/raid1/www/Hosts/bankrupt/TCREUR_Public/070212.mbx
T R O U B L E D C O M P A N Y R E P O R T E R
E U R O P E
Monday, February 12, 2007, Vol. 8, No. 30
Headlines
A U S T R I A
BIOGAS SYSTEM: Claims Registration Period Ends February 20
ELEKTRO GRUEBLINGER: Claims Registration Period Ends March 15
FASCHING - ESTRICH: Claims Registration Period Ends February 23
HANDELSAGENTUR PILZ: Claims Registration Period Ends March 6
SZINOVATZ LLC: Claims Registration Period Ends March 8
TRAINSERV GESELLSCHAFT: Claims Registration Period Ends March 13
UJESKY HANDELS: Administrator Declares Insufficient Assets
C Y P R U S
SHIP FINANCE: To Buy Two Capesize Vessels from Golden Ocean
F I N L A N D
M-REAL OYJ: Annual General Meeting Slated for March 13
METSO OYJ: Earns EUR410 Million for Year Ended Dec. 31, 2006
METSO OYJ: Board to Expand 2006-2008 Share Ownership Plan
G E R M A N Y
ALOPEX GMBH: Claims Registration Period Ends February 19
ATEC GMBH: Claims Registration Ends February 21
AUER.PREPRESS: Claims Registration Period Ends April 20
B.I.A. GMBH: Claims Registration Period Ends March 16
BAU-WOLF GMBH: Claims Registration Ends March 23
BEL AIR: Claims Registration Period Ends February 28
BITAX STEUERBERATUNGSGESELLSCHAFT: Registration Ends March 30
CACE BETEILIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT: Claims Registration Ends March 12
CARSON HAIR: Claims Registration Period Ends March 14
CONCEPTPLAN - M AGENTUR: Claims Registration Ends March 14
CT-CONTAINER: Claims Registration Period Ends March 9
GILA'S VITRINE: Claims Registration Ends March 16
GRUNDSTUECKSGESELLSCHAFT MK: Claims Registration Ends Feb. 15
H V N HANDWERKERVERMITTLUNG: Claims Registration Ends March 1
HAMBURG MOVERS: Claims Registration Period Ends April 4
HESE UMWELT: Claims Registration Ends March 10
HL CLUB: Claims Registration Period Ends March 20
HOCHBAU KALKAR: Claims Registration Ends February 26
HOEHE-BAU: Creditors' Meeting Slated for April 13
IMG IMMOMECHERNICH: Claims Registration Ends March 29
KDT KOMMUNIKATIONS: Claims Registration Period Ends March 12
MEIBAN GERMANY: Claims Registration Ends March 13
ML BAUUNTERNEHMEN: Claims Registration Ends March 8
NAVA-BAU: Creditors Meeting Slated for March 12
OEZTRONIC SERVICE: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 10
PES GESELLSCHAFT: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 19
RIKO MODEHANDELS: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 8
SELECT SERVICES: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 12
SPECTRUM BRANDS: S&P Cuts Ratings to CCC+ on Weak Performance
SYCOS GMBH: Creditors Must Register Claims by April 13
TISCALI SPA: Sells German Business-to-Customer Ops to Freenet.de
VENTUR.E 18: Creditors Meeting Scheduled on March 20
WALD-PARK SCHOENFLIESS: Claims Registration Ends March 13
WILHELM KEMMER: Claims Registration Period Ends Feb. 27
H U N G A R Y
BORSODCHEM NYRT: Registers Capital Decrease with Authorities
I R E L A N D
MUNSTER FOODS: Cuts 50 Jobs After Going Into Receivership
I T A L Y
TISCALI SPA: Sells German Business-to-Customer Ops to Freenet.de
K A Z A K H S T A N
ART-MEGA LLP: Creditors Must File Claims by March 16
BAU-TECHNO RESOURCE: Creditors' Claims Due March 23
DEMEU SU: Proof of Claim Deadline Slated for March 23
ERDEN-LN LLP: Claims Registration Ends March 16
F-TRANS-HOLDING LLP: Claims Filing Period Ends March 23
HLEBOPRODUCT LLP: Creditors Must File Claims by March 23
LKCROUP LLP: Creditors' Claims Due March 16
MAKTA LLP: Proof of Claim Deadline Slated for March 23
K Y R G Y Z S T A N
SLOANSTREET CONSULTING: Claims Filing Period Ends March 23
L U X E M B O U R G
MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL: Colombian Unit Selling 17.6% Stake
MILLICOM INT'L: Inks Pact with China Mobile to Sell Paktel Stake
NORTEL NETWORKS: Plans 2,900 Job Cuts Worldwide by 2008
P O L A N D
AFFILIATED COMPUTER: Fin'l. Report Filing Cues S&P's Pos. Watch
R U S S I A
AG-TRADE CJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 20
AGRO-DON OJSC: Court Names I. Zolotarev as Insolvency Manager
AZOV-SEL-KHOZ-ENERGO: Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for April 23
BONA-OIL LLC: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
CANNED VEGETABLES: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
GOLOVISHENSKOYE CJSC: Court Names A. Vasilyev to Manage Assets
JUPITER-AGRO CJSC: Court Names A. Varygin as Insolvency Manager
LUKOIL OAO: Discovers 100-Million Barrel Oil Field in Colombia
NEVA-DOR-STORY CJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
SNEZHNAYA CJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 20
SUCCESS OJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 20
VERKHNEVYAT-LES-PROM: Kirov Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for May 15
VITYAZ OJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
VOLGO-ROS-OIL-TRANS: Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for March 9
VOLODARSKIY COMBINE: Asset Sale Slated for February 21
ZVEREVSKOYE PASSENGER: Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for February 2
S W E D E N
DOLE FOOD: Fresh Vegetables Unit Inks Leafy Greens Mktg. Pact
S W I T Z E R L A N D
CREDIT INDUSTRIEL: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due March 30
EDI-CAR LLC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due March 15
NRJ ENTERPRISES: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
OCEAN FISH: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 28
QISSCO JSC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
SCHUHHAUS RUTZ: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 16
STEINER HAUSTECHNIK: Bern Court Closes Bankruptcy Proceedings
TABULARASA LLC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 23
TOMA JSC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
TOWN SPORTS: S&P Rates Proposed US$260-Mln Secured Loan at B+
UNIPC LLC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
U K R A I N E
GENEX LTD: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 21
PETROVSKOE LLC: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 23
PRODUCTION OPERATION: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 23
RITAS LLC: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 21
ROSTOCK-TORG LLC: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 21
TEMP LLC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 23
UKRAINIAN CONSTRUCTION: Claims Submission Deadline Set Feb. 23
U N I T E D K I N G D O M
BONNE BOUCHE: Taps KPMG to Administer Assets
AGRICULTURE AND FRESH: Creditors' Claims Due March 30
AIREDALE GLASS: Appoints Liquidators from PricewaterhouseCoopers
BODYSYSTEMS LTD: Appoints Administrators from Tenon Recovery
BROTHERTON PEPLER: Mounting Debts Spur Liquidation
CAVINGDON LTD: Appoints KPMG as Joint Administrators
CLASSICAL CONSERVATORIES: Creditors' Meeting Slated for Feb. 15
COLLINS & AIKMAN: Donnelly Penman Approved as Investment Banker
COLLINS & AIKMAN: Wants Beringea LLC as Investment Banker
COMDEC LTD: Taps David Hill to Liquidate Assets
CORONEL SUPPORT: Robert Day Leads Liquidation Procedure
CORUS GROUP: Tata Sons Sells 8.17-Mln Shares to Fund Takeover
CURTIS MECHANICAL: Claims Filing Period Ends February 28
DOYLE DEMOLITION: Names M. S. E. Solomons Liquidator
FORD MOTOR: Revives Ford Taurus & Mercury Sable to Lineup
FORTRESS MIDLANDS: Taps Liquidator from Crawfords
G T ALMAX: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 14
GLASSLAM EUROPE: Claims Filing Period Ends March 31
GLEN SECURITY: Hires A. H. Tomlinson to Liquidate Assets
ICT CENTRE: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 15
INVENSYS PLC: Has GBP219-Mln Stockholders' Deficit at Dec. 31
K D S ELECTRICAL: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 16
KENT CABINETS: Appoints Jason Groocock as Liquidator
KNOWDRAMA LTD: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 21
LUMASIGN LTD: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 14
MEADGATE LTD: Brings In KPMG to Administer Assets
MEDWAY T & G: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 23
PREFERRED RESIDENTIAL: S&P Puts Class D Notes on Watch Positive
QUICK PRINTS: Brings In Liquidator from Stones & Co.
READER'S DIGEST: High Leverage Cues Moody's to Cut Ratings to B2
S M REFRIGERATION: Claims Registration Ends June 30
SEA CONTAINERS: Committee Retains Morris Nichols as Counsel
SEA CONTAINERS: Trustee Opposes Houlihan's Employment as Advisor
SIMCLAR GROUP: Deputy Enterprise Minister Calls for DTI Probe
SMILE SECURITIZATION: S&P Rates Class E Notes at Prelim BB-
STEM CELL: Losses Rise to EUR4.5 Million in 2006
STEPHEN JOHNSON: Joint Liquidators Take Over Operations
UIC INSURANCE: U.S. Court Grants Relief Under Sec. 304
VIRTEX INTERNATIONAL: Calls In Liquidator from Irwin & Co.
WESTMORELAND TRUCK: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 23
YELL GROUP: Earns GBP163.4 Million in Nine Months Ended Dec. 31
* Deloitte Warns Insolvency Crisis for U.K. Manufacturers
* BOND PRICING: For the Week February 12 to February 17, 2007
*********
=============
A U S T R I A
=============
BIOGAS SYSTEM: Claims Registration Period Ends February 20
----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors owed money by JSC Biogas System Technik (FN 261814x)
have until Feb. 20 to file written proofs of claim to estate
administrator Volker Leitner at:
Mag. Volker Leitner
Wiener Strasse 3
3100 St. Poelten
Austria
Tel: 02742/35 43 55
Fax: 02742/35 14 35
E-mail: office@gpls.at
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the creditors' meeting at 9:50 a.m. on March 13 for examination
of claims.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The Land Court of St. Poelten
Room 216
Second Floor (Old Building)
St. Poelten, Austria
Headquartered in Kemmelbach, Austria, the Debtor declared
bankruptcy on Jan. 23 (Bankr. Case No. 14 S 19/07w).
ELEKTRO GRUEBLINGER: Claims Registration Period Ends March 15
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors owed money by LLC Elektro Grueblinger (FN 141437x)
have until March 15 to file written proofs of claim to estate
administrator Walter Holme at:
Dr. Walter Holme
Dr. Koss Strasse 3
4600 Wels
Austria
Tel: 07242/67354-0
Fax: 07242/67354-50
E-mail: kanzlei@holme.at
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the creditors' meeting at 10:00 a.m. on March 29 for examination
of claims.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The Land Court of Wels
Hall 101
First Floor
Maria Theresia Str. 12
Wels, Austria
Headquartered in Gunskirchen, Austria, the Debtor declared
bankruptcy on Jan. 23 (Bankr. Case No. 20 S 12/07a).
FASCHING - ESTRICH: Claims Registration Period Ends February 23
---------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors owed money by LLC Fasching - Estrich, Putz und
Isolierung (FN 200525s) have until Feb. 23 to file written
proofs of claim to estate administrator Christoph Danner at:
Mag. Christoph Danner
Lamprechtsstrasse 2
4780 Scharding/Inn
Austria
Tel: 07712/5133
Fax: 07712/5133 20
E-mail: office@grubeck-danner.at
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the creditors' meeting at 9:00 a.m. on March 14 for examination
of claims.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The Land Court of Ried im Innkreis
Hall 101
First Floor
Ried im Innkreis, Austria
Headquartered in Diersbach, Austria, the Debtor declared
bankruptcy on Jan. 23 (Bankr. Case No. 17 S 2/07m).
HANDELSAGENTUR PILZ: Claims Registration Period Ends March 6
------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors owed money by KEG Handelsagentur Pilz (FN 231826x)
have until March 6 to file written proofs of claim to estate
administrator Werner Seifried at:
Mag. Werner Seifried
Burggasse 40
8750 Judenburg
Austria
Tel: 03572-82127
Fax: 03572-82127-4
E-mail: mag.seifried@derAnwalt.or.at
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the creditors' meeting at 10:40 a.m. on March 14 for examination
of claims.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The Land Court of Leoben
Hall IV
First Floor
Leoben, Austria
Headquartered in Poels, Austria, the Debtor declared bankruptcy
on Jan. 23 (Bankr. Case No. 17 S 5/07i).
SZINOVATZ LLC: Claims Registration Period Ends March 8
------------------------------------------------------
Creditors owed money by LLC Szinovatz (FN 118109s) have until
March 8 to file written proofs of claim to estate administrator
Alois Tauchner at:
Dr. Alois Tauchner
Bahnstrasse 11
2483 Ebreichsdorf
Austria
Tel: 02254/72704
Fax: 02254/72705
E-mail: tauchner.alois@aon.at
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the creditors' meeting at 9:30 a.m. on March 21 for examination
of claims.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The Land Court of Wiener Neustadt
Room 15
Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Headquartered in Pottendorf, Austria, the Debtor declared
bankruptcy on Jan. 22 (Bankr. Case No. 10 S 6/07x).
TRAINSERV GESELLSCHAFT: Claims Registration Period Ends March 13
----------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors owed money by LLC TRAINSERV Gesellschaft fuer
Metallbau Import & Export (FN 245988y) have until March 13 to
file written proofs of claim to estate administrator Martin
Koroschetz at:
Dr. Martin Koroschetz
Maria Theresien Strasse 9
1090 Vienna
Austria
Tel: 02252/251251-0
Fax: 02252/251251-5
E-mail: dr.koroschetz@aon.at
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the creditors' meeting at 10:00 a.m. on March 27 for examination
of claims.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The Trade Court of Vienna
Room 1607
Vienna, Austria
Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the Debtor declared bankruptcy
on Jan. 22 (Bankr. Case No. 28 S 7/07v).
UJESKY HANDELS: Administrator Declares Insufficient Assets
----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Ute Toifl, the court-appointed estate administrator for LLC
Ujesky Handels (FN 256575t), declared Jan. 22 that the Debtor's
property is insufficient to cover creditors' claim.
The Trade Court of Vienna is yet to rule on the property
manager's claim.
Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the Debtor declared bankruptcy
on Jan. 10 (Bankr. Case No. 5 S 5/07f). Astrid Haider
represents Dr. Toifl in the bankruptcy proceedings.
The property manager and his representative can be reached at:
Dr. Ute Toifl
c/o Mag. Astrid Haider
Tuchlauben 12/20
1010 Vienna
Austria
Tel: 535 46 11
Fax: 535 46 11 11
E-mail: office@thr.at
===========
C Y P R U S
===========
SHIP FINANCE: To Buy Two Capesize Vessels from Golden Ocean
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ship Finance International Ltd. has agreed to acquire two
newbuilding Capesize dry bulk vessels from Golden Ocean Group
Ltd. based on a total delivered price of US$160 million, or
US$80 million per vessel.
The vessels will have a cargo capacity of around 170,000 dwt
each, and will be constructed by Daehan Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in
South Korea. Delivery from the shipyard is scheduled in fourth
quarter 2008 and in first quarter 2009.
Upon delivery from the shipyard, the vessels will commence 15-
year bareboat contracts to Golden Ocean, and the charter rate
per vessel is agreed as:
Year 1-5: US$27,450 per day
Year 6-10: US$22,600 per day
Year 11-15: US$19,750 per day
The Charterer has been granted fixed price purchase options for
each of the vessels after 5, 10 and 15 years at US$61 million,
US$44 million and US$24 million, respectively. The charter
contracts are on bareboat basis and Golden Ocean will therefore
be responsible for all operating and maintenance costs during
the charter period.
Ship Finance expect to finance around 75% of the purchase price
through a bank loan, and in case there are material differences
between the bank financing terms and the financing assumptions
agreed with Golden Ocean, the charter rate will be adjusted
accordingly. Similar to all our recent acquisitions, the
purchase of the vessels and corresponding financing will be in
subsidiaries with only Ltd. guarantee obligations from Ship
Finance.
Golden Ocean has secured profitable sub-charters for the two
vessels to a third party charterer. The vessels will have 5
year fixed employment and Golden Ocean will receive a net T/C-
rate of around US$36,800 per day per vessel in this period.
The transaction is in line with the Company's strategy to
diversify the asset base and customer portfolio. Including the
dry bulk vessel acquired in 2006 and our 8 oil/bulk/ore ("OBO")
vessels, currently configured to carry dry bulk cargos only,
Ship Finance will have 11 vessels on long-term charters in the
dry bulk market.
Including new buildings and adjusted for recently announced
sales, the Company's fleet will consist of 57 vessels,
essentially all on medium to long-term charters.
About Ship Finance
Headquartered in Bermuda, Ship Finance International Ltd. --
http://www.shipfinance.org/-- through its subsidiaries engages
in the ownership and operation of oil tankers, including
oil/bulk/ore (OBO) carriers. The Company operates through
subsidiaries and partnerships located in Bermuda, Cyprus, Isle
of Man, Liberia, Norway and Singapore.
It is also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of
vessels.
* * *
In a TCR-Europe report on Dec. 7, 2006, Standard & Poor's
Ratings Services raised its long-term corporate credit rating on
Bermuda-based Ship Finance International Ltd., a ship-owning
company tied to Frontline Ltd., to 'BB' from 'BB-'. The outlook
is stable.
At the same time, S&P raised its senior unsecured debt rating on
Ship Finance's US$580-million bonds to 'B+' from 'B'.
As reported in the TCR-Europe on Nov. 16, 2006, Moody's
Investors Service affirmed Ship Finance International Ltd.'s
ratings, including the Ba3 Corporate Family Rating, the Ba2
Senior Secured Bank Credit Facilities and the B1 Senior
Unsecured Notes rating. Moody's said the ratings outlook
remains stable.
=============
F I N L A N D
=============
M-REAL OYJ: Annual General Meeting Slated for March 13
------------------------------------------------------
M-real Corp. will hold its annual general meeting at 3:00 p.m.
on March 13 at:
Finlandia Hall
Mannerheimintie 13 e
00100 Helsinki
Finland
The agenda of the meeting includes the matters within the
competence of the Annual General Meeting under Article 10 of the
Articles of Association and Chapter 5, Paragraph 3 of the
Companies Act as well as the matter stated in Items 5 and 11 of
this notice of meeting:
1. presentation of the financial statements and
auditors' report;
2. adoption of the financial statements;
3. consideration of the result for the financial year
and dividend payout;
The Board of Directors has decided to propose to the
Annual General Meeting that a dividend of EUR0.06 per
share be paid for the financial year 2006. The dividend
will be paid to shareholders who on the record date,
March 16, have been entered in the company's Shareholder
Register kept by Finnish Central Securities Depository
Ltd. The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual
General Meeting that the dividend be paid out on
March 23.
4. granting of release from liability to the members of
the Board of Directors, the chief executive and the
chief executive's deputy;
5. amending the Articles of Association;
The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General
Meeting that due to the new Companies Act the following
provisions of the Article 6 of the Articles of Association
regarding the share issue shall be removed:
"In case of an increase or decrease of the share capital
within the limits of the minimum capital and the maximum
capital, the increase shall issue or the decrease shall
reduce the required number of A Shares and B Shares in
the former proportions. However, a General Meeting of
shareholders may with a majority of votes of no less than
two-thirds (2/3) decide that a new issue to be carried out
for one class of shares only."
