to continue to treat, service, and administer the Bank Accounts as accounts of the
Debtors as debtors in possession without interruption and in the usual and ordinary course, and to
receive, process, and honor, and pay all checks, drafts, wires, or Automated Clearing House
Payments drawn on the Bank Accounts after the Commencement Date; provided that any
payments issued or made prior to the Commencement Date will not be honored absent direction
of the Debtors and an order of the Court.
(iii)

Motion of Debtors for Authority to Pay Prepetition Trade Claims

in Ordinary Course of Business Pursuant to Sections 105, 362,
363, and 503 of the Bankruptcy Code

75.

As described in paragraph 48 above, in the ordinary course of business,

the Debtors incur various fixed, liquidated, and undisputed payment obligations to various thirdparty providers of goods and services that are sold in the Debtors stores or facilitate the Debtors
business operations. The Debtors request authority to pay in full, in the ordinary course of
business, all Trade Claims (including both Priority and Non-Priority Trade Claims).
76.

It is a sound exercise of the Debtors business judgment to pay the Trade

Claims as they become due in the ordinary course of business because doing so will avoid valuedestructive business interruption and will not prejudice the Debtors other stakeholders. The

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Prepackaged Plan provides for the full and uninterrupted payment of such claims. As a result, no
party in interest will be prejudiced by the relief requested because the Debtors seek only to alter
the timing, not the amount or priority, of such payments. In addition, as noted above, many of
the Trade Claims enjoy statutory or other priority and are otherwise entitled to be paid in full.
77.

The goods and services provided by Trade Creditors are necessary for the

continued, uninterrupted operation of the Debtors business. The Debtors anticipate that failure
to pay the Trade Claims as they become due is likely to result in many Trade Creditors refusing
to provide essential goods and services and/or conditioning the delivery of such goods and
services on compliance with onerous and commercially unreasonable terms. Nonperformance by
numerous Trade Creditors could materially disrupt the Debtors operation of its grocery stores
and jeopardize the continued viability of the Debtors business, and these Chapter 11 Cases,
ultimately to the detriment of all of the Debtors stakeholders.
78.

The Debtors anticipate that approximately 90% of prepetition Trade

Claims will become due and payable over the next three weeks in the ordinary course of
business. Accordingly, the Debtors seek interim and final authority to pay prepetition amounts
owed on account of Trade Claims in full, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the proposed order without any limitation in
amount. If the Debtors were limited to an interim cap, they would be forced to delay payments
to certain of their vendors, which would be disruptive to their business, or seek emergency relief.
In light of the prepackaged nature of these Chapter 11 Cases, the unimpaired treatment of
General Unsecured Creditors under the Prepackaged Plan and the fact that most of the Trade
Claims are Priority Trade Claims, the Debtors request that the Court authorize payment of all
prepetition amounts in the ordinary course of business upon entry of the interim order.

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(iv)

Motion of Debtors Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 105(a), 363 and

507(a) for Authority, but not Direction, to (A) Pay Certain
Prepetition Wages and Reimbursable Employee Expenses, (B) Pay
and Honor Employee Medical and Other Benefits, (C) Continue
Employee Benefits Program, and for Related Relief

79.

The Debtors request the entry of interim and final orders authorizing, but

not directing, the Debtors to (a) pay prepetition wages, salaries and other compensation, taxes,
withholdings and related costs and reimbursable employee expenses, (b) pay and honor
obligations relating to employee medical, insurance and other benefits programs, and
(c) continue their employee medical, insurance and other benefits programs on a postpetition
basis.
80.

The relief requested includes compensation for the Debtors full-time and

part-time employees, temporary employees retained through an outside agency, and independent
contractors that provide services related to various aspects of the Debtors operations and are
vital to the Debtors businesses. As of the date hereof, certain prepetition obligations to such
employees and supplemental workers may be due and owing.
81.

The majority of the Debtors workforce relies on the Debtors

compensation, benefits and reimbursement of expenses to satisfy daily living expenses. The
workforce will be exposed to significant financial difficulties if the Debtors are not permitted to
honor obligations for unpaid compensation, benefits and reimbursable expenses. Moreover, if
the Debtors are unable to satisfy such obligations, morale and loyalty will be jeopardized at a
time when support is critical. In the absence of such payments, the workforce may seek
alternative employment opportunities, including with the Debtors competitors, hindering the
Debtors ability to meet their customer obligations and likely diminishing customer confidence.
Loss of valuable employees would distract the Debtors from focusing on their operations and
administering the Chapter 11 Cases.

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(v)

Debtors Motion for Authority to (i) Continue to Maintain Their

Insurance Policies and (ii) Honor all Insurance Obligation

82.

The Debtors seek entry of interim and final orders authorizing, but not

directing, the Debtors to (i) continue to maintain their various insurance policies and honor their
insurance obligations in the ordinary course of business during the administration of their chapter
11 cases and (ii) pay any prepetition insurance obligations in the ordinary course of business.
83.

The Debtors maintain various liability, property, workers compensation

and other insurance policies to help manage and limit the various risks associated with operating
their businesses. The Debtors also maintain workers compensation insurance as required by
statute in each of the states in which they operate. The Debtors employ certain insurance service
providers, such as brokers and consultants, to help them procure, negotiate, and evaluate their
insurance policies and identify and review claims that arise under such policies.
84.

Postpetition, the Debtors insurance policies and workers compensation

programs will be essential to the preservation of the value of the Debtors businesses, properties
and assets, and, in certain instances, are required by law. If any of the Debtors insurance
policies are terminated or lapse, the Debtors would be exposed to substantial liability to the
detriment of all parties in interest and could be in violation of law. State law may prohibit the
Debtors from operating without certain insurance.

