Concordia Healthcare Bondholder Calls For Immediate Changes, Threatens Lawsuit

For the last three trading sessions, investors in Concordia International Corp CXRX have been struggling to find some news. Since Monday, the stock has quietly lost nearly 30 percent of its value.

The Benzinga news desk may have uncovered the answer.

In a letter dated November 7, 2016 that was obtained by Benzinga, noteholders counseled by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP laid out five reasons to be concerned with Concordia's operations and business.

"There can be no dispute that Concordia is in dire financial straits," the letter said.

"...it appears that the Company now faces a perfect storm of events that requires the Company to pursue a material financial restructuring and deleveraging transaction in the near term. According, by this letter, the Noteholders request that the Company engage immediately with the Noteholders to work constructively toward a restructuring transaction that will maximize value for all of the Company's stakeholders."

Among other things, the letter highlighted the following five issues:

• "[T]he Company's weakening financial position as detailed in the company's Q3 2016 earnings report (especially with respect to US operations);
• The recent announcement that the company is a target of a governmental investigation regarded suspected unfair competition practices;
• Likely near-term changes to the Health Service Medial Supplies (Costs) Bill in the United Kingdom that will impact the Company materially;
• The recent resignation of the company's founder, Mark Thompson, as its Chief Executive Officer; and
• The material near-term payments due Civen in connection with the Company's acquisition of Amidpharm Mercury Limited."

A Timeline Of Recent Concordia News

Several recent news items that preceded the noteholder letter certainly added to near-term volatility.

• At the end of September, a Goldman Sachs analyst made it apparent Concordia should be wrapped in to the heightened drug-pricing debate. He reduced estimates and the 12-month price target on Concordia shares from $13 to $4.
• On October 3, an update from Concordia that management was continuing to evaluate strategic alternatives pushed shares to a near-term high of $5.25.
• On October 21, the stock was halted midday to announce its CEO would be stepping down.
• On October 25, the company announced the communication that the CMA was investigating various issues related to the UK pharma sector.
• On November 7, Concordia issued worse-than-expected third-quarter results and also suspended guidance "as the company assessed the business under new leadership."