"When increasing the share capital, holders of A Shares
and B Shares have a priority right to subscribe only for
new shares of the corresponding class, unless a
General Meeting of Shareholders rules otherwise in a
new issue with a majority votes of no less than
two-thirds (2/3)."
Priority requirements corresponding the provisions of the
Articles of Association to be removed are included in the
new Companies Act from which a public limited liability
company may not deviate in this respect.
6. emoluments of members of the Board of Directors;
7. the number of members of the Board of Directors;
The Board of Directors' Nomination Committee proposes to
the Annual General Meeting that the number of members of
the Board of Directors shall be kept unchanged.
8. election of the members of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors' Nomination Committee proposes to
the Annual General Meeting that Board members Heikki
Asunmaa, Kim Gran, Kari Jordan, Erkki Karmila, Runar
Lillandt, Antti Tanskanen and Arimo Uusitalo to be re-
elected as a members and Juha Niemel" elected as a new
member of the Board of Directors for the next term of
office that will continue until the end of the next Annual
General Meeting.
9. auditors' fee;
The Board of Director proposes in accordance with the
Audit Committee's recommendation that a fee in accordance
with the auditor's invoice shall be paid to the auditor
who is elected by the Annual General Meeting.
10. election of the auditor; and
According to M-real Corp.'s Articles of Association, the
company shall have two regular auditors and two deputy
auditors. The regular auditors and deputy auditors must
be auditors or firms of independent public accountants
authorized by the Central Chamber of Commerce. The
auditors' term of office shall be the company's financial
year during which they have been elected.
The Board of Director proposes in accordance with the
Audit Committee's recommendation that that the following
persons/firms be elected as the company's auditors:
* Goeran Lindell, Authorized Public Accountant; and
* the firm of independent public accountants
PriceWaterhouseCoopers Oy, with Johan Kronberg,
Authorized Public Accountant, acting as Principal
Auditor and Jouko Malinen and Markku Marjomaa acting
as deputy auditors.
11. proposal for authorizing the Board of Directors to
decide on share issue and/or issue of convertible bond.
The Board of Directors proposes that it be authorized for the
time being to decide on increasing the share capital through one
or more share issues and/or one or more issues of convertible
bonds accordant with the Chapter 10 of the Companies Act so that
in the rights issue or issue of convertible bonds, a total
maximum of 58,365,212 Series B shares of M-real Corp. with a
nominal value of EUR1.70 can be subscribed for, and that the
company's share capital can be increased by a total maximum of
EUR99,220,860.40.
The authorization will entitle to deviate from the shareholders'
pre-emptive right to subscribe for new shares and/or issues of
convertible bonds and to decide on the subscription prices and
other terms and conditions. Shareholders' pre-emptive
subscription rights can be deviated from providing that there is
a significant financial reason for the company to do so, such as
strengthening of the company's balance sheet, making possible
business structuring arrangements or taking other measures for
developing the company's business operations.
Annual Report and Public Posting of Documents
The financial statement documents and the Board of Directors'
proposal for amending the Articles of Association are available
for public inspection at the company's head office at the
address Revontulentie 6, 02100 Espoo, for one week before the
Annual General Meeting. Copies of these documents will be sent
to shareholders upon request.
Right to participate in and vote at the Annual General Meeting
Those shareholders are entitled to participate in the Annual
General Meeting who
1) have been entered in the Shareholder Register kept
by Finnish Central Securities Depository Ltd. by
March 2, and
2) who have registered for the Annual General Meeting
no later than 4.00 p.m. on March 9.
Registration in the Shareholder Register
A shareholder in whose name the shares are made out is
automatically entered in the company's Shareholder Register. A
nominee-registered shareholder can be temporarily entered in the
company's Shareholder Register in order to participate in the
Annual General Meeting, providing this is done by March 2.
Registration for the Annual General Meeting
Shareholders can register for the Annual General Meeting either
by telephone on +358 1046 94530, telefax on +358 1046 94529 or
by email at the address eija.niittynen@m-real.com, or in writing
at the address M-real Oyj, Eija Niittynen, P.O. Box 20, FI-02020
Mets", Finland.
Advance delivery of proxies
A proxy entitling an authorized person to vote on behalf of a
shareholder at the Annual General Meeting must be delivered to
the above-mentioned address before the close of the registration
period at 4.00 p.m. on March 9.
About the Company
Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, M-real Oyj produces and
distributes coated and uncoated fine papers for printing and
packaging industries.
* * *
As of Feb. 8, M-real Oyj carry these ratings:
* Moody's Investors Service:
-- Long-Term Corporate Family Rating: B2
-- Senior Unsecured Debt: B2
-- Outlook: Negative
* Standard & Poor's:
-- Long-Term Foreign Issuer Credit Rating: B+
-- Long-Term Local Issuer Credit Rating: B+
-- Short-Term Foreign Issuer Credit Rating: B
-- Short-Term Local Issuer Credit Rating: B
-- Outlook: Negative
METSO OYJ: Earns EUR410 Million for Year Ended Dec. 31, 2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Metso Oyj released its financial results for the year and
quarter ended Dec. 31, 2006.
Metso posted EUR410 million in net profit on EUR4.96 billion in
net sales for the full year 2006, compared with EUR237 million
in net profit on EUR4.22 billion in net sales for the same
period in 2005.
Metso registered EUR122 million in net profit on EUR1.54 billion
in net sales for the full year 2006, compared with EUR68 million
in net profit on EUR1.25 billion in net sales for the same
period in 2005.
As of Dec. 31, 2006, Metso had EUR4.96 billion in total assets,
EUR3.48 billion in total liabilities and EUR1.48 billion in
shareholders' equity.
"Year 2006 was a year of consistent profitable growth for
Metso," Jorma Eloranta, President and CEO of Metso. "The
favorable market situation prompted brisk order intake
throughout our businesses. Our net sales clearly exceeded our
over 10 percent growth target for a second year in a row, and
our operating profit improved substantially."
"We have started 2007 with a very solid order backlog out of
which over 80% is scheduled to be delivered this year.
Furthermore, we expect the overall favorable demand for our
products to continue, which give us confidence that our net
sales growth will remain strong," Eloranta notes.
"Of course, we still see opportunities to improve our
performance. Aftermarket development, continuous improvement of
productivity and further cutting of non-quality costs remain on
our agenda as means to further boost our profitability. In
addition, we will be investing in supply chain management and in
securing our delivery capability to respond to the growth
especially in Metso Minerals and Metso Automation. We continue
to strengthen our presence in the emerging markets to secure
Metso's longer-term development."
Outlook
The overall market situation for Metso is expected to remain
favorable in 2007.
The overall market outlook for Metso Paper is expected to be
satisfactory in 2007. The demand for new fiber and tissue lines
as well as related rebuilds and aftermarket services is expected
to slightly soften from the good level in 2006, except for South
America and Asia where the markets for new fiber lines are
expected to remain good. The demand for new paper and board
machines, as well as rebuilds and aftermarket services is
expected to remain satisfactory also in 2007. The strong demand
is expected to continue in Asia. The demand for power
production solutions, especially related to biomass utilization,
is expected to remain excellent.
Metso Minerals' markets for both new equipment and aftermarket
services are expected to remain excellent in mining and metal
recycling. In the mining industry, the trend is towards large
equipment and projects. The demand for Metso Minerals' new
equipment for the construction industry is expected to soften
from excellent to good in 2007. This is mainly due to the
leveling-off of North American aggregates demand. On the other
hand, the demand for aftermarket services within construction
segment is expected to continue excellent thanks to the active
spare and wear part markets for the installed base.
The demand for Metso Automation's process automation systems for
the pulp and paper industry is estimated to get slightly
stronger. The demand for flow control systems is expected to
continue good in the pulp and paper industry and excellent in
the power, oil and gas industry. The markets for process
automation systems in the power industry are expected to
continue to be good.
Thanks to the strong order backlog, continuing favorable market
situation and the expanded business scope, Metso's net sales in
2007 are estimated to grow by more than 20% percent, and the
operating profit is estimated to clearly improve. At present,
it is estimated that the operating profit margin in 2007 will be
slightly below Metso's over 10 percent target. This is
primarily due to the high first-year amortization of intangible
assets, integration costs and only partially materializing
synergy benefits related to the acquisition of the Pulping and
Power businesses.
About Metso
Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Corp. aka Metso Oyj --
http://www.metso.com/-- is a global engineering and technology
corporation with 2005 net sales of around EUR4.2 billion. Its
22,000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in
the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the
energy industry and selected other industries.
The company's principal production plants are located in Brazil,
China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, South Africa,
Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
* * *
As of Feb. 9, Metso Oyj carries a 'BB+' long-term and 'B' short-
term corporate credit ratings and 'BB' senior unsecured debt
rating from Standard and Poor's.
METSO OYJ: Board to Expand 2006-2008 Share Ownership Plan
---------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Directors of Metso Oyj has decided to change the
terms of Metso's share ownership plan for 2006-2008.
The share ownership plan will be expanded due to:
-- Metso's good financial development; and
-- the acquisition of Pulping and Power businesses from Aker
Kvaerner.
In the earnings period 2007 the plan will cover over 80 Metso
managers instead of the originally planned 50 managers. The
maximum of Metso shares to be allocated as incentives in the
earnings period 2007 is 125,500 instead of the 120,000 in the
original program. Furthermore, it has been decided that the
share value maximum of the original incentive program, that is
used to cut the amount of grantable shares, is increased for the
shares to be used as incentives in the earnings period 2007 to
EUR48 in order to maintain the determined strive for share value
increase. The original price limit was EUR38.
The total maximum of shares to be allocated to the 2006-2008
incentive program is still 360,000 Metso Corp.'s shares, as was
originally decided in December 2005. If there were a need to
deviate from the total maximum due to a significant corporate
acquisition or for any other reason, a Board resolution about a
new, separate share ownership plan would be required. The
maximum of shares to be allocated for the 2008 earnings period
as well as the share value limit will be decided by Metso's
Board of Directors in the beginning of 2008.
Metso's Board of Directors has decided to direct the 2007 share
ownership plan to a total of 84 Metso managers. The entire
Metso Executive Team is included in the sphere of the 2007
incentive plan.
The potential reward from the plan will be based on the achieved
operating profit of Metso Corp. and its business areas in 2007.
The incentive will consist of both shares and cash, with cash
dedicated to cover possible taxes and tax-related payments. The
share ownership plan in 2007 will cover a maximum total of
125,500 shares from Metso's treasury shares. The Metso
Executive Team's share of this total is a maximum of 26,500
shares. If the value of Metso's share, determined as the
average price of Metso's share during the first two full weeks
of March 2008, exceeds EUR48, the number of grantable shares for
the 2007 plan will be decreased by a corresponding ratio.
Payment of the potential rewards will be decided during the
first quarter of 2008.
The share ownership plan for 2006 has been specified to cover a
total of 61 Metso managers. Based on the 2006 earnings period,
by the end of March 2007 a maximum of 100,601 shares will be
distributed, or about 0.07 percent of the all company shares.
The Metso Executive Team can be rewarded with a maximum of
25,955 shares.
If the average value of Metso's share between March 5 and
March 16 exceeds EUR38, the number of grantable shares for the
2006 plan will be decreased by a corresponding ratio.
About Metso
Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Corp. aka Metso Oyj --
http://www.metso.com/-- is a global engineering and technology
corporation with 2005 net sales of around EUR4.2 billion. Its
22,000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in
the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the
energy industry and selected other industries.
The company's principal production plants are located in Brazil,
China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, South Africa,
Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
* * *
As of Feb. 9, Metso Oyj carries a 'BB+' long-term and 'B' short-
term corporate credit ratings and 'BB' senior unsecured debt
rating from Standard and Poor's.
=============
G E R M A N Y
=============
ALOPEX GMBH: Claims Registration Period Ends February 19
--------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Alopex GmbH have until Feb. 19 to register their
claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Ulrich Pfeifer.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:30 a.m. on March 12, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Bayreuth
Meeting Room 520
Ground Floor
Bayreuth
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Ulrich Pfeifer
Feuerwache 5
95445 Bayreuth
Germany
The District Court of Bayreuth opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Alopex GmbH on Jan. 31. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
Alopex GmbH
Attn: Dr. Holger Fliessbach, Manager
Fritz-Hornschuch-Strasse 9
95326 Kulmbach
Germany
ATEC GMBH: Claims Registration Ends February 21
-----------------------------------------------
Creditors of Atec GmbH have until Feb. 21 to register their
claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Nikolaus Schmidt.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 10:20 a.m. on March 13, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Dessau
Hall 123
Willy-Lohmann-Str. 33
Dessau
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Dr. Nikolaus Schmidt
Magdeburger Strasse 23
06112 Halle
Germany
Tel: 0345/2311111
Fax: 0345/2311199
The District Court of Dessau opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Atec GmbH on Jan. 24. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
Atec GmbH
Krondorfer Strasse 125
06766 Wolfen
Germany
Attn: Thomas Krueger, Manager
Albrecht Schweitzer Strasse 5
06766 Wolfen
Germany
AUER.PREPRESS: Claims Registration Period Ends April 20
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Auer.Prepress & Medienservice GmbH have until
April 20 to register their claims with court-appointed
insolvency manager Peter Houben.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:05 a.m. on April 27, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Krefeld
Meeting Room H 131
First Floor
Nordwall 131
47798 Krefeld
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during at 9:05 a.m. on June 15, at the same
venue.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Peter Houben
Sternstrasse 58
40479 Duesseldorf
Germany
Tel: 0211/49 144-0
Fax: +4902114914434
The District Court of Krefeld opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Auer.Prepress & Medienservice GmbH on Jan. 25.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
Auer.Prepress & Medienservice GmbH
St.-Anton-Str. 120
47798 Krefeld
Germany
Attn: Harry Auer, Manager
Viktoriastr. 146
47799 Krefeld
Germany
B.I.A. GMBH: Claims Registration Period Ends March 16
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of B.I.A. GmbH have until March 16 to register their
claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Ingmar Jarchow.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:55 a.m. on April 20, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Hamburg
Hall B 405
Fourth Floor Annex
Civil Justice Bldg.
Sievkingplatz 1
20355 Hamburg
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Ingmar Jarchow
Heuberg 1
20354 Hamburg
Germany
The District Court of Hamburg opened bankruptcy proceedings
against B.I.A. GmbH on Jan. 24. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
B.I.A. GmbH
Attn: Klaus-Juergen Fuchs, Manager
Muehlhaldenstrasse 2
72250 Freudenstadt
Germany
BAU-WOLF GMBH: Claims Registration Ends March 23
------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Bau-Wolf GmbH have until March 23 to register their
claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Markus M.
Merbecks.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:30 a.m. on April 19, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Chemnitz
Hall 28
Fuerstenstrasse 21
Chemnitz
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Markus M. Merbecks
Ludwigstrasse 58
09113 Chemnitz
Germany
Tel: (0371) 444610
Fax: (0371) 4446111
E-mail: merbecks@merbecks.de
The District Court of Chemnitz opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Bau-Wolf GmbH on Jan. 24. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
Bau-Wolf GmbH
Attn: Steffen Feustel, Manager
Reumtengruener Hauptstrasse 84
08209 Auerbach OT Reumtengruen
Germany
BEL AIR: Claims Registration Period Ends February 28
----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Bel Air Hotel-und Touristikmanagement GmbH have
until Feb. 28 to register their claims with court-appointed
insolvency manager Ulrich Rosenkranz.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:10 a.m. on April 18, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Stralsund
Hall A 421
Fourth Floor
House A
Frankendamm 17
Stralsund
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Ulrich Rosenkranz
Markt 11
18311 Ribnitz-Damgarten
Germany
The District Court of Stralsund opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Bel Air Hotel-und Touristikmanagement GmbH on Jan. 31.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
Bel Air Hotel-und Touristikmanagement GmbH
Strandpromenade 7
18609 Binz
Germany
BITAX STEUERBERATUNGSGESELLSCHAFT: Registration Ends March 30
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of BITAX Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH have until
March 30 to register their claims with court-appointed
insolvency manager Bjoern Rechel.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Apr. 30, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Worms
Hardtgasse 6
67547 Worms
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Bjoern Rechel
Alzeyer Strasse 31
67549 Worms
Germany
Tel: 06241/91060
Fax: 06241/910610
The District Court of Worms opened bankruptcy proceedings
against BITAX Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH on Jan. 31.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
BITAX Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH
Alzeyer Str. 39
67549 Worms
Germany
CACE BETEILIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT: Claims Registration Ends March 12
----------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of CACE Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH have until
March 12 to register their claims with court-appointed
insolvency manager Michael Monig.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Apr. 2, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court Muenster
First Floor
Hall 101 B
Gerichtsstr. 2-6
48149 Muenster
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Michael Monig
Von-Steuben-Strasse 20
48143 Munster
Tel: 0251/53599-0
Fax: +492515359910
The District Court of Muenster opened bankruptcy proceedings
against CACE Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH on Jan. 26.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
CACE Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 44
48157 Munster
Germany
Attn: Lars Michler
Hogenbergstrasse 72
48149 Munster
Germany
CARSON HAIR: Claims Registration Period Ends March 14
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Carson Hair Essen GmbH have until March 14 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Johannes Graute.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 1:00 p.m. on March 28, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Essen
Meeting Hall 293
Second Floor
Zweigertstr. 52
45130 Essen
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Dr. Johannes Graute
III. Hagen 30
45127 Essen
Germany
The District Court of Essen opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Carson Hair Essen GmbH on Jan. 29. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
Carson Hair Essen GmbH
Attn: Michaela Wojtusch, Manager
Zweigertstrasse 55
45130 Essen
Germany
CONCEPTPLAN - M AGENTUR: Claims Registration Ends March 14
----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of CONCEPTPLAN - M Agentur fuer Kommunikation GmbH
have until March 14 to register their claims with court-
appointed insolvency manager Bernd Depping.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 1:30 p.m. on March 28, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Essen
Meeting Hall 293
Second Floor
Zweigertstr. 52
45130 Essen
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Bernd Depping
Alfredstr. 108-112
45131 Essen
Germany
The District Court of Essen opened bankruptcy proceedings
against CONCEPTPLAN - M Agentur fuer Kommunikation GmbH on
Jan. 31. Consequently, all pending proceedings against the
company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
CONCEPTPLAN - M Agentur fuer Kommunikation GmbH
Teelbruch 126
45219 Essen-Kettwig
Germany
Attn: Hans-Ludwig Meyer, Manager
Hufergasse 13
45239 Essen
Germany
CT-CONTAINER: Claims Registration Period Ends March 9
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of CT-Container-Technik GmbH have until March 9 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Reinhard Urbanczyk.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 2:35 p.m. on April 16, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Fuerth
Hall 216
II Dienstgebaude
Baumenstrasse 28
Fuerth
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Dr. Reinhard Urbanczyk
Leipziger Platz 21
90491 Nuernberg
Germany
Tel: 0911/88180260
Fax: 0911/88180266
The District Court of Fuerth opened bankruptcy proceedings
against CT-Container-Technik GmbH on Jan. 31. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
CT-Container-Technik GmbH
Diebach 62
91413 Neustadt/Aisch
Germany
GILA'S VITRINE: Claims Registration Ends March 16
-------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Gila's Vitrine Kunstgewerbe-Mode-Geschenke-GmbH
have until March 16 to register their claims with court-
appointed insolvency manager Dr. Heiner Buss.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:00 a.m. on April 19, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Aurich
Hall 01
Schlossplatz 2
26603 Aurich
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dr. Heiner Buss
Hauptstrasse 169, D
26639 Wiesmoor
Germany
Tel: 0 49 44/10 33
Fax: 0 49 44/91 20 35
The District Court of Aurich opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Gila's Vitrine Kunstgewerbe-Mode-Geschenke-GmbH on
Jan. 28. Consequently, all pending proceedings against the
company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Gila's Vitrine Kunstgewerbe-Mode-Geschenke-GmbH
Strandstr. 17
26548 Norderney
Germany
Attn: Dieter Ruether and Gisela Ruether, Managers
Veilchenweg 5
58313 Herdecke
Germany
GRUNDSTUECKSGESELLSCHAFT MK: Claims Registration Ends Feb. 15
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Grundstuecksgesellschaft MK Drei mbH have until
Feb. 15 to register their claims with court-appointed insolvency
manager Dr. Christoph Munz.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:00 a.m. on March 29, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Dresden
Hall D132
Olbrichtplatz 1
01099 Dresden
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dr. Christoph Munz
Gustav-Adolf-Strasse 6 b
01219 Dresden
Germany
Web site: http://www.munz-anwaelte.de/
The District Court of Dresden opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Grundstuecksgesellschaft MK Drei mbH on Jan. 30.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Grundstuecksgesellschaft MK Drei mbH
Hans-Boeheim-Strasse 4
01309 Dresden
Germany
Attn: Olaf Dietzsch, Manager
Hauptstrasse 92 a
23619 Zarpen
Germany
H V N HANDWERKERVERMITTLUNG: Claims Registration Ends March 1
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of H V N Handwerkervermittlung Nord GmbH have until
March 1 to register their claims with court-appointed insolvency
manager Dr. Dietmar Penzlin.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 1:55 p.m. on April 17, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Itzehoe
Hall 2
Theodor-Heuss-Platz 3
25524 Itzehoe
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dr. Dietmar Penzlin
Jungfernstieg 51
20354 Hamburg
Germany
The District Court of Itzehoe opened bankruptcy proceedings
against H V N Handwerkervermittlung Nord GmbH on Jan. 26.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
H V N Handwerkervermittlung Nord GmbH
de-Vos-Strasse 25
25524 Itzehoe
Germany
Attn: Heinz Guenter Jacobs, Manager
Gaertnerweg 2a
25578 D"geling
Germany
HAMBURG MOVERS: Claims Registration Period Ends April 4
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Hamburg Movers Umzugsservice GmbH have until
April 4 to register their claims with court-appointed insolvency
manager Mathias Cohrs.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:00 a.m. on April 25, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Hamburg
Hall B 405
Fourth Floor Annex
Civil Justice Bldg.