Additionally, given that the Debtors

insurance service providers are intimately familiar with the Debtors insurance policies, even the
temporary loss of their services would be detrimental to the Debtors estates. Accordingly,
authorization to pay all insurance-related obligations is critical to the continued operation of the
Debtors businesses.

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(vi)

Motion of Debtors for Authority to (i) Maintain and Administer

Prepetition Customer Programs, Promotions, and Practices, and (ii)
Pay and Honor Related Prepetition Obligations

85.

The Debtors request authority to, in the ordinary course of business and

consistent with past practice, (i) maintain and administer prepetition customer programs and
promotions, and (ii) to pay and otherwise honor their obligations to customers relating thereto,
whether arising prior to or after the Commencement Date.
86.

The Debtors businesses depend upon the loyalty of their customers. To

maximize customer loyalty, the Debtors have maintained and followed, in the ordinary course of
business, various practices and programs (collectively, the Customer Programs) to reward
and provide incentives to existing customers and to attract new customers to the Debtors stores.
Such programs are standard in the retail food business. Without the ability to continue their
Customer Programs and to satisfy prepetition obligations in connection therewith, the Debtors
risk losing market share and value of their businesses. The Debtors Customer Programs are
described more fully in the Motion.
87.

In order to maintain the Debtors reputation for reliability and to maintain

the loyalty, goodwill and support of their customers, the Debtors must maintain their Customer
Programs and honor their obligations thereunder.
(vii)

Motion of Debtors for Authority to Pay Certain Prepetition Taxes

and Fees

88.

The Debtors request authorization to pay taxes, assessments, fees, and

other charges (collectively, the Taxes and Fees), in the ordinary course of business, including
any such Taxes and Fees subsequently determined, upon audit or otherwise, to be owed, and
whether accrued or arose before or after the Commencement Date.

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In the ordinary course of operating their business, the Debtors collect,

withhold, and incur an assortment of Taxes and Fees that they remit periodically to various
federal, state, and local taxing, licensing, regulatory, and other governmental authorities
(collectively, the Authorities). Many of the Taxes and Fees collected are held in trust for and
must be turned over to the Authorities. The Debtors also seek to pay certain prepetition Taxes
and Fees in order to, among other things, forestall Authorities from taking actions that might
interfere with the administration of these Chapter 11 Cases, which may include bringing personal
liability actions against directors, officers, and other key employees (whose full-time attention to
the Debtors Chapter 11 Cases is required to avoid business disruptions and maximize recoveries
to the Debtors creditors), asserting liens on the Debtors property or assessing penalties and/or
significant interest on past-due taxes. In addition, the non-payment of such Taxes and Fees may
give rise to priority claims pursuant to section 507(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code. Accordingly, I
believe that the relief requested in the Taxes and Fees Motion is in the best interests of the
Debtors' estates, their creditors and all other parties in interest, and will enable the Debtors to
continue to operate their businesses.
(viii)

Motion of the Debtors for the Entry of an Order Establishing

Notification Procedures and Approving Restrictions on Certain
Transfers of Interests and Claims in the Debtors

90.

The Debtors seek to establish procedures to protect the potential value of

the Debtors tax net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) and certain other tax attributes
(Tax Attributes). The proposed procedures would impose certain restrictions and notification
requirements with respect to the following stock issued by Fairway Group Holdings Corp.:
(1) Class A common stock; (2) Class B common stock; and (3) options and similar rights (within
the meaning of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations) to acquire such stock.

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The Debtors estimate that, as of May 2, 2015, the Debtors had

approximately $200 million of consolidated NOLs for U.S. federal income tax purposes in
addition to certain other Tax Attributes.

These Tax Attributes are valuable assets of the

respective Debtors estates because the Tax Code generally permits corporations to carry over
their Tax Attributes to reduce future taxable income.

Accordingly, absent any intervening

limitations, the Tax Attributes could substantially reduce the Debtors U.S. federal income tax
liability during the pendency of these Chapter 11 Cases (such as in connection with the
disposition of assets) or, potentially, in the event of a future transaction, to offset future income
tax liabilities. The Tax Attributes could thus translate into future tax savings over time and any
such savings could enhance the Debtors cash position for the benefit of all parties in interest.
Accordingly, the trading procedures seek authority to monitor and approve certain changes in the
ownership of Class A and Class B common stock in Fairway Group Holdings Corp. (including
by claiming a worthlessness deduction) to protect against the occurrence of an ownership change
during the pendency of these bankruptcy cases.
92.

I have been advised that the relief requested in the NOL Motion would

prevent diminution of this valuable asset of the Debtors estates.

(ix)

Motion of Debtors Requesting Entry of an Order (I) Approving

Debtors Proposed Form of Adequate Assurance of Payment to
Utility Providers, (II) Establishing Procedures for Determining
Adequate Assurance of Payment for Future Utility Services, and
(III) Prohibiting Utility Providers from Altering, Refusing, or
Discontinuing Service

93.

The Debtors request entry of an order (i) approving the Debtors proposed

form of adequate assurance of payment to utility providers, (ii) establishing procedures for
determining adequate assurance of payment for future utility services, and (iii) prohibiting utility
providers from altering or discontinuing service on account of outstanding prepetition invoices.

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Preserving utility services on an uninterrupted basis is essential to the

Debtors ongoing operations and the Sale Process. Indeed, any interruption in utility services
even for a brief period of timewould seriously disrupt the Debtors ability to continue
operations and service their customers.

This disruption would adversely impact customer

relationships and would result in a decline in the Debtors revenues. It also would affect the
value of inventoryparticularly items like perishable goods and frozen food. Such a result
could seriously jeopardize the Debtors restructuring efforts and, ultimately, creditor recoveries.
Therefore, it is critical that utility services continue uninterrupted during these chapter 11 cases.
95.

