Impel Pharmaceuticals files for Chapter 11 to facilitate sale

Impel Pharmaceuticals announced that it is pursuing a sale of the company and has entered into an agreement with JN Bidco to serve as the “stalking horse” bidder to acquire the company and its assets. To facilitate an orderly sale process, the company has filed voluntary petitions to commence chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, which will provide interested parties the opportunity to submit higher and better offers. The decision to file for Chapter 11 protection follows the strategic review process that Impel announced in October during which the company announced the exploration of a wide range of options including potential sale of assets of the Company, a sale of all the company, a merger or other strategic transaction. Impel intends to continue operating as usual throughout the court-supervised sale process, including providing wages and benefits to employees. To enable this, the company has filed certain customary “First Day” motions with the Court. Upon Court approval of these First Day motions, the company expects to minimize the impact of the sale process on the company’s customers, employees, and other key stakeholders. The company has also appointed Brandon Smith, a senior managing director at Teneo Capital, as chief restructuring officer. Smith has more than 20 years of experience leading financial and operational restructuring matters, often in interim management roles. He previously held senior roles at firms including Ernst & Young, CR3 Partners, and Deloitte. In accordance with the sale process under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the company will solicit competing bids from interested parties, in an effort to achieve the highest and best value for the company’s assets. Impel seeks to complete the sale process in the first quarter of 2024, with any sale subject to Court approval.