Sievkingplatz 1
20355 Hamburg
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Mathias Cohrs
Kreuzweg 2
20099 Hamburg
Germany
The District Court of Hamburg opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Hamburg Movers Umzugsservice GmbH on Jan. 30.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Hamburg Movers Umzugsservice GmbH
Attn: Mustafa Sacli, Manager
Waidmannstrasse 37
22769 Hamburg
Germany
HESE UMWELT: Claims Registration Ends March 10
----------------------------------------------
Creditors of Hese Umwelt GmbH have until March 10 to register
their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Rolf
Weidmann.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:00 a.m. on March 26, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Essen
Meeting Hall 293
Second Floor
Zweigertstr. 52
45130 Essen
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Rolf Wedmann
Alfredstr. 279
45133 Essen
Germany
The District Court of Essen opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Hese Umwelt GmbH on Jan. 31. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Hese Umwelt GmbH
Magdeburger Str. 16b
45881 Gelsenkirchen
Germany
Attn: Volkmar Dertmann and Franz-Josef
Thiemann, Managers
Beethovenstr. 11
45657 Recklinghausen
Germany
HL CLUB: Claims Registration Period Ends March 20
-------------------------------------------------
Creditors of HL Club Betriebs GmbH & Co. KG have until March 20
to register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Peter Knoepfel.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:20 a.m. on April 24, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Hannover
Hall 226
Second Upper Floor
Service Bldg.
Hamburger Allee 26
30161 Hannover
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Peter Knoepfel
Koenigstrasse 4
30175 Hanover
Germany
Tel: 0511 336138-0
Fax: 0511 336138-66
The District Court of Hanover opened bankruptcy proceedings
against HL Club Betriebs GmbH & Co. KG on Jan. 26.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
HL Club Betriebs GmbH & Co. KG
Georgstrasse 36
30159 Hanover
Germany
Attn: Christian Echterling, Manager
Guenther-Wagner-Allee 3
30177 Hanover
Germany
HOCHBAU KALKAR: Claims Registration Ends February 26
----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Hochbau Kalkar GmbH have until Feb. 26 to register
their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Dirk
Hammes.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:55 a.m. on March 19, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Kleve
Meeting Hall C 58
Ground Floor
Schlossberg 1
47533 Kleve
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dirk Hammes
Wilhelmshofallee 75
47800 Krefeld
Germany
Tel: 02151 - 5813 - 160
Fax: 02151 - 5813133
The District Court of Kleve opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Hochbau Kalkar GmbH on Jan. 29. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Hochbau Kalkar GmbH
Attn: Susanne Driessen, Manager
Rheinstrasse 282
47546 Kalkar
Germany
HOEHE-BAU: Creditors' Meeting Slated for April 13
-------------------------------------------------
The court-appointed insolvency manager for HoeHe-Bau GmbH,
Ruediger Wienberg, will present his first report on the
Company's insolvency proceedings at a creditors' meeting at
10:55 a.m. on April 13.
The meeting of creditors and other interested parties will be
held at:
The District Court of Charlottenburg
Second Stock Hall 218
Amtsgerichtsplatz 1
14057 Berlin
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report at 10:30 a.m. on July 13 at the same venue.
Creditors have until May 13 to register their claims with the
court-appointed insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Ruediger Wienberg
Giesebrechtstr. 1
10629 Berlin
Germany
The District Court of Charlottenburg opened bankruptcy
proceedings against HoeHe-Bau GmbH on Jan. 29. Consequently,
all pending proceedings against the company have been
automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
HoeHe-Bau GmbH
Anna-Seghers.-Str. 146
12489 Berlin
Germany
IMG IMMOMECHERNICH: Claims Registration Ends March 29
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of IMG ImmoMechernich GmbH have until March 29 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Siegfried Mueller.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 10:15 a.m. on April 20, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Bonn
Hall W1.24B
First Floor
William-Strasse 23
53111 Bonn
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Siegfried Mueller
Zum Markt 10
53894 Mechernich
Germany
Tel: 02443/98120
The District Court of Bonn opened bankruptcy proceedings against
IMG ImmoMechernich GmbH on Jan. 29. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
IMG ImmoMechernich GmbH
Gartenstrasse 26
53894 Mechernich
Germany
Attn: Hubert Braun, Manager
Gruener Weg 3
53894 Mechernich
Germany
KDT KOMMUNIKATIONS: Claims Registration Period Ends March 12
------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of KDT Kommunikations- und Datentechnik GmbH have
until March 12 to register their claims with court-appointed
insolvency manager Frank Weber.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:00 a.m. on April 23, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Mannheim
Area 232
Second Floor
West Wing
Schloss
68149 Mannheim
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be contacted at:
Frank Weber
Theodor Heuss-Anlage 12
68165 Mannheim
Germany
Tel: 0621/422900
The District Court of Mannheim opened bankruptcy proceedings
against KDT Kommunikations- und Datentechnik GmbH on Jan. 31.
Consequently, all pending proceedings against the company have
been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be contacted at:
KDT Kommunikations- und Datentechnik GmbH
Attn: Manfred Kliem and Hans Kalbrunner, Managers
Gottlieb-Daimler-Str. 12a
68165 Mannheim
Germany
MEIBAN GERMANY: Claims Registration Ends March 13
-------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Meiban Germany GmbH have until March 13 to register
their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Oliver
Kirschnek.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 11:00 a.m. on April 3, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court Heilbronn
Hall 4
Ground Floor
Rollwagstr. 10a
74072 Heilbronn
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dr. Oliver Kirschnek
Kriegerstrasse 3
70191 Stuttgart
Germany
Tel: 0711/225583-0
Fax: 0711/225583-20
The District Court of Heilbronn opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Meiban Germany GmbH on Jan. 31. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Meiban Germany GmbH
Daimlerstrasse 31
74523 Schwabisch Hall
Germany
Attn: Ralf Erich Zimmermann, Manager
Talstrasse 22
72622 Nuertingen
Germany
Attn: Carol Goh Su Lin, Manager
Jalan Yasin 12a
417986 Singapore
ML BAUUNTERNEHMEN: Claims Registration Ends March 8
---------------------------------------------------
Creditors of ML Bauunternehmen GmbH have until March 8 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Hasso von Zworowsky.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 10:00 a.m. on March 22, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Hechingen
Holy Cross Street 9
Room 284
Hechingen
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Hasso von Zworowsky
Rommelsbacher Str. 27
72760 Reutlingen
Germany
Tel: 07121 333544
The District Court of Hechingen opened bankruptcy proceedings
against ML Bauunternehmen GmbH on Jan. 30. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
ML Bauunternehmen GmbH
Obere Klingen 13
72406 Bisingen
Germany
NAVA-BAU: Creditors Meeting Slated for March 12
-----------------------------------------------
The court-appointed insolvency manager for NAVA-Bau GmbH, Thomas
Kuehn, will present his first report on the Company's insolvency
proceedings at a creditors' meeting at 11:35 a.m. on March 12.
The meeting of creditors and other interested parties will be
held at:
The District Court of Charlottenburg
Second Stock Hall 218
Amtsgerichtsplatz 1
14057 Berlin
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report at 11:30 a.m. on June 25 at the same venue.
Creditors have until April 23 to register their claims with the
court-appointed insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Thomas Kuehn
Luetzowstr. 100
10785 Berlin
Germany
The District Court of Charlottenburg opened bankruptcy
proceedings against NAVA-Bau GmbH on Jan. 26. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
NAVA-Bau GmbH
Kantstr.29
10623 Berlin
Germany
OEZTRONIC SERVICE: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 10
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Oeztronic Service & Logistik GmbH have until
March 10 to register their claims with court-appointed
insolvency manager Carsten Lange.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 12:15 p.m. on March 28, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Moenchengladbach
Meeting Hall A 14
Ground Floor
Hohenzollernstr. 157
41061 Moenchengladbach
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Carsten Lange
Laurentiusstrasse 16 - 20
52070 Aachen
Germany
Tel: 0241-41344550
Fax: 0241-413445511
The District Court of Moenchengladbach opened bankruptcy
proceedings against Oeztronic Service & Logistik GmbH on
Jan. 29. Consequently, all pending proceedings against the
company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Oeztronic Service & Logistik GmbH
Zechenring 33
41836 Hueckelhoven
Germany
Attn: Metin Tz, Manager
Erkelenzer Strasse 49
41836 Hueckelhoven
Germany
PES GESELLSCHAFT: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 19
------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of peS Gesellschaft fuer medizinische Diagnosesysteme
mbH have until March 19 to register their claims with court-
appointed insolvency manager Rainer M. Bahr.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:30 a.m. on April 16, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Leipzig
Hall 056
Ground Floor
Enforcement Court
Bernhard Goering Strasse 64
04275 Leipzig
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Rainer M. Bahr
Prager Strasse 34
04317 Leipzig
Germany
The District Court of Leipzig opened bankruptcy proceedings
against peS Gesellschaft fuer medizinische Diagnosesysteme mbH
on Jan. 31. Consequently, all pending proceedings against the
company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
peS Gesellschaft fuer medizinische Diagnosesysteme mbH
Hauptstrasse 103
04416 Markkleeberg
Germany
Attn: Volker Richter, Manager
Alwin-Schmidt-Str. 16
04539 Groitzsch
Germany
RIKO MODEHANDELS: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 8
-----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of RiKo Modehandels GmbH have until March 8 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Dirk Andres.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:45 a.m. on March 29, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Hagen
Hall 283 Karlsruhe
Second Floor
Main Building
Heinitzstrasse 42
58097 Hagen
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dr. Dirk Andres
Grabenstr. 28
58095 Hagen
Germany
The District Court of Hagen opened bankruptcy proceedings
against RiKo Modehandels GmbH on Jan. 30. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
RiKo Modehandels GmbH
Attn: Rita Hollmann, Manager
Hauptstr. 195
58675 Hemer
Germany
SELECT SERVICES: Creditors Must Register Claims by March 12
-----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Select Services GmbH have until March 12 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Joachim Klein II.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:55 a.m. on April 19, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Cologne
Meeting Hall 142
First Floor
Luxemburger Strasse 101
50939 Cologne
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Joachim Klein II
Hansaring 79 - 81
50670 Cologne
Germany
The District Court of Cologne opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Select Services GmbH on Jan. 15. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Select Services GmbH
Attn: Otmar Weber Wassenberg, Manager
Breite Str. 137-139
50667 Cologne
Germany
SPECTRUM BRANDS: S&P Cuts Ratings to CCC+ on Weak Performance
-------------------------------------------------------------
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered all of its ratings on
Atlanta, Ga.-based Spectrum Brands Inc., including the company's
corporate credit rating, which was lowered to 'CCC+' from 'B-'.
The outlook is developing.
"The ratings downgrade is based on the company's continued weak
operating performance that has resulted in debt leverage
trending at about 9x," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst
Patrick Jeffrey. The company has also faced intense competition
in its battery business, as well as significantly increased
commodity costs.
"While Spectrum Brands was in compliance with financial
covenants in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the company may
need to seek further relief as its debt leverage covenant steps
down to 8.75x from 9.75x in the second quarter of fiscal 2007,"
added Mr. Jeffrey.
The ratings on Spectrum Brands reflect the company's poor
operating performance over the past year, very high leverage,
marginal liquidity, and very aggressive acquisition history.
SYCOS GMBH: Creditors Must Register Claims by April 13
------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Sycos GmbH have until April 13 to register their
claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Wolfgang Jung.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:00 a.m. on May 3, at which time the insolvency
manager will present his first report on the insolvency
proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Hanau
Area E03
Engelhardstrasse 21
63450 Hanau
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Wolfgang Jung
Rh"nstr. 5
63526 Erlensee
Germany
Tel: 06183/2666
Fax: 06183/71979
The District Court of Hanau opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Sycos GmbH on Jan. 29. Consequently, all pending
proceedings against the company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Sycos GmbH
Attn: Toni Marquart, Manager
Birkenweiherstrasse 4
63505 Langenselbold
Germany
TISCALI SPA: Sells German Business-to-Customer Ops to Freenet.de
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tiscali S.p.A. reached an agreement to sell its narrowband and
broadband customer base in Germany to freenet.de AG.
As of Dec. 31, 2006, Tiscali had around 380,000 active
customers, of which around one third were wholesale broadband
customers. The purchase price, to be paid in cash at closing,
will be based on the number of actual customer at the time the
transaction is completed and is expected to be around
EUR30 million.
The transaction is also subject to fulfillment of normal closing
conditions, including German antitrust approval, and is expected
to complete by first quarter 2007.
The activities being sold generated revenues of EUR45 million
and a EBITDA of -EUR3 million for Tiscali Group in 2006.
The disposal of Tiscali Germany's B2C activities and the
consideration are consistent with Tiscali's business plan as
presented to the market in October 2006, announcing the
refocusing of the Tiscali Group in the Italian and the U.K.
markets.
Tiscali is also in the final stage of negotiation for the
disposal of its B2B and ULL activities in Germany.
About Tiscali
Headquartered in Cagliari, Italy, Tiscali S.p.A. --
http://www.tiscali.com/-- offers Internet access in the
country. The group also operates in other European countries,
serving more than seven million subscribers, of which over 1.5
million are broadband users. It has sold non-core assets to
raise money to cover a EUR250 million bond that matured in July.
Former chairman and founder Renato Soru owns almost 30% of the
company.
As reported in the TCR-Europe on Oct. 13, 2006, Tiscali's Board
of Directors of Tiscali approved a new three-year plan for 2007-
2010, which calls for the concentration of its core business in
Italy and in the United Kingdom.
* * *
In a TCR-Europe report on Dec. 1, 2006, Fitch Ratings placed
Italy-based Tiscali S.p.A.'s Issuer Default rating of CCC on
Rating Watch Positive.
Upon receipt of EUR255 million in proceeds from the sale of its
Tiscali Netherlands subsidiary, expected to occur on first
quarter 2007, the agency anticipates that the Rating watch will
be resolved and the IDR will be upgraded to B- from CCC. At the
same time, the agency has affirmed the Short-term rating at C
and simultaneously withdrawn it.
VENTUR.E 18: Creditors Meeting Scheduled on March 20
----------------------------------------------------
The court-appointed insolvency manager for VENTUR.E 18
Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Carsten Cervera, will present his
first report on the Company's insolvency proceedings at a
creditors' meeting at 9:00 a.m. on March 20.
The meeting of creditors and other interested parties will be
held at:
The District Court of Charlottenburg
Second Stock Hall 218
Amtsgerichtsplatz 1
14057 Berlin
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report at 9:10 a.m. on June 26 at the same venue.
Creditors have until April 27 to register their claims with the
court-appointed insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Carsten Cervera
Krausenstr. 9-10
10117 Berlin
Germany
The District Court of Charlottenburg opened bankruptcy
proceedings against VENTUR.E 18 Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH on
Jan. 29. Consequently, all pending proceedings against the
company have been automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
VENTUR.E 18 Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
Rankestrasse 32
10789 Berlin
Germany
WALD-PARK SCHOENFLIESS: Claims Registration Ends March 13
---------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Wald-Park Schoenfliess GmbH have until March 13 to
register their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager
Dr. J. Blersch.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:30 a.m. on April 3, at which time the
insolvency manager will present his first report on the
insolvency proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Wiesbaden
E 36 A
Third Floor
Building E
Moritzstrasse 5
Hinterhaus
65185 Wiesbaden
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Dr. J. Blersch
c/o Blersch/Goetsch/Partner Insolvenzverwaltungen
Taunusstrasse 7a
65183 Wiesbaden
Germany
Tel: 0611/180 89-100
Fax: 0611/180 89 -189
E-Mail: mail@bgp-insol.de
The District Court of Wiesbaden opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Wald-Park Schoenfliess GmbH on Jan. 26. Consequently,
all pending proceedings against the company have been
automatically stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Wald-Park Schoenfliess GmbH
Nerobergstr. 13
65193 Wiesbaden
Germany
Attn. Michael Hartmut Barwinski, Manager
Kirchstr. 3
55288 Spiesheim
Germany
WILHELM KEMMER: Claims Registration Period Ends Feb. 27
--------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Wilhelm Kemmer GmbH have until Feb. 27 to register
their claims with court-appointed insolvency manager Martin
Abegg.
Creditors and other interested parties are encouraged to attend
the meeting at 9:15 on March 27, at which time the insolvency
manager will present his first report on the insolvency
proceedings.
The meeting of creditors will be held at:
The District Court of Saarbruecken
Area Hall 13
First Floor
Branch Office Sulzbach
Vopeliusstrasse 2
66280 Sulzbach
Germany
The Court will also verify the claims set out in the insolvency
manager's report during this meeting, while creditors may
constitute a creditors' committee or opt to appoint a new
insolvency manager.
The insolvency manager can be reached at:
Martin Abegg
Bahnhofstr 101
66111 Saarbruecken
Tel: 0681-31026
Fax: 0681-390008
The District Court of Saarbruecken opened bankruptcy proceedings
against Wilhelm Kemmer GmbH on Jan. 31. Consequently, all
pending proceedings against the company have been automatically
stayed.
