The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that Quebecor is pushing lenders to take a big hit on their loans to Corus Entertainment in its attempt to acquire the media company's national stable of television and radio stations. The Globe's Andrew Willis writes that Quebecor, a telecom and media powerhouse in its home province, is asking banks and credit funds to write off 60 per cent or more of Corus's $1.05-billion in debt as part of a pretakeover restructuring. Corus's lenders, led by RBC and TD Bank, are giving the company more time to solve its financial woes rather than swallow the loan losses that would come with accepting Quebecor's bid. In early September, RBC and TD extended the deadline for reaching an agreement on debt relief to Oct. 15. Quebecor first approached Corus in January with a takeover offer. In recent months, Quebecor continued to show interest in acquiring the parent of Global Television, if lenders agree to write off much of the debt. Quebecor is urging Corus and its lenders to embrace a court-supervised creditor restructuring. Analysts and credit rating agencies say Corus has other options, including selling assets such as Global TV or a debt-for-equity swap with note holders.
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