Winn-Dixie Emerges From Chapter 11

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Winn-Dixie Stores yesterday emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed on a $725 million exit financing facility. “Today marks the end of one chapter and the start of a new beginning for Winn-Dixie,” Peter Lynch, chairman and chief executive officer of Winn-Dixie here, said in a statement. Winn-Dixie said it would issue 54.5 million new shares of stock within 45 days that will trade on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol WINN. Shares are already trading on a “when issued” basis on over-the-counter exchanges under the WINNV symbol. Winn-Dixie filed for Chapter 11 in February of 2005. In the 21 months since then, the retailer closed or sold nearly 400 stores and several distribution centers. It now operates 522 stores in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. Jon Springer