The Debtor can be reached at:
Wilhelm Kemmer GmbH
St.Wendeler Strasse 62
66625 Nohfelden
Germany
=============
H U N G A R Y
=============
BORSODCHEM NYRT: Registers Capital Decrease with Authorities
------------------------------------------------------------
The Court of Registration has registered the withdrawal of 50%
or 3,173,025 of de-materialized employee shares with a nominal
value of HUF202 and, accordingly, the reduction of BorsodChem
Nyrt.'s registered capital from HUF16,670,221,700 to
HUF16,029,270,650.
About BorsodChem
Headquartered in Kazincbarcika, Hungary, BorsodChem Nyrt. (fka
BorsodChem Rt) -- http://www.borsodchem.hu/ -- produces
chlorine, chloric alkali, hydrochloric acid, caustic lye and PVC
resins, and additives for the plastic and rubber industries.
The Company exports its products mainly to Western Europe.
At Dec. 31, 2005, BorsodChem's balance sheet showed HUF237.9
billion in total assets, HUF98.9 billion in total liabilities
and HUF139.02 billion in total equity.
* * *
In a TCR-Europe report on Feb. 5, Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services lowered its long-term corporate credit rating on
Hungary-based intermediate chemicals producer BorsodChem Rt (nka
BorsodChem Nyrt.) to 'B+' from 'BB', as an LBO of the company
led by private equity fund is nearing completion.
As of Feb. 5, BorsodChem's long-term foreign and local issuer
credit carry Standard and Poor's BB rating with stable outlook.
=============
I R E L A N D
=============
MUNSTER FOODS: Cuts 50 Jobs After Going Into Receivership
---------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of Scotland in Ireland placed Munster Foods, a pork and
bacon producer and distributor, in receivership, resulting in
the loss of about 50 jobs, RTE.ie reports.
The bank appointed Pat Roche and Billy O'Riordan of
PricewaterhouseCoopers to act as joint receivers for the
company, which had 60 workers at its peak, RTE.ie states.
About Munster Foods
Based in Ennis, Ireland, Munster Foods --
http://www.munsterfoods.ie/-- supplies pork and bacon products
to wholesalers and retailers in counties Clare, Limerick,
Tipperary, and Cork.
=========
I T A L Y
=========
TISCALI SPA: Sells German Business-to-Customer Ops to Freenet.de
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tiscali S.p.A. reached an agreement to sell its narrowband and
broadband customer base in Germany to freenet.de AG.
As of Dec. 31, 2006, Tiscali had around 380,000 active
customers, of which around one third were wholesale broadband
customers. The purchase price, to be paid in cash at closing,
will be based on the number of actual customer at the time the
transaction is completed and is expected to be around
EUR30 million.
The transaction is also subject to fulfillment of normal closing
conditions, including German antitrust approval, and is expected
to complete by first quarter 2007.
The activities being sold generated revenues of EUR45 million
and a EBITDA of -EUR3 million for Tiscali Group in 2006.
The disposal of Tiscali Germany's B2C activities and the
consideration are consistent with Tiscali's business plan as
presented to the market in October 2006, announcing the
refocusing of the Tiscali Group in the Italian and the U.K.
markets.
Tiscali is also in the final stage of negotiation for the
disposal of its B2B and ULL activities in Germany.
About Tiscali
Headquartered in Cagliari, Italy, Tiscali S.p.A. --
http://www.tiscali.com/-- offers Internet access in the
country. The group also operates in other European countries,
serving more than seven million subscribers, of which over 1.5
million are broadband users. It has sold non-core assets to
raise money to cover a EUR250 million bond that matured in July.
Former chairman and founder Renato Soru owns almost 30% of the
company.
As reported in the TCR-Europe on Oct. 13, 2006, Tiscali's Board
of Directors of Tiscali approved a new three-year plan for 2007-
2010, which calls for the concentration of its core business in
Italy and in the United Kingdom.
* * *
In a TCR-Europe report on Dec. 1, 2006, Fitch Ratings placed
Italy-based Tiscali S.p.A.'s Issuer Default rating of CCC on
Rating Watch Positive.
Upon receipt of EUR255 million in proceeds from the sale of its
Tiscali Netherlands subsidiary, expected to occur on first
quarter 2007, the agency anticipates that the Rating watch will
be resolved and the IDR will be upgraded to B- from CCC. At the
same time, the agency has affirmed the Short-term rating at C
and simultaneously withdrawn it.
===================
K A Z A K H S T A N
===================
ART-MEGA LLP: Creditors Must File Claims by March 16
----------------------------------------------------
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of Kostanai has
declared LLP Art-Mega insolvent.
Creditors have until March 16 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of
Kostanai
Mayakovsky Str. 123-22
Kostanai
Kazakhstan
BAU-TECHNO RESOURCE: Creditors' Claims Due March 23
---------------------------------------------------
LLP Bau-Techno Resource has declared insolvency. Creditors have
until March 23 to submit written proofs of claim to:
LLP Bau-Techno Resource
Jubanov Str. 63v
Astana
Kazakhstan
Tel: 8 (3172) 22-14-51
DEMEU SU: Proof of Claim Deadline Slated for March 23
-----------------------------------------------------
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of South
Kazakhstan Region has declared LLP Demeu Su insolvent.
Creditors have until March 23 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
Tax Committee on South Kazakhstan Region
Shymkent
South Kazakhstan Region
Kazakhstan
ERDEN-LN LLP: Claims Registration Ends March 16
-----------------------------------------------
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of Kostanai has
declared LLP Erden-Ln insolvent.
Creditors have until March 16 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of
Kostanai
Mayakovsky Str. 123-22
Kostanai
Kazakhstan
F-TRANS-HOLDING LLP: Claims Filing Period Ends March 23
-------------------------------------------------------
LLP F-Trans-Holding has declared insolvency. Creditors have
until March 23 to submit written proofs of claim to:
LLP F-Trans-Holding
Pirogov Second Side Street
Taraz
Jambyl
Kazakhstan
HLEBOPRODUCT LLP: Creditors Must File Claims by March 23
--------------------------------------------------------
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of North
Kazakhstan Region has declared LLP Firm Hleboproduct insolvent.
Creditors have until March 23 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of North
Kazakhstan Region
Medvedev Str. 41
Petropavlovsk
North Kazakhstan Region,
Kazakhstan
LKCROUP LLP: Creditors' Claims Due March 16
-------------------------------------------
LLP Lkcroup Kazakhstan has declared insolvency. Creditors have
until March 16 to submit written proofs of claim to:
LLP Lkcroup Kazakhstan
Ormanov Str. 129
Almaty
Kazakhstan
MAKTA LLP: Proof of Claim Deadline Slated for March 23
------------------------------------------------------
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of South
Kazakhstan Region has declared LLP Company Makta insolvent.
Creditors have until March 23 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
The Specialized Inter-Regional Economic Court of South
Kazakhstan Region
Jangusurov Str. 40
Shymkent
South Kazakhstan Region
Kazakhstan
===================
K Y R G Y Z S T A N
===================
SLOANSTREET CONSULTING: Claims Filing Period Ends March 23
----------------------------------------------------------
LLC Sloanstreet Consulting Group has declared insolvency.
Creditors have until March 23 to submit written proofs of claim.
Inquiries can be addressed to (+996 312) 90-13-38.
===================
L U X E M B O U R G
===================
MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL: Colombian Unit Selling 17.6% Stake
----------------------------------------------------------
Colombia Movil, a unit of Millicom International Cellular S.A.,
will sell a 17.6% stake through an initial public offering, Dow
Jones Newswires reports.
The shares represent 17.6% of the Colombia Movil's capital, Dow
Jones notes, citing a Colombia Movil official as saying.
Edgar Jimenez, who manages a fund of shares with local brokerage
Promotora Bursatil, told Dow Jones, "I won't buy those (Colombia
Movil) shares because the risk related to the telecommunications
industry is high and because there are better options out there
such as Isagen's (shares)."
According to Dow Jones, Colombia Movil reported yearly losses
since its creation in 2003.
Colombia Movil's local shareholders Empresa de
Telecomunicaciones de Bogota and Empresas Publicas de Medellin
had injected about US$660 million in the firm before selling a
controlling stake to Millicom International, Dow Jones says.
Dow Jones underscores that Millicom International acquired a 51%
stake in Colombia Movil last year for US$479 million. The firm
will spend US$200 million this year in the modernization of the
wireless network, part of which will come from the proceeds of
the offering.
Colombia Movil told Dow Jones that it will raise COP185.1
billion with the sale.
Dow Jones relates that Colombia Movil set a limit on the amount
of shares investors can purchase in the firm. Investors must
buy at least 500 shares, requiring a minimum total investment of
COP10 million.
Mr. Jimenez commented to Dow Jones that Colombia Movil is trying
to attract rich investors.
Andres Ortiz, Corredores Asociados' commercial vice president,
told Dow Jones that these are the brokerages that will be
selling Colombia Movil shares:
-- Corredores Asociados,
-- Interbolsa,
-- Correval,
-- Casa de Bolsa, and
-- Serfinco.
Colombia Movil hired investment bank Corporacion Financiera
Colombiana SA to structure the sale, which will close on
Feb. 23, Dow Jones states.
About Millicom
Headquartered in Bertrange, Luxembourg, and controlled by
Sweden's AB Kinnevik, Millicom International Cellular S.A. --
http://www.millicom.com/-- is a global telecommunications
investor with cellular operations in Asia, Latin America and
Africa. It currently has cellular operations and licenses in 16
countries. The Group's cellular operations have a combined
population under license of around 391 million people.
* * *
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed its 'B+' long-term
corporate credit rating and 'B-' senior unsecured debt ratings
on Luxembourg-headquartered emerging-markets wireless
telecommunications operator Millicom International Cellular S.A.
on CreditWatch with positive implications, following the signing
of an agreement for sale by Millicom of its 88.9% stake in
Paktel Ltd. to China Mobile Communications Corp.
Millicom International's 10% senior notes due 2013 carry Moody's
B3 rating and Standard & Poor's B- rating.
MILLICOM INT'L: Inks Pact with China Mobile to Sell Paktel Stake
----------------------------------------------------------------
Millicom International Cellular S.A. has signed an agreement for
the sale of its 88.86% shareholding in Paktel Ltd. to China
Mobile Communications Corp.
The transaction implies an enterprise valuation for Paktel Ltd.
of US$460 million. The total cash consideration payable to
Millicom as a result of the transaction, including the repayment
of intercompany debt, is around US$284 million. Completion of
the transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and
procedures. If approvals are obtained, completion is expected
to occur in late February 2007.
"We are pleased to announce the sale of Paktel to China Mobile
following strong interest from a number of parties during the
sale process," Marc Beuls, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Millicom, said. "The implied enterprise value of US$460
million for Paktel reflects fair value for the business.
Completion of the transaction is dependent on regulatory
approval. The sale of Paktel allows Millicom to focus on the 16
markets where we have already established strong market
positions and, with penetration rates rising rapidly, the
prospects in these businesses are good."
About Millicom
Headquartered in Bertrange, Luxembourg, and controlled by
Sweden's AB Kinnevik, Millicom International Cellular S.A. --
http://www.millicom.com/-- is a global telecommunications
investor with cellular operations in Asia, Latin America and
Africa. It currently has cellular operations and licenses in 16
countries. The Group's cellular operations have a combined
population under license of around 391 million people.
* * *
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed its 'B+' long-term
corporate credit rating and 'B-' senior unsecured debt ratings
on Luxembourg-headquartered emerging-markets wireless
telecommunications operator Millicom International Cellular S.A.
on CreditWatch with positive implications, following the signing
of an agreement for sale by Millicom of its 88.9% stake in
Paktel Ltd. to China Mobile Communications Corp.
Millicom International's 10% senior notes due 2013 carry Moody's
B3 rating and Standard & Poor's B- rating.
NORTEL NETWORKS: Plans 2,900 Job Cuts Worldwide by 2008
-------------------------------------------------------
Nortel Networks Corp. outlined the next steps of its previously
announced Business Transformation plan, designed to complement
growth initiatives by increasing the company's global
competitiveness and achieving double-digit operating margins.
During the course of 2007 and into 2008, Nortel is expected to
implement a net reduction of its global workforce by around
2,900 positions, with about 70% taking place in 2007. In
addition, the company plans to shift about 1,000 positions from
higher-cost to lower-cost locations, with about 40% of this
activity, taking place in 2007. These reductions will not
affect sales positions in targeted growth areas.
"We are transforming Nortel, and are focused on building a
highly competitive organization that drives innovation and
profitable growth," said Mike Zafirovski, president and chief
executive officer of Nortel. "In early 2006, Nortel laid the
foundations of its Business Transformation plan, and we provided
additional details and specific targets for our new business
model at the time of our third quarter 2006 results and at the
Nov. 15, 2006 Investor Conference."
The business model requirements include a significant reduction
in general and administrative expenses, driven by simplified
operations, reduced systems, and improved processes. In
addition, R&D investment will continue to be a top priority and
though reduced, will be maintained at an industry-competitive
15% of total revenues. Funding will shift and increase
significantly Nortel's investment in high-growth opportunities.
Plans to increase the company's investment in sales and other
customer-facing functions remain unchanged by the announcement.
"These are tough but necessary measures, and we recognize the
impact they will have on affected employees," added Mr.
Zafirovski. "However, as we roll-out the various initiatives
over the next two years, every effort will be made to leverage
normal attrition and re-deploy affected employees to other areas
of the company. Our goal is nothing short of creating a high-
performance, successful, and profitable enterprise based on a
highly motivated work environment powered by strong business
results."
Nortel will deliver additional cost savings by efficiently
managing its various business locations and consolidating real
estate requirements to reduce its global real-estate portfolio
by over 500,000 square feet of space in 2007.
Upon completion, these actions are expected to deliver around
US$400 million in annual savings, while about half of the
savings will be realized in 2007. The cost of these actions
could be as high as US$390 million, about US$300 million of
which relates to the workforce reductions and about US$90
million to the real estate actions. Around 75% of these costs
will be recorded as charges to the income statement in 2007 with
most of the remainder to be recorded as charges in 2008. The
expected cash cost of the plan could be as high as US$370
million and will be incurred generally in the same timeframe.
However, with the concerted effort to re-deploy affected
employees to other parts of the company, the costs could be
lower.
Where appropriate, planned workforce reductions will be subject
to information and consultation requirements with employee
representatives.
Estimated Preliminary Results for Fourth Quarter Operating
Performance
Fourth quarter 2006 revenues are expected to be about US$3.26
billion, up 8.8% from US$3.00 billion for the same period in
2005. Gross margin in the quarter is expected to be slightly
above 40% of revenue, with a strong contribution from the LG
joint venture and CDMA, up from 39.4% in the fourth quarter of
2005. Spending (SG&A and R&D) for the fourth quarter of 2006 is
expected to be flat to slightly higher than for the same period
last year.
Cash as at Dec. 31, 2006, was about US$3.50 billion, up about
US$900 million from Sept. 30, 2006. This includes about US$300
million of gross proceeds from the sale of certain assets and
liabilities of the UMTS Access business to Alcatel-Lucent.
Nortel expects to report its operating and financial performance
for the fourth quarter and full year 2006 in the second half of
February 2007, in conjunction with the filing of the Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
"I am pleased with the progress made in 2006, and with the
strong performance Nortel delivered towards the end of the
year," said Mr. Zafirovski. "Nortel is committed to our short-
and long-term plans, and we are beginning to see the desired
results."
About Nortel Networks
Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Nortel Networks Corp.
(NYSE/TSX: NT) -- http://www.nortel.com/-- delivers technology
solutions encompassing end-to-end broadband, Voice over IP,
multimedia services and applications, and wireless broadband
designed to help people solve the world's greatest challenges.
Nortel does business in more than 150 countries.
* * *
As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter on Oct. 5, 2006,
Moody's Investors Service upgraded its B3 Corporate Family
Rating for Nortel Networks Corp. to B2.
===========
P O L A N D
===========
AFFILIATED COMPUTER: Fin'l. Report Filing Cues S&P's Pos. Watch
---------------------------------------------------------------
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services revised the CreditWatch
implications for its ratings on Dallas-based Affiliated Computer
Services Inc., including the 'B+' corporate credit rating, to
positive from negative.
The ratings remain on CreditWatch, where they were placed on
Jan. 27, 2006.
"The revision reflects the filing of audited financial reports
and the elimination of any triggering events that might have
caused a payment acceleration on the company's US$2 billion of
term debt," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Philip
Schrank.
The current rating reflected the acceleration potential. Still
outstanding, however, is a claim of covenant default by certain
holders of its senior notes. In the event the claim of default
is upheld in a court of law, the company has the capacity under
its credit facilities to fund the debt repayment. ACS provides
diversified business process outsourcing and information
technology outsourcing solutions.
Standard & Poor's will meet with ACS' new management team to
review current performance and evaluate the results of its
internal investigation into its historical stock option
practices to determine the accounting consequences, the ongoing
government investigations regarding the option grants, pending
litigation, and any changes to strategy and corporate governance
practices to determine what, if any, effect they have on debt
ratings.
===========
R U S S I A
===========
AG-TRADE CJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 20
--------------------------------------------------------
Creditors CJSC Ag-Trade (TIN 5249045753) have until Feb. 20 to
submit written proofs of claim to:
E. Korostyleva, Insolvency Manager
Sovnarkomovskaya Str. 36-10
603086 Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
The Arbitration Court of Nizhniy Novgorod commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company after finding it insolvent. The
case is docketed under Case No. A43-34245/2006-27-1029.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Nizhniy Novgorod
Kremlin 9
603082 Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Ag-Trade
Lenina Pr. 47, 60
Dzerzhinsk
Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
AGRO-DON OJSC: Court Names I. Zolotarev as Insolvency Manager
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Rostov appointed Mr. I. Zolotarev as
Insolvency Manager for OJSC Agro-Don. He can be reached at:
I. Zolotarev
Osipenko Str. 24
344058 Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
The Court commenced bankruptcy proceedings against the company
after finding it insolvent. The case is docketed under Case No.
A53-14486/2006-S2-7.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Rostov
Stanislavskogo Str. 8a
344008 Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
OJSC Agro-Don
Bidennovskiy Pr. 22
Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
AZOV-SEL-KHOZ-ENERGO: Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for April 23
------------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Rostov will convene at 10:00 a.m. on
April 23 to hear the bankruptcy supervision procedure on CJSC
Azov-Sel-Khoz-Energo. The case is docketed under Case No.
A53-14967/06-S2-51.
The Temporary Insolvency Manager is:
O. Alekseenko
Office 90
Lermontovskaya Str. 83
344010 Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Rostov
Stanislavskogo Str. 8a
344008 Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Azov-Sel-Khoz-Energo
3rd km.
Vostochnyj Obyezd of Azov
Novoaleksandrovka
Azovskiy, Rostov
Russia
BONA-OIL LLC: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Bona-Oil (TIN 3006007135) have until March 20
to submit written proofs of claim to:
P. Alekseev, Insolvency Manager
Office 400
7th Gvardeyskaya Str. 2a
400005 Volgograd
Russia
The Arbitration Court of Astrakhan commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company after finding it insolvent. The
case is docketed under Case No. A06-1147 b/3-11/06.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Astrakhan
Gubernatora A. Guzhvina Str. 6.