The Debtors intend to pay postpetition obligations owed to the Utility

Providers in a timely manner. The Debtors expect that cash flows from operations and their DIP
Financing will be sufficient to pay postpetition obligations related to their utility services in the
ordinary course of business.
96.

Furthermore, the Debtors propose to deposit into a segregated bank

account a sum equal to the cost of two weeks worth of the average utility cost for each Utility
Provider based on the average that the Debtors were billed for the fiscal year ending 2016
(collectively, the Adequate Assurance Deposit).
97.

I believe that the Adequate Assurance Deposit, in conjunction with the

DIP Financing, cash flow from operations, and cash on hand demonstrate the Debtors ability to
pay for future utility services in the ordinary course of business and constitute sufficient adequate
assurance to the Utility Providers.
(x)

Application of Debtors for an Order Appointing Prime Clerk LLC

as Claims and Noticing Agent

98.

The Debtors request authority to appoint Prime Clerk LLC (Prime

Clerk) as claims and noticing agent (Claims and Noticing Agent) in accordance with the

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terms and conditions of that certain Engagement Agreement dated April 15, 2016, by and
between Fairway and Prime Clerk (the Engagement Agreement), effective nunc pro tunc to
the Commencement Date. Prime Clerks duties will include assuming full responsibility for the
distribution of notices and the maintenance, processing, and docketing of proofs of claim filed in
these Chapter 11 Cases. I believe the Debtors selection of Prime Clerk to serve as their Claims
and Noticing Agent has satisfied the Courts Protocol for the Employment of Claims and
Noticing Agents Under 28 U.S.C. 156(c).

Specifically, the Debtors have solicited and

reviewed engagement proposals from at least two other Court-approved claims and noticing
agents to ensure selection through a competitive process.
99.

I believe that Prime Clerks rates are competitive and reasonable given

Prime Clerks quality of services and expertise. The terms of Prime Clerks retention are set
forth in the Engagement Agreement attached to, and filed contemporaneously therewith, the
Claims and Noticing Agent Retention Application. Appointing Prime Clerk as their Claims and
Noticing Agent will maximize the efficiency of the distribution of notices and the processing of
claims, as well as relieve the Office of the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court of the administrative
burden of processing an overwhelming number of claims.
VI.
Information Required by Local Rule 1007-2
100.

In accordance with Local Rule 1007-2, the schedules attached hereto

provide certain information related to the Debtors.

101.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(3), Schedule 1 hereto lists the names

and addresses of the members of, and attorneys for, any official committee organized prior to the
Commencement Date and a brief description of the circumstances surrounding the formation of
the committee and the date of its formation.

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Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(4), Schedule 2 hereto lists the holders of

the Debtors forty (40) largest unsecured claims on a consolidated basis, excluding claims of
insiders.
103.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(5), Schedule 3 hereto lists the holders of

the five (5) largest secured claims against the Debtors on a consolidated basis.
104.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(6), Schedule 4 hereto provides a

summary of the (unaudited) consolidated assets and liabilities for the Debtors and their nonDebtor affiliates.
105.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(7), Schedule 5 hereto provides the

following information: the number and classes of shares of stock, debentures, and other
securities of the Debtors that are publicly held and the number of record holders thereof; and the
number and classes of shares of stock, debentures, and other securities of the Debtors that are
held by the Debtors directors and officers, and the amounts so held.
106.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(8), Schedule 6 hereto provides a list of

all of the Debtors property in the possession or custody of any custodian, public officer,
mortgagee, pledgee, assignee of rents, secured creditor, or agent for any such entity, giving the
name, address, and telephone number of each such entity and the location of the court in which
any proceeding relating thereto is pending.
107.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(9), Schedule 7 hereto provides a list of

the premises owned, leased, or held under other arrangement from which the Debtors operate
their businesses.
108.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(10), Schedule 8 hereto provides the

location of the Debtors substantial assets, the location of their books and records, and the nature,

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location, and value of any assets held by the Debtors outside the territorial limits of the United
States.
109.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(11), Schedule 9 hereto provides a list of

the nature and present status of each action or proceeding, pending or threatened, against the
Debtors or their property where a judgment against the Debtors or a seizure of their property may
be imminent.
110.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(12), Schedule 10 hereto provides a list

of the names of the individuals who comprise the Debtors existing senior management, their
tenure with the Debtors, and a brief summary of their relevant responsibilities and experience.
111.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(b)(1)-(2)(A), Schedule 11 hereto provides

the estimated amount of weekly payroll to the Debtors employees (not including officers,
directors, stockholders, and partners) and the estimated amount to be paid to officers,
stockholders, directors, members of any partnerships, and financial and business consultants
retained by the Debtors for the thirty (30) day period following the filing of the Debtors Chapter
11 Cases as the Debtors intend to continue to operate their businesses.
112.

Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(b)(3), Schedule 12 hereto provides, for the

thirty (30) day period following the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, a list of estimated cash
receipts and disbursements, net cash gain or loss, obligations, and receivables expected to accrue
that remain unpaid, other than professional fees.
Conclusion
113.

This declaration illustrates the factors that have precipitated the

commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases and the critical need for the Debtors to implement the
reorganization strategy embodied in the Prepackaged Plan.

