The Guardian
trending topics
Close Box

Our news

Yes, it’s true: We are joining GigaOM...


Publishers’ Debt Problems: Lifeline For Indie Publisher; Informa Unit ‘Sale’

  • Comments Comments (View)
  • Text Size: A A

imageSighs of relief at Independent News & Media - it’s announced a six-week extension on a €200 million (£177.5 million) bond which was due for re-payment on Monday. As part of a “standstill period” until June 26, the company has also negotiated an extra €15 million (£13.3 million) in working capital from its lending banks and, tellingly, the company says this sum will be repaid “from specified asset disposals”. Whether those disposals will be part of already announced plans to sell €100 million (£88.7 million) of loss-making businesses from the global INM empire or new sell-offs is unclear. The reprieve dispels—for the time being—the very real and disastrous possibility of INM breaching its banking covenants, which the company admitted could happen if the bond went unpaid. Release.

SEE ALSO: Indie Publisher To Sell Some Loss-Making Businesses

Another publisher looking to ease its debt problems with sell-offs is Lloyds List publisher Informa, which, according to the Mail On Sunday, is putting its software management division Robbins-Gioia up for sale for £70 million. As of March this year the company had debts of £1.34 billion and Informa has since launched a rights issue and left the UK tax system in a bid to cut debts by £400 million by the end of the year. MoS says that Robbins-Gioia has already attracted interest from potential buyers and that Informa will update the market on the sale’s progress on May 27. Informa had not returned our call on the matter this morning though the company had declined to comment when asked by Reuters.com.

May 18, 2009 2:43 AM ET

Posted In: Media & Publishing, Magazines, Newspapers, Money, Companies, Independent News & Media

(Page 1 of 1)


The Bestsellers

From iTunes and YouTube to Facebook and Kindle, the most popular content on the web, free and paid.

See The Other Bestsellers »

Jobs RSS Job Listings

Social Standing

Which media brands are getting a lift from Tweeters and bloggers right now -- and which are getting panned?

"Sentiment" Scores for All the Companies »

Sponsors

Staff