PizzaExpress Unit Files for Chapter 15 in the UK

A unit of UK-based PizzaExpress is seeking bankruptcy protection in the U.S. PizzaExpress Financing 2 Plc filed for Chapter 15 in the Southern District of Texas Court, according to filing.

Chapter 15 shields foreign companies from lawsuits by U.S. creditors while they reorganize in another country, reported Bloomberg Quint.

Also Read: PizzaExpress to shut 73 restaurants in UK

The pizza chain had been struggling even before the pandemic as changing dining trends reduced demand for its pizzas, and as Hony’s efforts to expand its business outside the U.K. stretched its balance sheet.

Not only this, the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown forced the pizza chain to close most of its restaurants earlier this year, making a financial and business restructuring more urgent.

May Interest: PizzaExpress to close 15% of its UK biz

The company failed to pay 20 million pounds of bond interest that came due July 31.

As part of a restructuring proposal that the pizza chain announced in August, bondholders agreed to take over most of the business, while current owner Hony Capital will keep the Chinese operations.