Astrakhan
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Bona-Oil
Koltsevaya Str. 3
Seitovka
Krasnoyarskiy
416163 Astrakhan
Russia
CANNED VEGETABLES: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
---------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of CJSC Canned Vegetables Factory have until March 20
to submit written proofs of claim to:
P. Baranov, Insolvency Manager
Lenina Str. 101
Balay
Uyarskiy
663932 Krasnoyarsk
Russia
The Arbitration Court of Krasnoyarsk commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company after finding it insolvent. The
case is docketed under Case No. A33-20246/2006.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Krasnoyarsk
Lenina Str. 143
660021 Krasnoyarsk
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Canned Vegetables Factory
Kanskaya Str. 57
Minusinsk
662601 Krasnoyarsk
Russia
GOLOVISHENSKOYE CJSC: Court Names A. Vasilyev to Manage Assets
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Saratov appointed Mr. A. Vasilyev as
Insolvency Manager for CJSC Golovishenskoye. He can be reached
at:
A. Vasilyev
Apartment 1b
Volskaya Str. 11a
410028 Saratov
Russia
The Court commenced bankruptcy proceedings against the company
after finding it insolvent. The case is docketed under Case No.
A-57-440B/06-23.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Saratov
Babushkin Vvoz 1
Saratov
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Golovishenskoye
Golovisheno
Krasnopartizanskiy
Saratov
Russia
JUPITER-AGRO CJSC: Court Names A. Varygin as Insolvency Manager
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Saratov appointed Mr. A. Varygin as
Insolvency Manager for CJSC Jupiter-Agro. He can be reached at:
A. Varygin
Post User Box 2493
410076 Saratov
Russia
The Court commenced bankruptcy proceedings against the company
after finding it insolvent. The case is docketed under Case No.
A57-274b/06-32.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Saratov
Babushkin Vvoz 1
Saratov
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Jupiter-Agro
Monastyrskoye
Kalininskiy
412479 Saratov
Russia
LUKOIL OAO: Discovers 100-Million Barrel Oil Field in Colombia
--------------------------------------------------------------
LUKOIL Overseas, a 100% subsidiary of OAO Lukoil, discovered
prospective oil amounting to over 100 million barrels in the
Medina structure of the exploration Condor block (Colombia).
It is the first discovery made by Russian oilmen in the Western
hemisphere.
At the present time, preparation is underway to launch
commercial production at the field. Meanwhile, the project has
already started bringing financial return. Around 4,000 bbl of
top quality Columbian Vasconia crude, which was gained during
test drilling at Condor-1 well, was sold to North American
consumers.
Condor project is being implemented by LUKOIL Overseas (70%) and
Ecopetrol National oil company (30%). The agreement on Condor
block was signed on April 7, 2002. It provides for exploration
activities at the block for six years; in case of a commercial
hydrocarbon discovery the agreement forsees field development
for 22 years. LUKOIL Overseas Colombia Ltd. is acting as
operator of the project.
The total block area is 3,089 sq. km. The block is situated in
the foothills of the Andes in the western part of Llanos oil and
gas basin and is one of the largest exploration blocks in
Colombia.
Drilling a deep exploratory well Condor-1 at 1,128 meters above
sea level was launched in July 2005. The total depth of the
vertical well drilled in the dome of the Medina structure
reached around 5,000 meters. At the present time, the field is
being prepared for production.
Lukoil Management Committee recently adopted Lukoil Overseas
report on the results of foreign exploration projects in 2001-
2006 and approved major international geological activity
businesses for 2007-2016.
Development strategy of LUKOIL international exploration
activity for 2007-2016 includes creation of a portfolio with 17
exploration projects and C1 hydrocarbon reserves increment
amounting to 1.9 billion boe.
About Lukoil
Headquartered in Moscow, Russia, OAO Lukoil (LSE: LKOD; MICEX,
RTS: LKOH) -- http://www.lukoil.com/-- explores and produces
oil & gas, petroleum products and petrochemicals, and markets
the outputs. Most of the Company's exploration and production
activity is located in Russia, and its main resource base is in
Western Siberia.
* * *
As of Feb. 6, OAO Lukoil carry these ratings:
* Standard & Poor's
-- Long-Term Foreign Issuer Credit Rating: BB+
-- Long-Term Local Issuer Credit Rating: BB+
-- Outlook: Positive
NEVA-DOR-STORY CJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
-----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of CJSC Building Company Neva-Dor-Stroy (TIN
7804062722) have until March 20 to submit written proofs of
claim to:
S. Chashin, Insolvency Manager
Post User Box 15
191024 St. Petersburg
Russia
The Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad commenced
bankruptcy proceedings against the company after finding it
insolvent. The case is docketed under Case No. A56-28825/2005.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg and the
Leningrad
Hall 113
Suvorovskiy Pr. 50/52
St. Petersburg
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Building Company Neva-Dor-Story
9th Yanvarya Pr., 3/1
St. Petersburg
Russia
SNEZHNAYA CJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 20
---------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of CJSC Production Company Snezhnaya have until
Feb. 20 to submit written proofs of claim to:
V. Tarasov, Insolvency Manager
Z. Kosmodemyanskoy Str. 29
183008 Murmansk
Russia
The Arbitration Court of Murmansk commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company after finding it insolvent. The
case is docketed under Case No. A07-39422/05-G-PAV.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Murmansk
Knipovicha Str. 20
Murmansk
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Production Company Snezhnaya
Molochnyj
Murmansk
Russia
SUCCESS OJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 20
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of OJSC Success have until Feb. 20 to submit written
proofs of claim to:
I. Zolin, Temporary Insolvency Manager
Post User Box 166
603043 Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
The Arbitration Court of Nizhniy Novgorod commenced bankruptcy
supervision procedure on the company. The case is docketed
under Case No. A43-34486/2006, 33-348.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Nizhniy Novgorod
Kremlin 9
603082 Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
OJSC Success
Sovetskaya Str. 4
Dalnee Konstantinovo
Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
VERKHNEVYAT-LES-PROM: Kirov Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for May 15
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Kirov will convene at 10:00 a.m. on
May 15 to hear the bankruptcy supervision procedure on LLC
Verkhnevyat-Les-Prom. The case is docketed under Case No.
A 28-635/06-388/20.
The Temporary Insolvency Manager is:
A. Ilyin
Post User Box 6
603022 N. Novgorod
Russia
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Kirov
K-Libknekhta Str. 102
610017 Kirov
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Verkhnevyat-Les-Prom
Podrezchikha
Belokholunitskiy, Kirov
Russia
VITYAZ OJSC: Creditors Must File Claims by March 20
---------------------------------------------------
Creditors of OJSC Ishimbayskiy Factory of Transport Machinery
Construction Vityaz (TIN 0261006568) have until March 20 to
submit written proofs of claim to:
A. Yusupov, Insolvency Manager
Industrialnoye Shosse 2
Izhimbay
453203 Bashkortostan Republic
Russia
The Arbitration Court of Bashkortostan commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company after finding it insolvent. The
case is docketed under Case No. A07-8065/04-G-KhRM.
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Bashkortostan
Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii Str. 63a
Ufa
Bashkortostan
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
OJSC Ishimbayskiy Factory of Transport Machinery
Construction Vityaz
Idnustrialnoye Shosse 2
Ishimbay
453203 Bashkortostan
Russia
VOLGO-ROS-OIL-TRANS: Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for March 9
----------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Chuvashiya will convene at 11:00 a.m.
on March 9 to hear the bankruptcy supervision procedure on CJSC
Volgo-Ros-Oil-Trans. The case is docketed under Case No.
A79-11489/ 2006.
The Temporary Insolvency Manager is:
A. Raspopin
Sennaya Square 15
603024 N. Novgorod
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
CJSC Volgo-Ros-Oil-Trans
AZS 126
42nd km
Road Tsivilsk-Syzran
Kanashskiy
429000 Chuvashiya
Russia
VOLODARSKIY COMBINE: Asset Sale Slated for February 21
------------------------------------------------------
LLC Centre of Anti-Crisis Management, the bidding organizer for
OJSC Volodarskiy Combine of Grain Products, will proceed with a
repeated auction for the company's properties at noon on Feb. 21
at:
OJSC Volodarskiy Combine of Grain Products
Yuzhnaya Str. 19A
Volodarsk
Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
Interested participants have until Feb. 16 to deposit an amount
equivalent to 10% of the starting price to:
LLC Centre of Anti-Crisis Management
Settlement Account 40702810024000012593 in branch OJSC
Vneshtorgbank in N. Novgorod
Correspondent Account 3010181020000000837 in GRKTs Bank
in Nizhniy Novgorod
BIK 042202837
Bidding documents must be submitted to:
LLC Centre of Anti-Crisis Management, the bidding
organizer
Yuzhnaya Str. 19A
Volodarsk
Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
Tel: 8-910-797-27-97
The Debtor can be reached at:
OJSC Volodarskiy Combine of Grain Products
Yuzhnaya Str. 19A
Volodarsk
Nizhniy Novgorod
Russia
ZVEREVSKOYE PASSENGER: Bankruptcy Hearing Slated for February 2
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Arbitration Court of Rostov will convene at 11:30 a.m. on
Feb. 2 to hear the bankruptcy supervision procedure on Ojsc
Zverevskoye Passenger Transport Enterprise (TIN 6146005126).
The case is docketed under Case No. A53-16522/06-S2-33.
The Temporary Insolvency Manager is:
D. Oleynik
Post User Box 3425
344092 Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
The Court is located at:
The Arbitration Court of Rostov
Stanislavskogo Str. 8a
344008 Rostov-na-Donu
Russia
The Debtor can be reached at:
OJSC Zverevskoye Passenger Transport Enterprise
Sovetskaya Str. 1
Zverevo
346310 Rostov
Russia
===========
S W E D E N
===========
DOLE FOOD: Fresh Vegetables Unit Inks Leafy Greens Mktg. Pact
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., a subsidiary of Dole Food company,
Inc., has signed the California Leafy Greens Marketing
Agreement. Under the voluntary Agreement, all participants must
adhere to established good agricultural practices or GAP and
food safety guidelines. Dole has always used GAP in all its
growing operations and the company has been a strong supporter
of the Agreement as a standard for the industry. Dole has taken
food safety one-step further by applying the California
standards in all states where its leafy greens are grown.
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement will set
mandatory and specific standards for leafy greens supply; the
California Department of Health Services will monitor compliance
with the new standards. Facilitated by the Western Growers
Association, Dole worked collaboratively with a group that
consisted of growers, processors, regulators and members of
academia to formulate the Agreement.
Eric Schwartz, President of Dole Fresh Vegetables, said, "Dole
is in full support of a uniform, national, leafy greens food
safety standard that will set mandatory and explicit guidelines
in the produce industry. We strongly encourage our retail and
food service customers to support the Leafy Greens Marketing
Agreement by requiring their produce suppliers to sign this
Agreement." Mr. Schwartz also commented, "Food safety is our
top priority. This is another example of our commitment to work
with government, industry leaders, trade organizations and food
safety experts to continuously seek ways to improve and enhance
food safety for consumers."
Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, Dole Food
Company's -- http://www.dole.com/-- is a producer and marketer
of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers, and
markets a line of packaged foods. The company has four primary
operating segments. The fresh fruit segment produces and markets
fresh fruit to wholesale, retail and institutional customers
worldwide. The fresh vegetables segment contains operating
segments that produce and market commodity vegetables and ready-
to-eat packaged vegetables to wholesale, retail and
institutional customers primarily in North America, Europe and
Asia. The packaged foods segment contains several operating
segments that produce and market packaged foods, including
fruit, juices and snack foods. Dole's fresh-cut flowers segment
sources, imports and markets fresh-cut flowers, grown mainly in
Colombia and Ecuador, primarily to wholesale florists and
supermarkets in the United States.
In Europe, the company maintains operations in Sweden, France,
Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria and Germany.
* * *
As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Europe on Jan. 31,
Moody's Investors Service downgraded the ratings of Dole Food
Company Inc. as follows:
-- corporate family rating to B2 from B1;
-- probability of default rating to B2 from B1;
-- senior secured bank credit facilities to Ba3 from Ba2;
-- senior unsecured notes to Caa1 from B3; and
-- various shelf registrations to (P)Caa1 from (P)B3.
Moody's said the outlook is stable.
In a TCR-Europe report on Dec. 13, Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services lowered its ratings on Dole Food Co. Inc. and Dole
Holding Co. LLC, including its corporate credit rating, to 'B'
from 'B+'.
The ratings were removed from CreditWatch, where they were
placed on Aug. 9, 2006, with negative implications, following
materially weaker-than-expected financial performance in the
first half of fiscal 2006, which typically represents a
substantial portion of cash flow. The outlook is negative.
Total debt outstanding at the company was about US$2.3 billion
as of Oct. 7, 2006.
=====================
S W I T Z E R L A N D
=====================
CREDIT INDUSTRIEL: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due March 30
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of JSC Credit Industriel Societe Anonyme have until
March 30 to submit their claims to:
JSC Credit Industriel Societe Anonyme
Liquidator
Uraniastrasse 35
8001 Zurich
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
JSC Credit Industriel Societe Anonyme
Uraniastrasse 35
8001 Zurich
Switzerland
EDI-CAR LLC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due March 15
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC EDI-CAR have until March 15 to submit their
claims to:
Kurt Battig
Liquidator
LLC EDI-CAR
Luzernerstrasse 25c
6030 Ebikon LU
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC EDI-CAR
Luzernerstrasse 25c
6030 Ebikon LU
Switzerland
NRJ ENTERPRISES: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
--------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC NRJ Enterprises have until Feb. 26 to submit
their claims to:
JSC RDW Treuhand
Liquidator
Dufourstrasse 5
4052 Basel BS
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC NRJ Enterprises
Basel BS
Switzerland
OCEAN FISH: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 28
---------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Ocean Fish have until Feb. 28 to submit their
claims to:
Severino Benjamin Pelaez
Liquidator
Landstrasse 124
5430 Wettingen AG
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Ocean Fish
Baden AG
Switzerland
QISSCO JSC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
---------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of JSC Qissco have until Feb. 26 to submit their
claims to:
Verena Hurlimann
Liquidator
JSC Qissco
Guggiweg 7D
6300 Zug
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
JSC Qissco
Guggiweg 7D
6300 Zug
Switzerland
SCHUHHAUS RUTZ: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 16
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of JSC SCHUHHAUS RUTZ have until Feb. 16 to submit
their claims to:
Egli & Rutz
Liquidator
JSC SCHUHHAUS RUTZ
Bahnhofstrasse 37
9470 Buchs SG
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
JSC SCHUHHAUS RUTZ
Bahnhofstrasse 37
9470 Buchs SG
Switzerland
STEINER HAUSTECHNIK: Bern Court Closes Bankruptcy Proceedings
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Bankruptcy Service of Bern entered Jan. 15, an order closing
the bankruptcy proceedings of JSC Steiner Haustechnik.
The Debtor can be reached at:
JSC Steiner Haustechnik
Wangenstrasse 7
3360 Herzogenbuchsee
Wangen BE
Switzerland
The Bankruptcy Service of Bern can be reached at:
Bankruptcy Service of Bern
Eyhalde 2
4912 Aarwangen BE
Switzerland
TABULARASA LLC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 23
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC TabulaRasa have until Feb. 23 to submit their
claims to:
Maggie Bohme
Liquidator
Nussbaumweg 5
4132 Muttenz
Arlesheim BL
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC TabulaRasa
Muttenz
Arlesheim BL
Switzerland
TOMA JSC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of JSC Toma have until Feb. 26 to submit their claims
to:
Peter Marcandella
Liquidator
Kesselstrasse 4
8200 Schaffhausen
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
JSC Toma
Schaffhausen, Switzerland
TOWN SPORTS: S&P Rates Proposed US$260-Mln Secured Loan at B+
-------------------------------------------------------------
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'B+' bank loan
rating and recovery rating of '2' to the proposed US$260 million
senior secured credit facilities of Town Sports International
Inc., indicating an expectation of substantial recovery of
principal in the event of a payment default.
The proposed credit facilities consist of a US$75 million
revolving credit facility due 2012 and a US$185 million term
loan B due 2014. Town Sports will use proceeds from the
proposed transaction to finance the purchase of the company's
outstanding 9.625% senior notes due 2011 and for general
corporate purposes.
All existing ratings on the company and its parent were
affirmed. Pro forma for the transaction, total debt outstanding
was about US$293 million as of Sept. 30, 2006.
UNIPC LLC: Creditors' Liquidation Claims Due February 26
--------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Unipc have until Feb. 26 to submit their claims
to:
Zlatko Sunjic
Liquidator
Bruckenstrasse 49
5632 Trimbach
Gosgen SO
Switzerland
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Unipc
Aarburg
Zofingen AG
Switzerland
=============
U K R A I N E
=============
GENEX LTD: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 21
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Genex Ltd. (code EDRPOU 31570538) have until
Feb. 21 to submit written proofs of claim to:
State Tax Inspection in Dnieprovsk, Liquidator
Supreme Rada Boulevard 24-b
02094 Kiev
Ukraine
The Economic Court of Kiev commenced bankruptcy proceedings
against the company after finding it insolvent. The case is
docketed under Case No. 15/818-b.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Kiev
B. Hmelnitskij Boulevard 44-B
01030 Kiev
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Genex Ltd.
Sagaydak Str. 114-a
02002 Kiev
Ukraine
PETROVSKOE LLC: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 23
----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Agricultural LLC Petrovskoe (code EDRPOU 03796100)
have until Feb. 23 to submit written proofs of claim to:
Jury Ushach, Liquidator
Pobeda Str. 189
14027 Chernigov
Ukraine
The Economic Court of Chernigov commenced bankruptcy proceedings
against the company after finding it insolvent. The case is
docketed under Case No. 5/340b.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Chernigiv
Miru Avenue 20
14000 Chernigiv
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
Agricultural LLC Petrovskoe
Borznianka District
Petrovka
Shevchenko Str. 9
16464 Chernigov
Ukraine
PRODUCTION OPERATION: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 23
----------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Production Operation Complex Course (code EDRPOU
24691977) have until Feb. 23 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
Maxim Maynicky, Liquidator
Nekrasov Str. 65
99016 Sevastopol
Ukraine
The Economic Court of Sevastopol commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company on Jan. 11 after finding it
insolvent. The case is docketed under Case No. 20-5/165.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Sevastopol
Pavlichenko Str. 5
Sevastopol
99011 AR Krym
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
Production Operation Complex Course
Chaykina Str. 78
99053 Sevastopol
Ukraine
RITAS LLC: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 21
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Ritas (code EDRPOU 31748878) have until Feb. 21
to submit written proofs of claim to:
State Tax Inspection in Dnieprovsk, Liquidator
Supreme Rada Boulevard 24-b
02094 Kiev
Ukraine
The Economic Court of Kiev commenced bankruptcy proceedings
against the company after finding it insolvent. The case is
docketed under Case No. 15/759-b.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Kiev
B. Hmelnitskij Boulevard 44-B
01030 Kiev
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Ritas
Enthusiasts Str. 25
02154 Kiev
Ukraine
ROSTOCK-TORG LLC: Claims Submission Deadline Set February 21
------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Rostock-Torg (code EDRPOU 30530288) have until
Feb. 21 to submit written proofs of claim to:
State Tax Inspection in Dnieprovsk, Liquidator
Supreme Rada Boulevard 24-b
02094 Kiev
Ukraine
The Economic Court of Kiev commenced bankruptcy proceedings
against the company after finding it insolvent. The case is
docketed under Case No. 15/817-b.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Kiev
B. Hmelnitskij Boulevard 44-B
01030 Kiev
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Rostock-Torg
Serafimovich Str. 7-a
02152 Kiev
Ukraine
TEMP LLC: Creditors Must File Claims by February 23
---------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Mine Construction Management Temp (code EDRPOU
21997279) have until Feb. 23 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
Jury Menzarenko, Temporary Insolvency Manager
Cosmonauts Str. 19
Enakievo
86405 Donetsk Ukraine
The Economic Court of Donetsk commenced bankruptcy supervision
procedure on the company. The case is docketed under Case No.
