Del Monte plans bankruptcy after completing LME in 2024
- Bill Weisbrod
- +Rachel Butt
Del Monte is preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as within the next few weeks amid liquidity problems, sources told 9fin.
The company is less than a year removed from a liability management exercise in which it raised $240m in new money. The LME involved dropping certain assets into an unrestricted subsidiary and exchanging its $725m term loan due 2029 into new second and third-out tranches issued by the new subsidiary, Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc.
Balance sheet issues persisted for the company, with S&P and Moody’s earlier this year citing tight liquidity, high leverage and low demand for its packaged food products.
Del Monte, via its bankers at PJT Partners, is currently seeking a roughly $200m DIP loan to fund operations while in bankruptcy, a source said. That funding could come from existing lenders or a third party.
In April 2025 DMFC II issued a $122m senior secured first lien first out loan to fund a settlement with investment firm Black Diamond on behalf of lenders who were not part of the ad hoc group that received preferential treatment under the 2024 exchange.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (then known as Kramer Levin) advised Del Monte on its LME.
The company’s parent is Singapore-based Del Monte Pacific Limited, which is in turn majority owned by Philippines-based NutriAsia Pacific Limited.
Del Monte, Del Monte Pacific Limited, NutriAsia Pacific Limited and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer did not respond to requests for comment. PJT Partners declined to comment.
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