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I declare under penalty of perjury that, to the best of my knowledge and after
reasonable inquiry, the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed this 2nd day of May, 2016

/s/ Dennis Stogsdill

Dennis Stogsdill
Chief Restructuring Officer
Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and
its Affiliated Debtors

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Exhibit A
Corporate Organization Chart

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Operates
the
production
facility

Operates
store on
Van Brunt
Street in
Brooklyn,
NY

Main Document

Pg

FAIRWAY
STAMFORD
WINES &
SPIRITS LLC

100%

Operates
wine store in
Pelham
Manor, NY

FAIRWAY
ECOMMERCE

LLC
_________

Operates
wine store in
Stamford, CT

FAIRWAY GROUP ACQUISITION CO.

Sole Member of

FAIRWAY
UPTOWN LLC
FAIRWAY
RED
HOOK
LLC

Entered 05/03/16 01:27:51

42 of 66

FAIRWAY GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.

FAIRWAY
PELHAM
WINES &
SPIRITS LLC

FAIRWAY
BAKERY
LLC
_________

Filed 05/03/16

FAIRWAY
BROADWAY
LLC

Operates
store on
74th Street
and
Broadway
in New
York, NY

FAIRWAY
HUDSON
YARDS LLC
No current
operations
WEIL:\95690516\2\44444.0005

Operates
store, bakery,
warehouse
and corporate
office on 12th
Ave. in New
York, NY

FAIRWAY
GREENWICH
STREET
LLC
No current
operations

FAIRWAY
GROUP
PLAINVIEW
LLC
_________
Operates
store in
Plainview,
NY

FAIRWAY
WOODLAND
PARK LLC
_________
Operates
store
in
Woodland
Park, NJ

FAIRWAY
GROUP
CENTRAL
SERVICES
LLC
_________
Treasury
operations/
Payment
affiliate for
all stores

FAIRWAY
KIPS BAY
LLC
_________
Operates
store on
Second
Ave in New
York, NY

FAIRWAY
WESTBURY
LLC
________
Operates
store in
Westbury,
NY

FAIRWAY
CONSTRUCTION
GROUP, LLC

Internal
Construction
Operations

FAIRWAY
PARAMUS
LLC

FAIRWAY
PELHAM
LLC

________

_________

_________

Operates
store in
Paramus,
NJ

Operates
store in
Pelham
Manor, NY

Operates
store in
Douglaston,
NY

FAIRWAY
DOUGLASTON
LLC

FAIRWAY
NANUET LLC
___________

FAIRWAY
CHELSEA LLC
___________

FAIRWAY LAKE
GROVE LLC
___________

Operates
store in
Nanuet, NY

Operates
store on West
25th Street/
Avenue of the
Americas in
New York, NY

Operates
store in Lake
Grove, NY

Operates
online
Marketplace
on Fairway
Market
website.

FAIRWAY
STAMFORD
LLC

Operates
store in
Stamford, CT

FAIRWAY
EAST 86TH
STREET LLC

Operates
store on East
86th Street in
New York,
NY

FAIRWAY
GEORGETOWNE
LLC
___________

FAIRWAY
STATEN ISLAND
LLC
___________

Will operate
store in
Georgetowne
Mall in
Brooklyn, NY

Will operate
store in Staten
Island, NY

NonDebtor
Entity

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Schedule 1
Committees
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(3), to the best of the Debtors knowledge and
belief, no official committee has been organized prior to the Commencement Date.

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Schedule 2
Consolidated List of 40 Largest Unsecured Claims (Excluding Insiders)1
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(4), the following is a list of creditors holding, as of April 30, 2016 the forty (40)
largest, unsecured claims against the Debtors, on a consolidated basis, excluding claims of insiders as defined in 11 U.S.C. 101.

No.

Creditor

United
Natural
Foods, Inc.

Douglaston
Shopping
Center
Owner, LLC

Kehe
Distributors
Holdings,
LLC

Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Joseph Traficanti, Esq.,
313 Iron Horse Way
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
Phone: 401-528-8634x32301
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Tamika Jenkins
150 East 58th Street, Penthouse
New York, NY 10155
Phone: 646-214-0254
Email: ____
Attn: Ron Oradat
12740 Gran Bay Parkway West Suite 2200
Jacksonville, FL 32258
Phone: 800-229-0235
Email: [email protected]

Nature of
claim

Trade Debt

Common
Area
Maintenance

Trade Debt

Amount of
claim

Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

$1,611,119.65

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$1,438,566.75

$928,208.00

Disputed and
Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$719,874.67

$618,585.81

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$527,485.81

The information herein shall not constitute an admission of liability by, nor is it binding on, the Debtors. All claims are subject to customary offsets, rebates,
discounts, reconciliations, credits, and adjustments, which are not reflected on this Schedule.

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No.

Creditor

Bunzl New
Jersey

Con Edison

J & J Farms
Creamery
Co, Inc.

US
Foodservice

Direct
Energy
Marketing
Inc.

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Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Fred Rasmussen
27 Distribution Way
Monmouth Junction Monmouth
Dayton, NJ 08810
Phone: 732-821-7000
Email: [email protected]
Attn: General Counsel
4 Irving Place
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-780-6766
Email: ____
Attn: Simon Friedman
5748 49th St
Maspeth, NY 11378
Phone: 718-821-1200
Email: ____
Attn: Jeffrey Hatcher
1051 Amboy Avenue
Perth Amboy, NJ 8861
Phone: 732-934-3318
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Customer Service Manager
1001 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1200
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 888 925 9115
Email: [email protected]

2
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Nature of
claim

Amount of
claim

Trade Debt

$496,439.10

Utility

$654,031.81

Trade Debt

$354,336.39

Trade Debt

$336,774.44

Utility

$331,205.60

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Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$388,684.45

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No.

Creditor

Revionics,
Inc.

10

Retalix USA

11

Real Coffee
Roasters
LLC

12

Blue Ribbon
Fish Co.,
Inc.