5/260B.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Donetsk
Artema Str. 157
83048 Donetsk
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Mine Construction Management Temp
Artem Str. 12
Krasnoarmeysk
85300 Donetsk
Ukraine
UKRAINIAN CONSTRUCTION: Claims Submission Deadline Set Feb. 23
--------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of LLC Ukrainian Construction Resources (code EDRPOU
30325721) have until Feb. 23 to submit written proofs of claim
to:
Iryna Senchenko, Liquidator
Petrovsky Str. 50-A, ap. 33
49000 Dnipropetrovsk
Ukraine
The Economic Court of Dniepropetrovsk commenced bankruptcy
proceedings against the company after finding it insolvent. The
case is docketed under Case No. B 26/253/06.
The Court is located at:
The Economic Court of Dnipropetrovsk
Kujbishev Str. 1a
49600 Dnipropetrovsk
Ukraine
The Debtor can be reached at:
LLC Ukrainian Construction Resources
Voroncov Str. 77
49098 Dniepropetrovsk
Ukraine
===========================
U N I T E D K I N G D O M
===========================
BONNE BOUCHE: Taps KPMG to Administer Assets
--------------------------------------------
Mark Granville Firmin and Richard Dixon Fleming of KPMG LLP were
appointed joint administrators of Bonne Bouche Frozen (U.K.)
Ltd. (Company Number 5828946) on Feb. 1.
The company went into administration due to shortage of orders,
BBC News reports. According to union chiefs, 200 workers were
told they would not get outstanding wages.
"This business has encountered difficulties in the past and
struggled to make a profit due to tough trading conditions in a
competitive environment," Mr. Firmin was quoted by BBC as
saying.
"The workers are furious and disappointed they will not be
getting a pay cheque," Alan Milne of Bakers Food and Allied
Workers Union told BBC.
KPMG LLP -- http://www.kpmg.co.uk/-- offers accounting, audit,
and tax-related services to customers in such target industries
as banking, media and entertainment, consumer products, health
care providers, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Headquartered in Hartlepool, England, Bonne Bouche Frozen (U.K.)
Ltd. makes frozen cakes.
AGRICULTURE AND FRESH: Creditors' Claims Due March 30
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Agriculture and Fresh Produce Staffing Ltd. (t/a
A.F.P Staffing) have until March 30 to send in their full names,
their addresses and descriptions, full particulars of their
debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors
(if any) to:
Barry Peter Knights
Liquidator
Knights & Co.
Milford House
43-55 Milford Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2BP
England
AIREDALE GLASS: Appoints Liquidators from PricewaterhouseCoopers
----------------------------------------------------------------
David Malcolm Walker and Edward Klempka of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were appointed joint liquidators of
Airedale Glass & Glazing Company Ltd. (t/a Airedale Glass and
Glazing Co. Ltd.) on Jan. 29 for the creditors' voluntary
winding-up procedure.
The joint liquidators can be reached at:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Benson House
33 Wellington Street
Leeds LS1 4JP
England
BODYSYSTEMS LTD: Appoints Administrators from Tenon Recovery
------------------------------------------------------------
Martin A Shaw and Charles M Brook of Tenon Recovery were
appointed joint administrators of Bodysystems Ltd. (Company
Number 04482502) on Jan. 29.
Tenon Recovery -- http://www.tenongroup.com/-- provides
accounting and business advice to owner-managed and private
business.
Bodysystems Ltd. can be reached at:
Viking Industrial Estate
Sawdon
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO13 9DU
England
Tel: 01723 850 472
Fax: 01723 850 477
BROTHERTON PEPLER: Mounting Debts Spur Liquidation
--------------------------------------------------
Brotherton Pepler Ltd., a Yorkshire, England-based delicatessen
trading under the name Seasons, has gone into liquidation after
accumulating debts of more than GBP200,000, Scotsman reports.
According to the report, Brotherton was forced to shut down its
Scarborough store following a struggle with refrigeration and
air conditioning troubles and other problems that delayed its
opening. The closure left six staff jobless.
The company's Pickering store, however, is still trading with 10
full and part-time staff.
Helen Patrick, Brotherton's marketing director, sold her
Mercedes SLK sports car in an effort to raise cash to buy the
company back from liquidators.
Ms. Patrick also borrowed the Fiat Doblo van of the delicatessen
to sustain operations at the Pickering store, Scotsman relates.
"My Lady Penelope days are over and a Fiat Doblo does not have
quite the same glamour. Ms. Patrick said. "But we have a lot
of loyal customers in Pickering and it would be tragic for the
High Street which would be poorer without us."
In July, the Pickering store became an entry in the Best 100
Shops in the World list by trade journal Retail Week.
CAVINGDON LTD: Appoints KPMG as Joint Administrators
----------------------------------------------------
Stephen Treharne and Finbarr Thomas O'Connell of KPMG LLP were
appointed joint administrators of Cavingdon Ltd. (A Company
registered in the British Virgin Islands)(Company Number 573244)
on Jan. 26.
KPMG LLP -- http://www.kpmg.co.uk/-- offers accounting, audit,
and tax-related services to customers in such target industries
as banking, media and entertainment, consumer products, health
care providers, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Cavingdon Ltd. can be reached at:
Akara Buildings
24 De Castro Street
Road Town
Tortola
British Virgin Islands
CLASSICAL CONSERVATORIES: Creditors' Meeting Slated for Feb. 15
---------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Classical Conservatories Ltd. will meet at noon on
Feb. 15 at:
Regent Hotel
Regent Square
Doncaster
DN1 2DS
England
Creditors who want to vote at the meeting have until noon on
Feb. 14 to submit their proxy forms together with particulars of
their claims or of any security at the offices of:
UHY Hacker Young
St. Alphage House
2 Fore Street
London
EC2Y 5DH
England
A list of names and addresses of the company's creditors will be
available for inspection free of charge between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. on Feb. 13.
COLLINS & AIKMAN: Donnelly Penman Approved as Investment Banker
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Honorable Steven W. Rhodes of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
the Eastern District of Michigan authorized Collins & Aikman
Corp. and its debtor-affiliates to employ Donnelly Penman &
Partners, nunc pro tunc to Dec. 21, 2006, as one of their
investment bankers.
The Debtors are pursuing a cooperative sale process to maximize
the value of their estates and to save jobs. As part of the
sale process, the Debtors plan to sell certain plants in their
plastics business individually or in groups.
Ray C. Schrock, Esq., at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, in New York,
states that given the number of the Plastics Plants to be
marketed, the Debtors seek to retain two investment bankers,
Beringea LLC and Donnelly Penman & Partners, to assist in
marketing and selling different and unrelated assets in the
Plastics business.
DP&P will be handling the sale of the Debtors' assets in:
(1) Guelph, Ontario;
(2) Port Hope, Ontario;
(3) Brampton, Ontario;
(4) Belleville, Ontario;
(5) Rantoul, Illinois;
(6) Athens, Tennessee;
(7) Bowling Green, Kentucky;
(8) Saltillo, Mexico; and
(9) Dover, New Hampshire (ATC and TEG).
In addition, DP&P may submit proposals for the sale of certain
plants considered secondary in marketing priority. The parties
recognize that there is no protection against resourcing at the
plants located in:
(a) Havre De Grace, Kentucky;
(b) Morristown, Indiana;
(c) Sterling Heights, Michigan; and
(d) Columbia, Missouri.
The Debtors have already retained Lazard Freres & Co. LLC as
investment bankers in their Chapter 11 cases. Lazard has and
will continue to provide investment services to the Debtors in a
manner that is complementary to the services to be provided by
Beringea and DP&P. Lazard is engaged in the sale of the
Debtors' carpet and acoustics businesses and the overall
management and implementation of the Debtors' sale process.
The Debtors evaluated each firm on a number of criteria,
Mr. Schrock tells the Court, including the firm's overall
financial advisory and investment banking capabilities;
experience in selling Chapter 11 debtors' assets; the likely
attention of the senior personnel; and the compensation charged.
DP&P will:
-- conduct sell-side due diligence on their assigned plants;
-- determine the fair market value of the Plants;
-- organize a data room, virtual or otherwise;
-- coordinate acquirer due diligence;
-- negotiate a stalking horse bid, if appropriate;
-- assist in the preparation of management presentations;
-- identify prospective parties to a transaction;
-- prepare information on the plastics businesses;
-- assist in conducting auctions of the Plastics businesses;
-- disseminate information to prospects; and
-- provide testimony at hearings, as requested.
Mr. Schrock relates that DP&P is one of the largest
independently owned investment banking firms headquartered in
Michigan. The firm provides comprehensive advisory services to
both public and private companies, including capital raising,
mergers and acquisitions, due diligence and general financial
advisory services. More importantly, DP&P has significant
experience selling assets in both distressed and non-distressed
situation, he notes.
Pursuant to an engagement agreement between the Debtors and
DP&P, the firm will be paid non-refundable cash advisory fees to
the extent the agreement has not been terminated:
* US$75,000 on the later of Jan. 1, 2007, or approval of
DP&P's retention;
* US$50,000 on each of Feb. 1, March 1, and April 1, 2007;
and
* US$30,000 on the first day of each succeeding month.
The Debtors will reimburse DP&P for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with the engagement.
The Debtors and DP&P agree that the initial term of the
Agreement will be for a period of 12 months, and the parties may
terminate the Agreement, except for certain surviving provisions
at any time 90 days from the date of the execution of the
Agreement, with 30 days of prior written notice of the early
termination. Unless terminated, Mr. Schrock tells the Court
that the Agreement will be automatically renewed on a month-to-
month basis.
Notwithstanding the termination or expiration of the Agreement,
Mr. Schrock notes that DP&P will be paid if a transaction for
any Plastics Business for which it has not been paid a
transaction fee is consummated within six months after any
termination or expiration of the Agreement.
At the closing of each transaction, DP&P will be paid a cash fee
equal to the applicable percentage of the consideration paid or
received on or before the closing of the transaction.
Consideration for separate transactions will be accumulated for
purposes of determining the applicable percentage for the
incremental consideration added to the accumulated sum by virtue
of the individual transaction.
Cumulative Consideration Applicable %
------------------------ ------------
Less than US$10,000,000 3.50%
US$10,000,000 to US$100,000,000 1.00%
More than US$100,000,000 0.75%
No transaction fee will be payable unless and until a closing of
a transaction occurs. In no event will the aggregate sum of the
transaction fees be less than US$350,000.
James C. Penman, managing director of DP&P, informs the Court
that the firm may have rendered and may render in the future
services to certain potential parties-in-interest in matters
unrelated to the Debtors' Chapter 11 cases, including a prior
engagement by DaimlerChrysler AG as investment bankers in
connection with the sale of certain businesses not affiliated
with the Debtors.
Additionally, certain DP&P employees may have business
associations with certain potential parties-in-interest.
Mr. Penman assures the Court that the firm has not and will not
represent the interests of the parties-in-interest in the
Debtors' Chapter 11 cases. Mr. Penman attests that the firm
does not hold any adverse interest to the Debtors and their
estates, and that DP&P is a disinterested person.
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Collins & Aikman Corp.
-- http://www.collinsaikman.com/-- is a global leader in
cockpit modules and automotive floor and acoustic systems and is
a leading supplier of instrument panels, automotive fabric,
plastic-based trim, and convertible top systems. The Company
has a workforce of around 23,000 and a network of more than 100
technical centers, sales offices and manufacturing sites in 17
countries throughout the world. The Company and its debtor-
affiliates filed for chapter 11 protection on May 17,2005
(Bankr. E.D. Mich. Case No. 05-55927). Richard M. Cieri,
Esq., at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, represents C&A in its
restructuring. Lazard Freres & Co., LLC, provides the Debtor
with investment banking services. Michael S. Stammer, Esq., at
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, represents the Official
Committee of Unsecured Creditors Committee. When the Debtors
filed for protection from their creditors, they listed
US$3,196,700,000 in total assets and US$2,856,600,000 in total
debts. (Collins & Aikman Bankruptcy News, Issue No. 51;
Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc.,
http://bankrupt.com/newsstand/or 215/945-7000)
COLLINS & AIKMAN: Wants Beringea LLC as Investment Banker
---------------------------------------------------------
Collins & Aikman Corp. and its debtor-affiliates ask the
Honorable Steven W. Rhodes of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the
Eastern District of Michigan for authority to employ Beringea
LLC, nunc pro tunc to Dec. 24, 2006, as one of their investment
bankers.
The Debtors are pursuing a cooperative sale process to maximize
the value of their estates and to save jobs. As part of the
sale process, the Debtors plan to sell certain plants in their
plastics business individually or in groups.
Ray C. Schrock, Esq., at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, in New York,
states that given the number of the Plastics Plants to be
marketed, the Debtors seek to retain two investment bankers,
Beringea LLC and Donnelly Penman & Partners, to assist in
marketing and selling different and unrelated assets in the
Plastics business.
Beringea will handle the plants located in Evart, Michigan;
Windsor, Ontario; Belvidere, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; and
Mississuaga, Ontario.
The Debtors have already retained Lazard Freres & Co. LLC as
investment bankers in their Chapter 11 cases. Lazard has and
will continue to provide investment services to the Debtors in a
manner that is complementary to the services to be provided by
Beringea and DP&P. Lazard is engaged in the sale of the
Debtors' carpet and acoustics businesses and the overall
management and implementation of the Debtors' sale process.
The Debtors evaluated each firm on a number of criteria,
Mr. Schrock tells the Court, including the firm's overall
financial advisory and investment banking capabilities;
experience in selling Chapter 11 debtors' assets; the likely
attention of the senior personnel; and the compensation charged.
Beringea is expected to, without limitation:
-- conduct sell-side due diligence on their assigned plants;
-- determine the fair market value of the Plants;
-- organize a data room, virtual or otherwise;
-- coordinate acquirer due diligence;
-- negotiate a stalking horse bid, if appropriate;
-- assist in the preparation of management presentations;
-- identify prospective parties to a transaction;
-- prepare information on the plastics businesses;
-- assist in conducting auctions of the Plastics businesses;
-- disseminate information to prospects; and
-- provide testimony at hearings, as requested.
Mr. Schrock relates that Beringea has advised corporate clients
on mergers, acquisition, divestitures and due diligence, and
assisted joint ventures and private financings. Beringea has
provided advisory services to both public and private, national
and multinational companies in a broad range of industries,
including the automotive industry.
Beringea and the Debtors have agreed, in an engagement letter,
to a five-month term, wherein each party may terminate the
Agreement by giving a 15-day prior written notice.
The Debtors will pay Beringea non-refundable US$68,500 cash
advisory fee upon signature of the Agreement; and US$65,000
monthly fee, the first payment due on Jan. 8, and on the eighth
day of each succeeding month. Beringea will be reimbursed for
its out-of-pocket expenses.
If the Debtors conclude a transaction during the term of the
engagement, or Beringea advises the Debtors with respect to an
offer, agreement, commitment or letter of intent with a
potential buyer during the term that leads to a concluded
transaction with the potential buyer within six months of the
termination of the Agreement, the Debtors will compensate
Beringea with a transaction fee paid on or before closing of a
transaction.
Consideration for separate transactions will be accumulated for
purposes of determining the applicable percentage. Transaction
fees for an individual transaction will be based on the
applicable percentage for the incremental consideration added to
the accumulated sum by virtue of the individual transaction.
Cumulative Consideration Applicable %
------------------------ ------------
Less than or equal to US$10,000,000 3.50%
More than US$10,000,000 1.00%
If transaction fees are due, the aggregate sum of the
transaction fees should not be less than US$350,000. Beringea
will credit all non-refundable cash advisory fees to reduce any
transaction fees payable.
Kevin M. Heckman, a member of the firm, informs the Court that
the Beringea does not hold or represent any adverse interest to
the Debtors' estates. The firm has connections and
relationships with potential parties-in-interest that includes
Huron Valley Steel Corp., ArvinMeritor, Inc., and Clarion
Technologies Inc. A Beringea employee is also the spouse of
Collins & Aikman Corp.'s director of International Taxation and
an officer of one of the Debtors. Beringea does not believe
that the connections create a conflict of interest regarding the
Debtors in their Chapter 11 cases.
Mr. Heckman adds that certain Beringea employees may have
business associations with certain potential parties-in-
interest. Beringea has not and will not represent the interests
of these clients in the Debtors' Chapter 11 cases, Mr. Heckman
assures the Court.
Mr. Heckman attests that Beringea is a "disinterested person" as
that term is defined in Section 101(14) of the Bankruptcy Code,
as modified by Section 1107(b).
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Collins & Aikman Corp.
-- http://www.collinsaikman.com/-- is a global leader in
cockpit modules and automotive floor and acoustic systems and is
a leading supplier of instrument panels, automotive fabric,
plastic-based trim, and convertible top systems. The Company
has a workforce of around 23,000 and a network of more than 100
technical centers, sales offices and manufacturing sites in 17
countries throughout the world. The Company and its debtor-
affiliates filed for chapter 11 protection on May 17,
2005 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. Case No. 05-55927). Richard M. Cieri,
Esq., at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, represents C&A in its
restructuring. Lazard Freres & Co., LLC, provides the Debtor
with investment banking services. Michael S. Stammer, Esq., at
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, represents the Official
Committee of Unsecured Creditors Committee. When the Debtors
filed for protection from their creditors, they listed
US$3,196,700,000 in total assets and US$2,856,600,000 in total
debts. (Collins & Aikman Bankruptcy News, Issue No. 51;
Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc.,
http://bankrupt.com/newsstand/or 215/945-7000)
COMDEC LTD: Taps David Hill to Liquidate Assets
-----------------------------------------------
David Hill of Begbies Traynor was appointed liquidator of Comdec
Ltd. on Jan. 31 for the creditors' voluntary winding-up
procedure.
Begbies Traynor -- http://www.begbies.com/-- assists companies,
creditors, financial institutions and individuals on all aspects
of financial restructuring and corporate recovery.
Comdec Ltd. can be reached at:
Friars Road
Barry
South Glamorgan
CF625TR
Wales
Tel: 01446 742 212
01446 740 678
Fax: 01446 745 900
CORONEL SUPPORT: Robert Day Leads Liquidation Procedure
-------------------------------------------------------
Robert Day of Robert Day and Company Ltd. was appointed
liquidator of Coronel Support Services Ltd., Business
Opportunities (U.K.) Ltd. and Coronel Consulting (U.K.) Ltd. on
Jan. 31 for the creditors' voluntary winding-up procedure.
The liquidator can be reached at:
Robert Day and Company Ltd.
Garfield
Church Lane
Oving
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP22 4HL
England
CORUS GROUP: Tata Sons Sells 8.17-Mln Shares to Fund Takeover
-------------------------------------------------------------
Tata Sons Ltd., the holding company of the Tata Group, sold 8.17
million shares of Tata Consultancy Services, representing a
0.84% stake in the software firm, to an unidentified buyer, AFX
News reports citing a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange as
its source.
According to AFX, Tata Group did not disclose its reason for
selling the stake.
The Economic Times, however said, the proceeds of the share
transaction could be used to partly finance Tata Steel Ltd.'s
acquisition of Corus Group plc.
As previously reported in the TCR-Europe on Jan. 31, Tata Steel
won an auction for Corus over Companhia Siderurgica Nacional
after offering investors 608 pence per share in cash, or
GBP5.7 billion (US$11.3 billion).
About Tata Steel
Established in 1907, Tata Steel is Asia's first and India's
largest private sector steel company. Tata Steel is among the
lowest cost producers of steel in the world and one of the few
select steel companies in the world that is EVA+ (Economic Value
Added).
