Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy


Reuters | Posted:


* Textbook publisher hurt by government cutbacks

* Bank lenders, bondholders would gain control

* Paulson took stake

By Jonathan Stempel

May 21 (Reuters) - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc, whose textbooks have been a staple in American schoolhouses for decades, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday after agreeing with creditors to eliminate $3.1 billion of debt.

The "pre-packaged" bankruptcy comes as state and local governments cut their budgets, reducing demand for textbooks for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, Houghton Mifflin's main business.

Houghton Mifflin has a 41 percent market share in the K-12 educational material and services sector, Fitch Ratings said.
The Boston-based company and two dozen affiliates filed for protection in U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan, Houghton Mifflin's second major restructuring in 2-1/2 years.
Houghton Mifflin said its restructuring has support from the vast majority of its stakeholders, and that it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 by June 30. Fitch said 90 percent of the company's senior lenders support the plan.

With a history dating to 1832, Houghton Mifflin said its products serve 60 million students in 120 countries.
It also publishes the "Curious George" and "Lord of the Rings" children's book series, and games such as "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" The company in January agreed to distribute titles from an Amazon.com Inc publishing unit.

In February 2010, Houghton Mifflin underwent a restructuring in which it raised $650 million of equity capital. Its investors include the investment firm Guggenheim Partners and hedge fund manager John Paulson, whose firm Paulson & Co got a board seat.

Houghton Mifflin's reorganization calls for the conversion of its bank and bond debt into a 100 percent equity stake in a reorganized company, saving $250 million in annual cash interest costs.

Trade creditors and unsecured creditors would be paid in full. Shareholders who back the plan could receive warrants for up to 5 percent of the equity in a reorganized company.
The company has said it has lined up $500 million in financing from Citigroup Inc, and hired Blackstone Group LP and the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to provide financial and restructuring advice.
In its bankruptcy petition, Houghton Mifflin said it had more than $1 billion of both assets and liabilities.
The case is In re: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-12171.

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