13

Red Hook
Green
Power, LLC

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Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Marc Hafner
2998 Douglas Blvd. Suite 350
Roseville, CA 95661
Phone: 916-677-5460
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Gary Lowen
6100 Tennyson Parkway, Ste 150
Plano, TX 75024
Phone: 732 207 2160
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Mitchel Margulis, Owner
129 9th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: 347-335-0751
Email: [email protected]
Attn: David Samuels, Owner
800 Food Center Drive Unit 67
Bronx, NY 10474
Phone: 718-620-8580
Email: [email protected]
Attn: General Counsel
175 Van Dyke St. Suite 322a
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: ____
Email: ____

3
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Nature of
claim

Amount of
claim

Trade Debt

$325,000.00

Trade Debt

$308,887.50

Trade Debt

$239,087.97

Trade Debt

$214,255.57

Utility

$198,658.81

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Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

16-11241

No.

Creditor

14

Century Link

15

Valesco
Trading

16

Manetto
Hills
Associates
116 Inc.

17

Setton
International
Foods

18

Southern
Wine &
Spirits Of
New York
Inc.

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Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Michael Boyd
Weinstock & O'malley
105 White Oak Lane
Old Bridge, N.J. 08857
1-800-682-9003 Ext. 548
Email: ____
Attn: Al Sozer
267 Ridge Road
Lyndhurst, NJ 7071
Phone: 201 729 1414
Email: [email protected]
Attn: General Counsel
50 Manetto Hill Road
Plainview, Ny 11803
Phone: 516 869 9000
Email: ____
Attn: Joshua Setton
85 Austin Blvd
Commack, NY 11725
Phone: 631-543-8090
Email: ____
Attn: Julie A. Siechen
3063 Court St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
Phone: 315 428 2100
Email: ____

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Nature of
claim

Amount of
claim

Trade Debt

$169,960.62

Trade Debt

$134,194.00

Real Estate
Taxes

$123,013.71

Trade Debt

$123,565.57

Trade Debt

$104,615.47

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Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$130,194.00

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$119,565.57

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No.

Creditor

19

Gourmet
Guru

20

Exotic
Gourmet
Corp.

21

Union Beer
Distributors

22

E & M Ice
Cream Corp.

23

Olis De
Cataluyna

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Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Jeff Lichtenstein
1123 Worthen Street
Bronx, NY 10474
Phone: 718-842-2828
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Thomas Lipari Sr.
57-50 Flushing Ave
Maspeth, NY 11378
Phone: 718-894-0980
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Christopher Sheehan
1213 Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: 718-497-2407
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
701 Zerega Ave
Bronx, NY 10473
Phone: 718-824-8130
Email: ____
Attn: President
C/Joan Oliver
16-24 43206 Reus
Spain
Phone: 34 977 330 021

5
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Amount of
claim

Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

$124,940.07

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$102,609.90

Trade Debt

$124,223.66

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$102,113.96

Trade Debt

$100,361.70

Trade Debt

$100,003.19

Trade Debt

$95,731.20

Nature of
claim

Trade Debt

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No.

Creditor

24

Dora's
Natural, Inc.

25

Daniello
Carting
Company

26

Nassau
Candy

27

Eli's Bread
Corp.

28

Clark
Printing

Doc 4

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Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Cyrus Schwartz
21 Empire Boulevard
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
Phone: 201-229-0500
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
627 Whittier St
Bronx, NY 10474
Phone: 718-991-8143
Email: ____
Attn: Les Stier
530 West John St
Hicksville, NY 11801
Phone: 516-342-1495
Email: [email protected]
Attn: Eli Zabar, President
403 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10087-9093
Phone: 212-426-8868
Email: [email protected]
Attn: General Counsel
441 Market Street
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 201 845 4888
Email: ____

6
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Amount of
claim

Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

Trade Debt

$137,856.01

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$92,099.59

Trade Debt

$91,328.26

Nature of
claim

$113,050.17

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$86,655.40

Trade Debt

$92,113.24

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$86,613.24

Trade Debt

$83,874.00

Trade Debt

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No.

29

30

31

32

33

Creditor

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Complete mailing address, telephone number,

and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted

Attn: General Counsel

69 Defco Park Road
Brescome
North Haven, CT 06473
Barton Inc.
Phone: 203-239-4901
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
420 Bryant Street
Maplebear
San Francisco, CA 94107
Inc.
Phone: 910 817 2278
Email: ____
Attn: Jeffrey Smith
First
7 Hoover Ave
International Haverstraw, NY 10927-1068
Health Foods Phone: 845-429-9080
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
2101 Webster St. Ste#1650
Pandora
Oakland, CA 94612
Media Inc.
Phone: 510-451-4100
Email: [email protected]
Attn: General Counsel
CMI
240 Cross Bay Blvd
Services
Broad Channel, NY 11693
Corp
Phone: 718 945 6262
Email: ____

7
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Nature of
claim

Amount of
claim

Trade Debt

$83,577.81

Trade Debt

$83,498.91

Trade Debt

$77,644.42

Trade Debt

$75,061.00

Trade Debt

$71,121.99

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Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$76,144.42

16-11241

No.

Creditor

34

Cream-OLand Dairies
LLC

35

A. Fodera
& Son, Inc.

36

Coca Cola
Bottling
Company

37

World's Best
Cheeses

38

Stcr
Business
Systems, Inc.