About Corus Group
Corus Group plc, fka British Steel, was formed when the UK
privatized its major steelworks in 1988. It then changed its
name to Corus Group after acquiring most of Dutch rival
Koninklijke Hoogovens. Corus makes coated and uncoated strip
products, sections and plates, wire rod, engineering steels, and
semi-finished carbon steel products. It also manufactures
primary aluminum products. Customers include companies in the
automotive, construction, engineering, and household-product
manufacturing industries.
Six years ago, the group suffered from the crisis in British
manufacturing, which prompted it to shake up management, close
plants, cut jobs, and sell assets to lower debt. Its debt was
thought to stand at GBP1.6 billion in 2002.
After posting a net loss of GBP458 million in 2003, it embarked
on a restructuring program, signed a new EUR1.2 billion banking
facility, and issued GBP307 million worth of shares. It
returned to operating profit in the first quarter of 2004. The
recent recovery of steel prices and the strength of the euro are
expected to help it achieve relatively strong earnings.
* * *
As reported in the TCR-Europe on Feb. 2, Fitch Ratings said that
Corus Group Plc's Issuer Default 'BB-' and Short-term 'B'
ratings remain on Rating Watch Negative following a recommended
bid, valued at GBP6.2 billion, from India-based Tata Steel Ltd.
in the wake of an auction process conducted by the U.K. Takeover
Panel on Jan. 30-31.
The RWN also applies to the 'B+' ratings on CS's EUR800 million
7.5% senior notes and Corus Finance Plc's GBP200m 6.75%
guaranteed bonds.
At the same time, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services kept its
'BB' long-term corporate credit rating on U.K.-based steelmaker
Corus Group PLC on CreditWatch with developing implications,
after the completion of the auction process, during which India-
based steel manufacturer Tata Steel Ltd. offered the highest bid
of 608 pence per share.
CURTIS MECHANICAL: Claims Filing Period Ends February 28
--------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Curtis Mechanical Services Ltd. have until Feb. 28
to send in their full names, their addresses and descriptions,
full particulars of their debts or claims, and the names and
addresses of their solicitors (if any) to:
Ian J. Gould
Joint Liquidator
PKF (U.K.) LLP
New Guild House
45 Great Charles Street
Queensway
Birmingham
B3 2LX
England
Ian J. Gould and Brian J. Hamblin of PKF (U.K.) LLP were
appointed joint liquidators of the company on Jan. 17 by
resolutions of members.
The company can be reached at:
Curtis Mechanical Services Ltd.
Unit 1 Baynards Green Farm
Baynards Green
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX27 7SR
England
Tel: 01869 345 504
Fax: 01869 345 808
DOYLE DEMOLITION: Names M. S. E. Solomons Liquidator
----------------------------------------------------
M. S. E. Solomons of SPW Poppleton & Appleby was appointed
liquidator of Doyle Demolition & Excavation Ltd. on Jan. 25 for
the creditors' voluntary winding-up proceeding.
The company can be reached at:
Doyle Demolition & Excavation Ltd.
Dollman Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
B7 4RP
Eng land
Tel: 0121 359 8531
Fax: 0121 359 3418
FORD MOTOR: Revives Ford Taurus & Mercury Sable to Lineup
---------------------------------------------------------
Ford Motor Company is bringing back the well-known Ford Taurus
name, introducing a new name -- Taurus X -- for its three-row
crossover, and returning the Mercury Sable to the lineup as
upgraded 2008-model versions of all three vehicles go on sale
this summer.
"Taurus has been an icon for Ford's family sedan for more than
two decades, and it's time to return this powerful name to where
it belongs," Ford President of The Americas Mark Fields said at
the Chicago Auto Show.
"Consumer awareness of the Taurus name is double the Five
Hundred that it's replacing, and awareness of Sable is triple
that of Montego.
"By giving these vehicles the names that consumers recognize at
the same time we're making significant upgrades, we're confident
that even more people are going to be attracted to these great
products in the future," Mr. Fields added.
The 2008-model Taurus sedan will go on sale this summer,
replacing the Ford Five Hundred. The new Taurus features a Ford
Fusion-inspired exterior design, a new powertrain with 60 more
horsepower, a new all-wheel-drive system, available standard
electronic stability control and other refinements to make it
more distinctive, quieter, faster, and safer.
The 2008-model Taurus X crossover will go on sale late this
summer -- replacing the Ford Freestyle -- with the same design,
powertrain, and safety upgrades, as well as three row of seats,
one-touch flip-and-fold second-row seating and an available
power rear liftgate.
The 2008-model Mercury Sable also goes on sale this summer --
replacing the Mercury Montego -- with extensive design,
powertrain, and safety upgrades, as well as unique touches that
make it a Mercury. They include Mercury's signature satin
aluminum waterfall grille, jeweled projector beam headlamps,
distinctive LED tail lamps and a two-tone interior trim with
unique accents. Customers preferring a technical appearance can
opt for Cyber Carbon -- a deep, high-gloss accent resembling
carbon fiber. More traditional sophistication is available from
two modern wood grain accents -- Guitar Maple and San Macassar.
Ford Taurus: An Automotive Icon
The Ford Taurus was a milestone in automotive design when it was
introduced in 1985. It was the best-selling car in America for
five straight years, starting in 1992. At its peak, Taurus
posted annual sales of more than 400,000 units. When production
of the original Taurus ended after 21 years on Oct. 27, 2006,
nearly 7 million cars had been sold -- and an estimated 3.5
million Taurus models remain on the road today.
The Taurus name remains powerful today. In fact, it is one of
top three most recognized Ford nameplates, behind only the F-
Series and Mustang. Consumer awareness of the Taurus nameplate
remains at an impressive 80%.
"The Ford Five Hundred has been a solid product, and it has one
of the highest satisfaction rates in our lineup," said Cisco
Codina, Ford's group vice president of North America Marketing,
Sales and Service. "Once people discover the vehicle, nearly
60% end up buying one.
"The Taurus will be even better thanks to significant upgrades
-- and, now, a name that people know. Going forward, we're
going to cherish this iconic name with the same clarity,
confidence, and intensity as we do with F-Series and Mustang,"
Mr. Codina added.
The new Taurus X crossover builds on the strength of its
namesake, while underscoring Ford's commitment to leadership in
crossover vehicles. Crossovers already have surpassed SUVs in
annual vehicle sales, and Ford predicts they will become the
largest or second largest segment in the U.S. by the end of the
decade -- with sales of 3 million units.
The three-row, seven-passenger Taurus X will complement the
sporty and popular two-row, five-passenger Ford Edge in the
lineup. The two crossovers will be joined by yet another large
Ford crossover -- based on the Ford Fairlane concept vehicle,
which will debut later this year and go on sale in 2008.
"The Taurus and Taurus X draw design cues from the Fusion sedan
and Edge crossover. This family relationship will be a huge
asset. The Fusion is an unqualified success, and the Edge is
off to an even faster start than we saw for the Fusion," Mr.
Codina said.
Sable Returns to Mercury
The Sable name today maintains an impressive 60% consumer
awareness level. With the new 2008-model, Sable will offer the
same differentiation that already is proving to be a success in
the marketplace with the Mercury Mariner and Mercury Milan.
"Our newest Mercurys are attracting new customers and doing a
great job at appealing to women," Mr. Codina said.
"The Mercury Mariner attracts more new customers today to Ford
and Lincoln Mercury than any other nameplate, except the Ford
Mustang. And about half of Mercury Milan customers are women,
which is a higher rate than for the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry,
or Volkswagen Passat," Codina added.
Mercury's signature design cues -- including satin aluminum
accents, high contrast interiors, and upscale trim and detailing
-- will differentiate the new Sable from the Taurus in the same
way as the Mariner and Milan.
About Ford Motor Co.
Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) --
http://www.ford.com/-- manufactures and distributes automobiles
in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 324,000
employees worldwide, the company's core and affiliated
automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land
Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-
related services include Ford Motor Credit Company and The Hertz
Corporation.
* * *
As reported in the TCR-Europe on Dec. 13, 2006, Standard &
Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its 'B' bank loan and '2'
recovery ratings on Ford Motor Co. after the company increased
the size of its proposed senior secured credit facilities to
between US$17.5 billion and US$18.5 billion, up from US$15
billion.
As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter on Dec. 7, 2006,
Fitch Ratings downgraded Ford Motor Company's senior unsecured
ratings to 'B-/RR5' from 'B/RR4' due to the increase in size of
both the secured facilities and the senior unsecured convertible
notes being offered.
As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter on Dec. 6, 2006,
Moody's Investors Service assigned a Caa1, LGD4, 62% rating to
Ford Motor Company's US$3 billion of senior convertible notes
due 2036.
FORTRESS MIDLANDS: Taps Liquidator from Crawfords
-------------------------------------------------
David Norman Kaye of Crawfords was nominated liquidator of
Fortress (Midlands) Ltd. on Feb. 1 for the creditors' voluntary
winding-up procedure.
The company can be reached at:
Fortress (Midlands) Ltd.
Manor Court
Manor Court Road
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV115HU
England
Tel: 01455 616 355
G T ALMAX: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 14
----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of G T Almax Ltd. will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 14
at:
Moore Stephens LLP
Beaufort House
94-96 Newhall Street
Birmingham
B3 1PB
England
A list of names and addresses of the company's creditors will be
available for inspection free of charge between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 at the said address.
Moore Stephens -- http://www.moorestephens.co.uk/-- offers
audit, business support, corporate finance, corporate recovery,
dispute analysis, financial services, insurance broking, IT
consultancy, pensions audit, risk advisory services, tax and
trusts & estates services. Its U.K. network comprises over
1,400 partners and staff.
GLASSLAM EUROPE: Claims Filing Period Ends March 31
---------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Glasslam Europe Ltd. have until March 31 to send in
their full names, addresses and descriptions, full particulars
of their debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their
solicitors (if any), to:
David Elliott
Liquidator
Moore Stephens LLP
Victory House
Admiralty Place
Chatham Maritime
Kent
ME4 4QU
England
David Elliott of Moore Stephens LLP was appointed liquidator of
the company on Jan. 31.
The company can be reached at:
Glasslam Europe Ltd.
Lower Road
Minster on Sea
Sheerness
Kent
ME123RT
England
Tel: 01795 873 399
Fax: 01795 873 373
GLEN SECURITY: Hires A. H. Tomlinson to Liquidate Assets
--------------------------------------------------------
A. H. Tomlinson of Tomlinsons was appointed liquidator of Glen
Security Ltd. on Jan. 4 for the creditors' voluntary winding-up
proceeding.
The liquidator can be reached at:
Glen Security Ltd.
St. John's Court
72 Gartside Street
Manchester
M3 3EL
England
ICT CENTRE: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 15
-----------------------------------------------------
Creditors of The ICT Centre Ltd. will meet at 10:30 a.m. on
Feb. 15 at the offices of:
Begbies Traynor
No. 1 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9HF
England
A list of names and addresses of the company's creditors will be
available for inspection free of charge on Feb. 13.
Begbies Traynor -- http://www.begbies.com/-- assists companies,
creditors, financial institutions and individuals on all aspects
of financial restructuring and corporate recovery.
INVENSYS PLC: Has GBP219-Mln Stockholders' Deficit at Dec. 31
-------------------------------------------------------------
Invensys Plc released its unaudited financial results for the
three months ended Dec. 31, 2006.
Invensys reported GBP42 million in net profit against GBP637
million in net revenues for the three months ended Dec. 31,
2006, compared with GBP3 million in net loss against GBP611
million in net revenues for the same period in 2005.
At Dec. 31, 2006, the company's balance sheet showed GBP1.9
billion in total assets and GBP2.1 billion in total liabilities,
resulting in a GBP219-million stockholders' deficit.
"I am pleased that we have made further overall progress in the
third quarter which has enabled us to report another good set of
results," Ulf Henriksson, Chief Executive Officer of Invensys
plc, commented. "Process Systems produced another strong
performance. Rail Systems showed good revenue growth although
order intake was impacted by the phasing of Network Rail project
bookings in the U.K. Controls produced another satisfactory
result despite the weakness in those businesses supplying the US
new residential construction market and I am encouraged that APV
produced a profit for a fourth consecutive quarter."
"Financing charges were significantly reduced due to the
benefits of the 2006 Refinancing (3), resulting in a net profit
in the quarter of GBP42 million compared with a small loss in
the third quarter last year. Operating cash flow, although
lower than last year, was strong at GBP56 million representing
100% conversion.
"With the improved performance in the period and continued
progress in achieving a balance of results between quarters, the
Board remains confident of a satisfactory outturn for the
financial year as a whole," Mr. Henriksson added.
About Invensys Plc
Based in London, United Kingdom, Invensys Plc --
http://www.invensys.com/-- is a global automation, controls and
process solutions Group operating in more than 60 countries
worldwide. The company operates through six units: Controls,
Process Systems, Rail Systems, APV, Wonderware, and Eurotherm.
For the 12 ended March 31, 2006, Invensys had GBP2.5 billion in
total revenues from continuing operations.
* * *
Invensys Plc carry these ratings:
* Moody's Investors Service:
-- Long-Term Corporate Family Rating: Ba3
-- Senior Unsecured Debt: B2
-- Outlook: Stable
* Standard & Poor's Ratings Services:
-- Long-Term Foreign Issuer Credit Rating: B+
-- Long-Term Local Issuer Credit Rating: B+
-- Outlook: Positive
* Fitch Ratings:
-- Long-Term Issuer Default Rating: BB-
-- Senior Unsecured Debt: B+
-- Short Term: B
-- Outlook: Stable
K D S ELECTRICAL: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 16
-----------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of K D S Electrical Services Ltd. will meet at 11:00
a.m. on Feb. 16 at:
Tomlinsons
St. John's Court
72 Gartside Street
Manchester
M3 3EL
England
A list of names and addresses of the company's creditors will be
available for inspection free of charge between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the offices of Tomlinsons.
Tomlinsons -- http://www.tomlinsons.co.uk/-- specializes in all
types of business recovery and insolvency procedures, as well as
offering advice to companies and individuals who believe they
may be heading towards, or are already in, financial difficulty.
KENT CABINETS: Appoints Jason Groocock as Liquidator
----------------------------------------------------
Jason Groocock of HKM LLP was appointed liquidator of Kent
Cabinets Ltd. on Feb. 2 for the creditors' voluntary winding-up
proceeding.
The liquidator can be reached at:
HKM LLP
The Old Mill
9 Soar Lane
Leicester
LE3 5DE
England
KNOWDRAMA LTD: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 21
--------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Knowdrama Ltd. (t/a Sessions) will meet at 11:30
a.m. on Feb. 21 at:
Carter Clark
Meridian House
62 Station Road
North Chingford
London
E4 7BA
England
Creditors who want to vote at the meeting have until noon on
Feb. 20 to submit their proxy forms together with particulars of
their claims or of any security at the said address.
Alan J. Clark of Carter Clark will furnish creditors with
information concerning the company's affairs free of charge as
they may reasonably require.
LUMASIGN LTD: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 14
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Lumasign Ltd. will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 at
the offices of:
Griffith & Griffith
Century House
31 Gate Lane
Boldmere
Sutton Coldfield
B73 5TR
England
Creditors who want to vote at the meeting have until noon on
Feb. 13 to submit their proxy forms together with particulars of
their claims or of any security at the said address.
A list of names and addresses of the company's creditors will be
available for inspection free of charge between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. on Feb. 12.
MEADGATE LTD: Brings In KPMG to Administer Assets
-------------------------------------------------
Stephen Treharne and Finbarr Thomas O'Connell of KPMG LLP were
appointed joint administrators of M eadgate Ltd. (A Company
registered in the British Virgin Islands)(Company Number 573247)
on Jan. 26.
KPMG LLP -- http://www.kpmg.co.uk/-- offers accounting, audit,
and tax-related services to customers in such target industries
as banking, media and entertainment, consumer products, health
care providers, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Meadgate Ltd. can be reached at:
7 Pendock Court
Emersons Green
Bristol
Avon
BS16 7PA
England
Tel: 0117 956 8277
MEDWAY T & G: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 23
-------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Medway T & G Services Ltd. will meet at 11:45 a.m.
on Feb. 23 at:
S G Banister & Co.
40 Great James Street
London
WC1N 3HB
England
Tim Clunie of S G Banister & Co. will furnish creditors with
information concerning the company's affairs free of charge as
they may reasonably require during the period before the day on
which the meeting is to be held.
PREFERRED RESIDENTIAL: S&P Puts Class D Notes on Watch Positive
---------------------------------------------------------------
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed its credit ratings on
the class B, C, and D notes issued by Preferred Residential
Securities 7 PLC on CreditWatch with positive implications. The
senior class A notes are unaffected by these CreditWatch
placements.
The CreditWatch placement follows an initial review of the most
recent transaction information received by Standard & Poor's.
This is the first time that any of the Preferred Residential
Securities transactions have been placed on CreditWatch
Positive.
The initial analysis showed that the likelihood of a positive
rating action has increased for the class B, C, and D notes, and
levels of credit enhancement available to these notes have
improved.
Standard & Poor's has received loan-level data for this
transaction and will now carry out a more detailed loan-level
and cash flow analysis to investigate whether any or all of
these notes can attain a higher rating. The results of this
review and any changes in the ratings are expected within one
month of this media release.
The notes, issued in January 2004, are backed by a pool of first
fixed-charge mortgage loans secured on freehold and leasehold
properties in the U.K. This is the seventh RMBS transaction
originated by Preferred Mortgages Ltd.
Ratings List
Preferred Residential Securities 7 PLC
GBP600 Million Mortgage-Backed Floating-Rate Notes
Class Rating
To From
Ratings Placed On CreditWatch With Positive Implications
B AA/Watch Pos AA
C BBB+/Watch Pos BBB+
D BB/Watch Pos BB
QUICK PRINTS: Brings In Liquidator from Stones & Co.
----------------------------------------------------
Gary Stones of Stones & Co. was appointed liquidator of Quick
Prints (Neath) Ltd. on Feb. 2 for the creditors' voluntary
winding-up procedure.
The company can be reached at:
Quick Prints (Neath) Ltd.
42 Queen Street
Neath
West Glamorgan
SA111DL
Wales
Tel: 01639 630 906
Fax: 01639 630 906
READER'S DIGEST: High Leverage Cues Moody's to Cut Ratings to B2
----------------------------------------------------------------
Moody's Investors Service downgraded The Reader's Digest
Association's Corporate Family rating to B2 from Ba1, concluding
the review for downgrade initiated on Sept. 6, 2006, and
continued on Nov. 16, 2006, in connection with the proposed
US$2.4 billion acquisition by a consortium of investors led by
Ripplewood Holdings LLC.
The downgrade reflects the significant increase in leverage that
will occur as a result of the debt-financed buyout and RDA's
concurrent combination with Ripplewood portfolio companies WRC
Media Inc. and Direct Holdings U.S. Corp.
Moody's also assigned a Ba3 rating to Doctor Acquisition Co.'s
proposed US$1.46 billion senior secured credit facilities and B3
rating to DAC's proposed US$750 million senior subordinated
notes to be issued in connection with the acquisition.
Together with US$466 million of cash common equity and the sale
of US$274 million of senior PIK preferred stock by RDA Holding
Co., the parent holding company established by Ripplewood for
this transaction, the proceeds will be used as:
* US$1.7 billion to fund the buyout of RDA's common stock;
* approximately US$700 million to retire existing RDA debt,;
* US$194 million to retire existing debt and other
obligations of Weekly Reader and Direct Holdings; and,
* approximately US$140 million for transaction-related fees
and expenses including a US$25 million transaction fee to
Ripplewood.
DAC is an acquisition vehicle owned by Ripplewood and affiliates
that will be merged into RDA to complete the acquisition with
RDA continuing as the survivor and borrower post-closing. The
rating outlook is stable.
