Lenders to Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group won control of the company in a court-supervised restructuring.

The bid by the creditors’ group, which represents holders of about US$760 million in Cirque debt and includes Toronto-based Catalyst Capital Group Inc., must still receive the approval of a Canadian court. Lenders are planning to inject US$375 million of new capital into the Montreal-based company to restart its shows.

Under the proposal, first-lien creditors, owed more than US$900 million as of March 31, wind up with virtually all of the equity.

“The offer made by our secured lenders is a clear recognition of our iconic brand and of the current management team,” Chief Executive Officer Daniel Lamarre said in an email. “We are focusing on the relaunch of our shows and look forward to moving the organization forward with the prospect of returning to a profitable situation.”

Cirque shareholders including TPG, China’s Fosun International Ltd. and Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec will see their investment wiped out under the creditors’ plan. TPG bought a majority stake in 2015.

The lenders have also agreed to keep Cirque’s international headquarters in Montreal for at least five years. They committed to setting up a US$15 million fund to pay laid-off employees and another US$5 million for contractors, according to the bid document. There is no government money in the proposal…

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