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and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: Jay Schneier, President
529 Cedar Lane
Florence, NJ 8518
Phone: 609-499-3601
Email: [email protected]
Attn: General Counsel
12902 Northern Boulevard # 1
Flushing, NY 11368
Phone: 718-478-8000
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
4600 East Lake Boulevard
Birmingham, AL 35217
Phone: 205-841-2653
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
111 Business Park Dr
Armonk, NY, 10504-1708
Phone: 914 273 1400 Ext. 116
Email: ____
Attn: _____
10 Prospect St
Endwell, NY 13760
Phone: 607-757-0181
Email: [email protected]

8
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Amount of
claim

Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

Trade Debt

$69,632.79

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$67,632.79

Trade Debt

$65,184.88

Trade Debt

$64,401.06

Nature of
claim

Trade Debt

$79,376.46

Trade Debt

$57,822.23

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$62,971.38

16-11241

No.

Creditor

39

Manhattan
Beer Dist.,
Inc.

40

Cyrusone
LLC

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and name of employee, agent, or department
of creditor familiar with claim who may be
contacted
Attn: General Counsel
955 East 149th Street
Bronx, NY 10455
Phone: 718 292 9300
Email: ____
Attn: General Counsel
1649 W Frankford Rd
Carrollton, TX 75007
Phone: 214 488 1365
Email: ____

9
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Amount of
claim

Contingent,
Liquidated,
Disputed, or
Partially Secured

Trade Debt

$58,808.07

Partially Secured;
Unsecured
Amount:
$57,558.07

Trade Debt

$57,552.48

Nature of
claim

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Schedule 3
Consolidated List of Holders of Five Largest Secured Claims
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(5), to the best of the Debtors knowledge,
belief, and understanding, the following chart lists the creditors holding, as of the
Commencement Date, the five (5) largest secured, non-contingent claims against the Debtors, on
a consolidated basis, excluding claims of insiders as defined in 11 U.S.C. 101.

No.

Creditor
Credit Suisse
AG, Cayman
Islands Branch,
as
administrative
agent and
collateral agent

1.

2.

C&S
Wholesale
Grocers

West Side
Foods Inc.
3.

Austin Meat
Company
4.

Ava Pork
5.

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Contact, Mailing
Address, Telephone
Number/Fax Number,
Email
C/o King & Spalding LLP,
1185 Avenue of the
Americas, New York,
New York 10036
(Attn: Michael Rupe,
Esq. and Christopher G.
Boies, Esq.) and 1180
Peachtree Street, Atlanta,
Georgia 30309 (Attn: W.
Austin Jowers, Esq.), the
attorneys for Credit Suisse
AG, Cayman Islands
Branch, as administrative
agent and collateral agent
Michael Newbold, Chief
Legal Officer, 7 Corporate
Drive, Keene, NH, 03431,
USA, (603) 354-7000
Fax: (603) 354-4690
Tom Ryan, 355 Food
Center Drive, Hunts Point
Post Office, Bronx New
York 10474, (718) 8428500
Fax: (718) 842-1945
Timothy DeCamp, 355
Food Center Drive, #814
Hunts Point Market,
Bronx NY 10474, (718)
894-0980
Fax: (718) 542-5809
Leonard Lombardi,
President, 383 West John
Street, Hicksville, NY
11802, (516) 750-1500,
[email protected]
Fax: (516) 750-1501

Amount of
Claim

Type of
Collateral

Estimated
Value of
Collateral

$278,987,519

Substantially
All Assets

$131,682,109

Whether
Claim or
Lien is
Disputed
No

$1,180,887

Letter of
Credit

$1,180,887

No

$839,347

Letter of
Credit

$839,347

No

$315,519

Letter of
Credit

$315,519

No

$42,769

Letter of
Credit

$42,769

No

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Schedule 4
Fairway - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
As of April 3, 2016
(in 000's)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Accounts Receivable
Inventory
Deferred income taxes, current
Income tax receivable
Prepaid Rent
Deferred loan costs - current
Prepaid Expenses and other current assets
Total Current Assets
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
GOODWILL
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
OTHER ASSETS
Total Assets
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS DEFICIT
CURRENT LIABBILITIES
Current Portion LT Debt
Accounts Payable
Accrued expenses
Total Current Liabilities
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes, current
Long term debt
Deferred income taxes, noncurr
Other LT liabilities
Total Liabilities
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS DEFICIT
Stock
Additional PIC
Accumulated deficit
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

18,007
6,038
29,637
497
4,229
1,738
4,585
64,732
127,725
26,975
10,740
230,173

2,750
23,121
22,695
48,567
263,998
31,352
42,792
386,709

15
393,904
(550,453)
230,173

General Note: The Consolidated Balance Sheet is unaudited, subject to change and includes
certain items that remain under review by the Company and may be accounted for differently in
future reports.

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Schedule 5
Publicly Held Securities
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(7), the following lists the number and classes of
shares of stock, debentures, and other securities of the Debtors that are publicly held
(Securities) and the number of holders thereof. The Securities held by the Debtors directors
and officers are listed separately.
Fairway Group Holdings Corp. Common Stock

Type of Security

Approximate Number of Shares

Approximate
Number of Record
Holders

As of

Class A common
stock, $0.00001 par
value

29,926,248

421

April 15, 2016

Class B common
stock, $0.001 par
value

14,203,171

April 15, 2016

Fairway Group Holdings Corp. Common Stock Held by the Debtors Non-Employee
Directors
Name of Non-Employee
Director

Approximate
Number of Shares2

As of

Charles W. Santoro

2,109

April 15, 2016

Michael Barr

1,054

April 15, 2016

Howard Glickberg

87,630 Class A &

1,122,516 Class B

April 15 2016

Farid Suleman

1,406

April 15, 2016

Includes holders of shares that are registered directly with the transfer agent Computershare
Trust Company, N.A and does not include beneficial holders of shares held in street name
through a bank, broker or other intermediary.

Only includes stock directly owned by the director.

