Blockbuster Receives Final Court Approval of 'DIP' Financing

DALLAS, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Blockbuster Inc. (OTHER OTC: BLOKA, BLOKB), a leading global provider of rental and retail movie and game entertainment, today announced that it has received final authorization from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to obtain $125 million in "debtor-in-possession" (DIP) financing from certain of the Company's senior noteholders. This funding is available to help Blockbuster meet its obligations to customers, suppliers and employees in the ordinary course as it implements a plan to recapitalize its balance sheet and substantially reduce debt.

The Court had previously authorized Blockbuster access to $20 million of the DIP financing on an interim basis. Today's final order allows Blockbuster to access the entire $125 million facility.

The Court today also approved the retention of certain legal and restructuring advisors and granted Blockbuster authority to pay certain prepetition claims of movie studios and game providers, which will help ensure that Blockbuster's customers will continue to enjoy access to a wide variety of movies, games and television programs, including new releases the first day they become available.

On September 23, 2010, Blockbuster announced that it reached agreement with its senior noteholders on the material terms of a plan to recapitalize its balance sheet and substantially reduce debt from nearly $1 billion currently to an estimated $100 million or less when the plan is implemented. The Company and its domestic subsidiaries filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions to implement the recapitalization.

Blockbuster has subsequently received final court authorization, among other things, to:

• Pay employees in the usual manner and continue their benefits without disruption;
• Continue honoring the Blockbuster Rewards® program, valid coupons, gift cards and other customer programs;
• Continue to maintain cash management systems; and,
• Pay certain undisputed pre-petition obligations of certain essential vendors, suppliers and service providers.

Jim Keyes, chairman and chief executive officer, said: "We are pleased that the court has granted these final orders, which will enable us to continue to meet our obligations to customers, suppliers and employees as we move forward with the recapitalization process. We continue to work diligently with our senior noteholders, the movie studios, the unsecured creditors committee and other key parties on our recapitalization plan, which, when implemented, will strengthen our balance sheet and allow us to continue transforming our business model."

All of Blockbuster's U.S. operations, including its stores, DVD vending kiosks, by-mail and digital businesses, are open and serving customers in the normal course.  Blockbuster is fulfilling all orders as usual.

Additional information about the recapitalization is available at www.Blockbuster.com/recapitalization or by telephone at 877-660-6684 or 732-645-4110. General information for Blockbuster customers is available at www.Blockbuster.com or by calling 1-866-692-2789.

About Blockbuster Inc.

Blockbuster Inc. is a leading global provider of rental and retail movie and game entertainment. The Company provides customers with convenient access to media entertainment anywhere, any way they want it - whether in-store, by-mail, through vending kiosks or digitally to their homes and mobile devices. With a highly recognized brand and a library of more than 125,000 movie and game titles, Blockbuster leverages its multichannel presence to serve nearly 47 million global customers annually. The Company may be accessed worldwide at www.blockbuster.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements may also be included from time to time in our other public filings, press releases, our website and oral and written presentations by management.  Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "predicts," "targets," "seeks," "could," "intends," "foresees" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology.  Similarly, statements that describe our strategies, initiatives, objectives, plans or goals are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current intent, belief, expectations, estimates and projections.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are difficult to predict.  Therefore, actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.  The risk factors set forth under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other matters discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" sections of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, among others, could affect future results, causing these results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.  Currently, the risks and uncertainties that may most directly impact our future results include (i) the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern; (ii) the Company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11 cases; (iii) the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to prosecute, develop and consummate one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the chapter 11 cases; (iv) the effects of the Company's bankruptcy filing on the Company and the interests of various creditors, equity holders and other constituents; (v) Bankruptcy Court rulings in the chapter 11 cases and the outcome of the cases in general; (vi) the length of time the Company will operate under the chapter 11 cases; (vii) risks associated with third party motions in the chapter 11 cases, which may interfere with the Company's ability to develop and consummate one or more plans of reorganization once such plans are developed, including the currently proposed plan; (viii) the potential adverse effects of the chapter  11  proceedings on the  Company's  liquidity  or  results of operations; (ix) the ability to execute  the Company's business and restructuring plan; (x) increased legal costs related to the bankruptcy filing and other litigation; (xi) the Company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operation, to obtain and maintain normal terms with customers, suppliers and service providers and to retain key executives, managers and employees.  In the event that the risks disclosed in our public filings and those discussed above cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements, our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected and investors in our securities could lose part or all of their investments.  Accordingly, our investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Further, the forward-looking statements included in this release and those included from time to time in our other public filings, press releases, our website and oral and written presentations by management are only made as of the respective dates thereof.  We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement in this release or in other documents, our website or oral statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

SOURCE Blockbuster Inc.