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Fairway Group Holdings Corp. Common Stock Held by the Debtors Executive Officers

Name of
Executive Officer

Approximate Number of
Shares3

As of

Edward C. Arditte

10,000

April 15, 2016

Kevin McDonnell

74,863

April 15, 2016

Nathalie
Augustin

48,973

April 15, 2016

Linda M. Siluk

21,700

April 15, 2016

Only includes stock directly owned by the executive officer.

2

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Schedule 6
Debtors Property Not in the Debtors Possession
Local Rule 1007-2(a)(8) requires the Debtors to list property that is in the
possession or custody of any custodian, public officer, mortgagee, pledgee, assignee of
rents, secured creditor, or agent for any such entity.
In the ordinary course of business, on any given day, property of the
Debtors (including security deposits or other collateral with counterparties to certain
commercial relationships) is likely to be in the possession of various third parties,
including, vendors, shippers, common carriers, materialmen, distributors, warehousemen,
fulfillment houses, service providers, custodians, public officers or agents, where the
Debtors ownership interest is not affected. Because of the constant movement of this
property, providing a comprehensive list of the persons or entities in possession of the
property, their addresses and telephone numbers, and the location of any court proceeding
affecting the property would be impractical.

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Schedule 7
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(9), the following lists the property or premises
owned, leased, or held under other arrangement from which the Debtors operate their businesses.
Leased Property1
Debtor

Street Address

City

State

Zip
Code

Country

Fairway Uptown LLC

2276 12th Avenue

New York

NY

10027

USA

Fairway Uptown LLC

2284-2286 12th Avenue

New York

NY

10027

USA

Fairway Uptown LLC

2288-2312 12th Avenue

New York

NY

10027

USA

Fairway Uptown LLC

2314 12th Avenue

New York

NY

10027

USA

Fairway Uptown LLC

2316 12th Avenue

New York

NY

10027

USA

Fairway Uptown LLC

2328 12th Avenue

New York

NY

10027

USA

Fairway Broadway LLC

2121-2127 Broadway

New York

NY

10023

USA

Fairway Broadway LLC

2131 Broadway

New York

NY

10023

USA

Fairway Group Plainview LLC

50 Manetto Hill Road

Plainview

NY

10023

USA

Fairway Red Hook LLC

480-500 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn

NY

11231

USA

Fairway Red Hook LLC

475 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn

NY

11231

USA

Fairway Red Hook LLC

264 Conover Street

Brooklyn

NY

11231

USA

Fairway Paramus LLC

#4 Fashion Center Mall

Route 17 North
30 Ridgewood Avenue

Paramus

NJ

07652

USA

Fairway Pelham LLC

847 Pelham Parkway

Pelham Manor

NY

10803

USA

Fairway Stamford LLC

689 Canal Street

Stamford

CT

06902

USA

Fairway Stamford LLC

699 Canal Street

Stamford

CT

06902

USA

New York

NY

10022

USA

Fairway East 86th Street LLC

230-240 E. 86th Street

The classification of the contractual agreements listed herein as real property leases or property held by other
arrangements is not binding upon the Debtors.

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Fairway Douglaston LLC

242-02 61st Avenue

Douglaston

NY

11362

USA

Fairway Woodland Park LLC

1510 Route 46 West

Woodland
Park

NJ

07424

USA

Fairway Westbury LLC

1258 Corporate Drive

Westbury

NY

11590

USA

Fairway Kips Bay LLC

542-580 Second Avenue

New York

NY

10016

USA

Fairway Chelsea LLC

55 W. 25th Street a/k/a 766

Avenue of the Americas

New York

NY

10010

USA

Fairway Nanuet LLC

101 Market St East

Nanuet

NY

10954

USA

Fairway Bakery LLC

400 Walnut Avenue

Bronx

NY

10454

USA

Fairway Staten Island LLC

Staten Island Mall

Staten Island

NY

10314

USA

Fairway Georgetowne LLC

2149 Ralph Avenue

Brooklyn

NY

11234

USA

2
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Schedule 8
Location of Debtors Assets, Books, and Records
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(10), the following lists the locations of
the Debtors substantial assets, the location of their books and records, and the nature,
location, and value of any assets held by the Debtors outside the territorial limits of the
United States.
Location of Debtors Substantial Assets
As of April 3, 2016, the Debtors had assets of approximately $230 million,
as provided in Schedule 4, with substantial assets in New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut.
Books and Records
The Debtors books and records are located at 2284 12th Avenue, New
York NY 10027.
Debtors Assets Outside the United States
The Debtors do not have significant assets located outside of the territorial
limits of the United States.

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Schedule 9
Litigation
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(11), to the best of the Debtors' knowledge, belief, and
understanding, there are no actions or proceedings pending or threatened against the Debtors or
their property, as of the Commencement Date, where a judgment against the Debtors or a seizure
of their property may be imminent.

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Schedule 10
Senior Management
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(a)(12), the following provides the names of
the individuals who comprise the Debtors existing senior management, a description of
their tenure with the Debtors, and a brief summary of their relevant responsibilities and
experience.
Name & Position
John E. Murphy
President and Chief
Executive Officer

Edward C. Arditte CoPresident and Chief

Financial Officer

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Responsibilities & Experience

John E. Murphy has served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. (Fairway) since
September 2014. Mr. Murphy was a co-founder and Chief
Operating Officer of natural foods grocer Fresh Fields, Inc. from
1990 to 1997. Most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer
of Earth Fare, Inc., an organics and natural food chain with
locations in the Southeast and Midwest, from 2008 to April 2014
and as a director from 2007 to April 2014. In addition, Mr. Murphy
had been an Operating Partner at McCown Deleeuw & Co., the
private equity firm that owned the 24 Hour Fitness chain, and a
Vice President of Operations at Purity Supreme Supermarkets.
Mr. Murphy received his B.A. degree in history from the University
of Massachusetts.
Edward C. Arditte has served as Co-President and Chief Financial
Officer of Fairway since February 2014 and as Fairways Executive
Vice PresidentChief Financial Officer from December 2012,
when he joined us, to February 2014. He served as a consultant to
Fairway in October and November 2012. Mr. Arditte has over 35
years of finance and operating experience with large, multi-industry
companies, including Tyco International Ltd., where he served from
May 2003 to May 2010 as a Senior Vice President with
responsibility for strategy, investor relations and communications.
Prior to joining Fairway, Mr. Arditte had a consulting firm
specializing in finance, strategy and investor relations. Immediately
prior to joining Tyco International, he served as the Chief Financial
Officer of BancBoston Capital, the private equity division of Fleet
National Bank, for 16 months. Mr. Arditte also spent 16 years at
Textron Inc., where he served in a variety of management roles
including Vice President & Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer of a
major operating division and Vice President of Investor Relations
and Risk Management. He began his career as a corporate banker at
Security Pacific National Bank. Mr. Arditte is a director of
AccuWeather, Inc. Mr. Arditte earned a B.A. degree from the
University of California at Riverside and an M.B.A. degree from
Boston University.

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Name & Position

Responsibilities & Experience

Kevin McDonnell CoPresident and Chief

Operating Officer

Kevin McDonnell has served as Fairways Co-President and Chief

Operating Officer since February 2014 and as Fairways Senior
Vice PresidentChief Operating Officer from April 2012 to
February 2014. He served as Fairways Chief Merchandising
Officer from August 2007 to April 2012. Prior to joining Fairway in
August 2007, Mr. McDonnell served in various capacities at The
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company for over 27 years, most
recently as Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising.

Dorothy M. Carlow
Executive Vice
President and Chief
Marketing Officer

Dorothy M. Carlow has served as Fairways Executive Vice

PresidentChief Merchandising Officer since November 2014.
From April 2012 to October 2014, Ms. Carlow was the Chief
Merchandising Officer of Earth Fare, a North Carolina based
specialty supermarket chain, where she led merchandising,
marketing, transportation, and logistics. From April 2009 to April
2012, Ms. Carlow served in other positions at Earth Fare, including
Vice President of Produce, Business Development and Marketing
and Online Communications Director. Ms. Carlow earned her B.S.
degree from the George Washington University in Washington,
D.C.
Nathalie Augustin has served as Fairways Senior Vice President
General Counsel and Secretary since April 2012. Ms. Augustin
joined Fairway in June 2007 as Vice PresidentGeneral Counsel
and Secretary. Prior to joining Fairway, Ms. Augustin served in
various capacities at The Donna Karan Company LLC, an
international fashion design house and a subsidiary of LVMH Mot
Hennessy Louis Vuitton, from June 1999 to May 2007, most
recently as Vice President and Associate General Counsel. Prior to
joining Donna Karan, Ms. Augustin was an associate at Cleary
Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP for approximately 5 years. Ms.
Augustin began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable
Sterling Johnson of the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of New York. She received her law degree from Harvard
Law School and a B.A. degree from Columbia College.

Nathalie Augustin
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel, and
Secretary

2
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Name & Position

Maureen Minard
Senior Vice President
and Chief Information
Officer

Linda M. Siluk Senior

Vice President of
Finance and Chief
Accounting Officer

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Responsibilities & Experience

Maureen Minard has served as Fairways Senior Vice President
Chief Information Officer since April 2015. From 2004 until she
joined Fairway, Ms. Minard was the Group Vice President of
Business Systems for Aropostale, Inc. a specialty apparel company
where she led the applications team in support and implementation
of all corporate systems. Ms. Minard received her B.S. degree in
Business Administration from Montclair State College.
Linda M. Siluk has served as Fairways Senior Vice President of
Finance and Chief Accounting Officer since June 2015. From
October 2011 to June 2015, Ms. Siluk served as Fairways Vice
President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, as Fairways
Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller from October
2010 to October 2011, and as a Senior Project Manager from
August 2009 to October 2010, focusing primarily on the
implementation of a general ledger software package. Prior to
joining Fairway, Ms. Siluk served as the Chief Financial Officer at
Drug Fair, a New Jersey-based drug store chain from October 2008
to May 2009. From September 2006 to April 2008, Ms. Siluk was
the Senior Vice President, Finance at Ann Taylor. Ms. Siluk
received her B.S. in Business Administration from Montclair State
College. Ms. Siluk is a certified public accountant.

3
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Schedule 11
Payroll
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(b)(1)-(2)(A) and (C), the following
provides the estimated amount of weekly payroll to the Debtors employees (not
including officers, directors, and stockholders) and the estimated amount to be paid to
officers, stockholders, directors, and financial and business consultants retained by the
Debtors for the 30-day period following the filing of the chapter 11 petitions.
Payments to Employees
(Not Including Officers, Directors, and
Stockholders)

$9,020,000

Payments to Officers,
Stockholders, and Directors

$400,000

Payments to Financial and Business

Consultants

$130,000

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Schedule 12
Cash Receipts and Disbursements,
Net Cash Gain or Loss, Unpaid Obligations and Receivables
Pursuant to Local Rule 1007-2(b)(3), the following provides, for the 30day period following the filing of the chapter 11 petition, the estimated cash receipts and
disbursements, net cash gain or loss, and obligations and receivables expected to accrue
that remain unpaid, other than professional fees.
Cash Receipts
Cash Disbursements
Net Cash Loss
Unpaid Obligations
Uncollected Receivables

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$56,636,285
$63,410,891
$6,774,606
$23,613,032
$3,341,826

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