Downgrades:
* Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
-- Corporate Family Rating, Downgraded to B2 from Ba1
-- Probability of Default Rating, Downgraded to B2 from
Ba1
Assignments:
* Doctor Acquisition Co.
-- Corporate Family Rating, Assigned B2
-- Probability of Default Rating, Assigned B2
-- Guaranteed Senior Secured Revolver, Assigned Ba3 LGD2,
28
-- Guaranteed Senior Secured Term Loan B, Assigned Ba3
LGD2, 28
-- Guaranteed Senior Subordinated Notes, Assigned B3 LGD5-
76
Outlook Actions:
* Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
-- Outlook, Changed To Stable From Rating Under Review
* Doctor Acquisition Co.
-- Outlook, Assigned Stable
The B2 CFR reflects the combined company's high leverage, low
EBITDA margins and the moderate growth prospects of the mature
and largely print-based publishing portfolio. Moody's expects
debt-to-EBITDA will remain high at approximately 7.2-7.4x in
FY 2008. Debt reduction will initially be modest due to the
higher interest burden and spending associated with
restructuring actions.
Recognizable brands, significant global presence and broad
diversity of publishing products support the ratings. Moody's
believes the publishing product lines are mature, but that new
initiatives including the Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine,
Taste of Home Entertaining business and continued expansion into
developing countries will contribute to modest revenue growth.
A key area of focus is improving the cost structure and
operational efficiency to drive margin expansion. The company's
print publishing and direct marketing businesses nevertheless
have high customer churn and acquisition costs, and recurring
editorial and paper costs that restrain margin potential.
Moody's believes the high leverage and weak margins limit
financial flexibility over the intermediate term.
The stable rating outlook reflects Moody's expectation that cost
savings and moderate revenue gains will lower debt-to-EBITDA
over the next 12-18 months. Moody's believes the credit
agreement provides near term flexibility for cost reduction
plans to gain traction as the debt-to-EBITDA covenant does not
begin until
March 31, 2008.
The Ba2 rating on RDA's existing US$300 million notes remains on
review for downgrade pending the outcome of the tender offer for
the notes. Moody's will withdraw the rating if the notes are
repaid in connection with the tender offer and would likely
lower the rating to B3/LGD4 on any stub portion that remains
after the tender offer.
Headquartered in Pleasantville, New York, The Reader's Digest
Association, Inc, -- http://www.rda.com-- is a global publisher
and direct marketer of products including magazines, books,
recorded music collections and home videos. Products include
Readers Digest magazine, which is published in 50 editions and
21 languages. Annual revenues approximate US$2.4 billion.
The company has offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Hungary
and the United Kingdom.
S M REFRIGERATION: Claims Registration Ends June 30
---------------------------------------------------
Creditors of S M Refrigeration & Electrical Ltd. have until
June 30 to prove their debts by sending in their full names,
their addresses and descriptions, full particulars of their
debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors
(if any) to:
Melanie R. Giles
Liquidator
JonesGiles Ltd.
246 Peverell Park Road
Plymouth
PL3 4QG
England
Creditors of the company confirmed the appointment of Melanie R.
Giles of JonesGiles Ltd. as liquidator on Feb. 2.
The company can be reached at:
Quarry Crescent
Pennygillam Industrial Estate
Launceston
Cornwall
PL15 7PF
England
Tel: 0800 072 9282
Fax: 01566 775 222
SEA CONTAINERS: Committee Retains Morris Nichols as Counsel
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Sea Containers,
Ltd. and its debtor-affiliates bankruptcy case obtained
authority from the Honorable Kevin J. Carey of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to retain Morris,
Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP as its Delaware counsel, nunc pro
tunc to Oct. 26, 2006.
As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter on Jan. 23, 2007,
the Creditors Committee selected Morris Nichols because of the
firm's extensive experience, knowledge and resources in the
fields of, inter alia, debtors' and creditors' rights and
business reorganizations under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code, Andrew B. Cohen, managing director of Dune Capital LLC,
relates.
Specifically, Morris Nichols will:
(a) advise the Creditors Committee with respect to its
rights, duties and powers in the Debtors' Chapter 11
cases;
(b) assist and advise the Creditors Committee in its
consultations with the Debtors relative to the
administration of their cases;
(c) assist the Creditors Committee in analyzing the claims of
the Debtors' creditors in negotiating with them;
(d) assist with the Creditors Committee's investigation of
the acts, conduct, assets liabilities and financial
condition of the Debtors and of the operation of their
business;
(e) assist the Creditors Committee in its analysis of, and
negotiations with, the Debtors or their creditors
concerning matters related to, among other things, the
terms of a plan of reorganization for the Debtors;
(f) assist and advise the Creditors Committee with respect to
its communications with the general creditor body
regarding significant matters in the Debtors' bankruptcy
cases;
(g) assist and counsel the Creditors Committee in respect to
its organization, the conduct of its business and
meetings, the dissemination of information to its
constituency, and other matters as are reasonably deemed
necessary to facilitate the administrative activities of
the Committee;
(h) attend the meetings of the Creditors Committee;
(i) represent the Creditors Committee at all hearings and
other proceedings;
(j) review and analyze all applications, orders, statements
of operations and schedules filed with the Court and
advise the Creditors Committee as to their propriety;
(k) assist the Creditors Committee in preparing pleadings and
applications as may be necessary in furtherance of the
Creditors Committee's interests and objectives; and
(1) perform other legal services as may be required and are
deemed to be in the interests of the Creditors Committee
in accordance with the Committee's powers and duties as
set forth in the Bankruptcy Code.
Morris Nichols will be paid on an hourly basis, plus
reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses incurred:
Designation Hourly Rate
----------- -----------
Partners US$425 - US$625
Associates US$220 - US$400
Paraprofessionals US$175
Case Clerks US$100
William H. Sudell, Jr., Esq., a partner at Morris Nichols,
assures the Court that his firm is a "disinterested person" as
defined in Section 101(14) of the Bankruptcy Code. Morris
Nichols does not hold or represent any interest adverse to the
Debtors' estates or their creditors, Mr. Sudell adds.
About Sea Containers
Headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, Sea Containers Ltd. (NYSE:
SCRA, SCRB) -- http://www.seacontainers.com/-- provides
passenger and freight transport and marine container leasing.
Registered in Bermuda, the company has regional operating
offices in London, Genoa, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and
Singapore. The company is owned almost entirely by United
States shareholders and its primary listing is on the New York
Stock Exchange (SCRA and SCRB) since 1974. On Oct. 3, 2006, the
company's common shares and senior notes were suspended from
trading on the NYSE and NYSE Arca after the company's failure to
file its 2005 annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q during 2006 with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Through its GNER subsidiary, Sea Containers Passenger Transport
operates Britain's fastest railway, the Great North Eastern
Railway, linking England and Scotland. It also conducts ferry
operations, serving Finland and Estonia as well as a commuter
service between New York and New Jersey in the U.S.
Sea Containers Ltd. and two subsidiaries filed for chapter 11
protection on Oct. 15, 2006 (Bankr. D. Del. Case No. 06-11156).
Robert S. Brady, Esq., at Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor
represents the Debtors in their restructuring efforts. When the
Debtors filed for protection from their creditors, they reported
US$1.7 billion in total assets and $1.6 billion in total debts.
The Debtors' exclusive period to file a chapter 11 plan of
reorganization expires on June 12, 2007. (Sea Containers
Bankruptcy News, Issue No. 10; Bankruptcy Creditors' Service,
Inc., http://bankrupt.com/newsstand/or 215/945-7000)
SEA CONTAINERS: Trustee Opposes Houlihan's Employment as Advisor
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kelly Beaudin Stapleton, United States Trustee for Region 3,
asks the U.S. Bankruptcy for District of Delaware to deny the
request of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Sea
Containers, Ltd. and its debtor-affiliates' chapter 11 case for
authority to employ Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital, Inc.
as financial advisor, nunc pro tunc to Oct. 26, 2006.
The U.S. Trustee asserts that the proposed compensation for the
retention of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital, Inc. is not
reasonable.
As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter on Jan. 24, 2007,
as compensation for the firm's services, the Debtors will pay
Houlihan Lokey a fee of US$150,000 per month beginning
Oct. 26, 2006, and after that on the 26th day of each subsequent
month until termination or expiration of the agreement. Upon
consummation of any Transaction, Houlihan Lokey will be paid in
cash an additional fee of US$2,100,000, offset by US$50,000 of
each Monthly Fee, if any, earned and paid on or after
March 26, 2007. Houlihan Lokey will also seek reimbursement for
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
its engagement.
However, the U.S. Trustee proposes that the deferred fee, which
is the sum of US$2,100,000 less a credit of US$50,000 per month
commencing March 26, 2007, be subjected to review for
reasonableness.
In addition, the definition of transaction is ambiguous under
the facts and circumstances of the Debtors' Chapter 11 case.
The Debtors have more than 100 non-debtor affiliates and
subsidiaries and it is possible that substantially all the
assets of one or more of these affiliates and subsidiaries will
be sold through the course of the bankruptcy proceeding. The
U.S. Trustee seeks clarification whether or not Houlihan Lokey
will claim more than one Deferred Fee since there may be
multiple Transactions during the course of the Debtors' Chapter
11 cases.
The U.S. Trustee also points out that it is inappropriate for a
professional retention application to purport to limit the
potential liability of a professional.
About Sea Containers
Headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, Sea Containers Ltd. (NYSE:
SCRA, SCRB) -- http://www.seacontainers.com/-- provides
passenger and freight transport and marine container leasing.
Registered in Bermuda, the company has regional operating
offices in London, Genoa, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and
Singapore. The company is owned almost entirely by United
States shareholders and its primary listing is on the New York
Stock Exchange (SCRA and SCRB) since 1974. On Oct. 3, 2006, the
company's common shares and senior notes were suspended from
trading on the NYSE and NYSE Arca after the company's failure to
file its 2005 annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q during 2006 with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Through its GNER subsidiary, Sea Containers Passenger Transport
operates Britain's fastest railway, the Great North Eastern
Railway, linking England and Scotland. It also conducts ferry
operations, serving Finland and Estonia as well as a commuter
service between New York and New Jersey in the U.S.
Sea Containers Ltd. and two subsidiaries filed for chapter 11
protection on Oct. 15, 2006 (Bankr. D. Del. Case No. 06-11156).
Robert S. Brady, Esq., at Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor
represents the Debtors in their restructuring efforts. When the
Debtors filed for protection from their creditors, they reported
US$1.7 billion in total assets and US$1.6 billion in total
debts. (Sea Containers Bankruptcy News, Issue No. 10;
Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc.,
http://bankrupt.com/newsstand/or 215/945-7000)
The Debtors' exclusive period to file a chapter 11 plan expires
on June 12, 2007.
SIMCLAR GROUP: Deputy Enterprise Minister Calls for DTI Probe
-------------------------------------------------------------
Deputy enterprise minister Allan Wilson asked the Department of
Trade and Industry to investigate the shutdown of two Simclar
Group factories in Ayrshire, Scotsman says.
According to published reports, Mr. Wilson called for DTI to
probe into the transfer of assets and contracts of the company,
after he met with Simclar administrators, union leaders and
members of the Scottish Parliament on Feb. 5.
"There are unanswered questions. We owe it to the workforce to
get the bottom of them," Mr. Wilson disclosed.
A Simclar Group spokesman told DailyRecord that "significant
efforts" were made to keep Ayrshire workable but they had
"significant difficulties" such as the loss of several key
contracts.
"The company's handling of the very serious financial situation
we faced will, we are sure, be vindicated during the
administration process and any investigation by third parties,"
he added.
The closure of Simclar's plants in Irvine and Kilwinning led to
the loss of 420 jobs. The company disclosed that its site in
Dunfermline, with 300 workers, would continue to operate.
Headquartered in Dunfermline, Scotland, The Simclar Group --
http://www.simclar.com/-- is a global solutions provider,
offering complete manufacturing and fulfillment services to
customers. The company has facilities in Europe, the U.S.
Mexico and China with about 1,800 employees worldwide.
SMILE SECURITIZATION: S&P Rates Class E Notes at Prelim BB-
-----------------------------------------------------------
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its preliminary
credit ratings to the asset-backed floating-rate notes to be
issued by SMILE Securitization Company 2007 B.V., a special
purpose entity. At the same time, SMILE will issue an amount of
unrated notes equal to 0.3% of the portfolio.
The purpose of this transaction is to achieve regulatory and
economic capital relief through the transfer of the credit risk
associated with a pool of loans to Dutch SMEs.
The note proceeds will be used to purchase the loan portfolio
from ABN AMRO Bank N.V., which originated the loans. The
purchase price will be equal to the nominal outstanding
principal balance of the receivables.
Ratings List
SMILE Securitization Company 2007 B.V.
EUR TBD Billion Asset-Backed Floating-Rate Notes
Prelim Rating Prelim
Class (Mil. EUR) amount
----- ------------- -------
A AAA TBD
B AA TBD
C A TBD
D BBB TBD
E BB- TBD
F NR TBD
STEM CELL: Losses Rise to EUR4.5 Million in 2006
------------------------------------------------
Stem Cell Sciences plc released its financial results for the
year ended Dec. 31, 2006.
Stem Cell Sciences plc posted EUR4.47 million in net loss on
EUR1.11 million in net sales for the full year 2006, compared
with EUR3.57 million in net loss on EUR1.27 million in net sales
for the same period in 2005.
As of Dec. 31, 2006, Stem Cell Sciences plc had EUR6.07 million
in total assets, EUR1.88 million in total liabilities and EUR4.2
million in shareholders' equity.
"The company made significant progress in pursuing its strategy,
particularly strengthening the infrastructure and business
development," said Peter Mountford, president and chief
executive officer of Stem Cell Sciences. "Importantly, with
these solid foundations, and the successful in-licensing of
several new products, SCS expects to see revenue growth in the
coming year. The Board continues to be optimistic on the
opportunities available to SCS and looks forward to an exciting
2007."
About Stem Cell Sciences plc
London-based Stem Cell Sciences plc --
http://www.stemcellsciences.com/-- is a global biotechnology
company, established in 1994 in Melbourne, Australia, providing
products in stem cell research and drug discovery markets, in
addition to the targeted development of cell-based therapies for
neurodegenerative disease and injury.
The company has established an intellectual property and
technology portfolio that enables the commercial application of
stem cells in drug discovery, providing the company with early-
stage revenue streams and technology development for at scale
cell production of SCS cell-based therapeutics. The company's
principal focus is in neurological disease. Revenues in the
neurotech market, including pharmaceuticals, devices, and
diagnostics, grew 10% in 2005 to US$110 billion.
SCS operates as a group of independent operations with
laboratories in Scotland, Japan, and Australia, each of which is
affiliated with an academic center of excellence. These include
the Institute of Stem Cell Research, Edinburgh, UK, RIKEN Center
for Development Biology, Kobe, Japan, and the Australian Stem
Cell Center, Melbourne, Australia.
The company reported three consecutive annual net losses of
EUR4.47 million in 2006, EUR3.57 million in 2005, and EUR2.19
million in 2004.
STEPHEN JOHNSON: Joint Liquidators Take Over Operations
-------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Lord and Stephen James Wainwright of Poppleton & Appleby
were appointed joint liquidators of Stephen Johnson PLC on
Feb. 1 for the creditors' voluntary winding-up procedure.
The company can be reached at:
Stephen Johnson PLC
70-72 Yorkshire Street
Salford
Lancashire
M3 5EG
England
Tel: 0161 832 4002
Fax: 0161 832 4001
UIC INSURANCE: U.S. Court Grants Relief Under Sec. 304
------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
issued Dec. 8, 2006, an order granting UIC Insurance Company
Ltd., relief under Section 304 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
The order recognizes the Debtor's foreign proceedings in the
High Court of Justice of England and Wales and granted UIC
Insurance injunctive relief that will give full force and effect
to a Scheme of Arrangement in the United States.
English Proceeding
The Debtor is subject to a collective proceeding currently
pending before the English High Court, in accordance with a
Scheme of Arrangement pursuant to Section 425 of the Companies
Act 1985 between the Debtor and its Scheme Creditors.
On Aug. 13, 1996, Ipe Jacob and Nigel Ruddock were appointed
joint provisional liquidators for UIC Insurance.
On Oct. 6, 2006, the English Court sanctioned the Scheme of
Arrangement, which became effective on Nov. 6, 2006.
Except as provided in the Scheme of Arrangement, all Scheme
Creditors are required to:
(a) turn over and account to the Scheme Manager for any
property of the Debtor that is related to the Scheme
Business and located in the U.S. or any proceeds thereof,
of which they have possession, custody or control;
(b) deliver to the Scheme Manager any documents of the Debtor
that relate to the Scheme Business or may be required by
the Scheme Manager; and
(c) notify the Scheme Manager on claims against the Debtor or
its property arising out of the Scheme Business in which
UIC is a party and put the Petitioner's U.S. counsel on
the master service list.
The Scheme Officers are represented in the U.S. by:
Howard Selfe, Esq
Francisco Vazquez, Esq.
Chadbourne & Parke LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY10112
Tel: (212) 408-5100
Scheme of Arrangement
The Debtor commenced the English proceeding to obtain the
English Court's approval of the Scheme of Arrangement.
A scheme of arrangement becomes legally binding when:
(a) a majority in number representing not less than 75% in
value of creditors vote in favor of the scheme;
(b) the court subsequently enters and order sanctioning the
scheme of arrangement; and
(c) a copy of that order is delivered to the registrar of
companies for registration.
The joint provisional liquidators sought the relief as a
requirement to give effect to the Scheme of Arrangement in the
U.S. and to prevent the Scheme and the English Proceeding from
being frustrated.
Creditors have until noon on March 7 to submit completed claim
forms to the Scheme Officers in the United Kingdom.
VIRTEX INTERNATIONAL: Calls In Liquidator from Irwin & Co.
----------------------------------------------------------
Gerald Irwin of Irwin & Co. was appointed liquidator of Virtex
International Ltd. (formerly Virtual Exhibitions Ltd.) on Feb. 1
for the creditors' voluntary winding-up proceeding.
The liquidator can be reached at:
Irwin & Co.
Station House
Midland Drive
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B72 1TU
England
WESTMORELAND TRUCK: Creditors' Meeting Slated for February 23
-------------------------------------------------------------
Creditors of Westmoreland Truck Bodies Ltd. will meet at 1:30
p.m. on Feb. 23 at:
Campanile Hotel
Beverley Road
Freetown Way
Hull
HU2 9AN
England
Creditors who want to vote at the meeting have until noon on
Feb. 22 to submit their proxy forms together with particulars of
their claims or of any security at the office of:
Jacksons Jolliffe Cork
Lowgate House
Lowgate
Hull
HU1 1EL
England
A list of names and addresses of the company's creditors will be
available for inspection free of charge on Feb. 21.
Jackson Jolliffe Cork -- http://www.jjcork.co.uk/-- engages
exclusively in business recovery and insolvency work and
comprises certified and chartered accountants, licensed
insolvency practitioners and business turnaround consultants,
many having joined us from senior positions within National
firms.
YELL GROUP: Earns GBP163.4 Million in Nine Months Ended Dec. 31
---------------------------------------------------------------
Yell Group plc released its unaudited financial results for the
nine months ended Dec. 31, 2006.
Yell Group reported GBP163.4 million in net profit against
GBP1.4 billion in net revenues for the nine months ended
Dec. 31, 2006, compared with GBP147.3 million in net profit
against GBP1.1 billion in net revenues for the same period in
2005.
At Dec. 31, 2006, the Group's consolidated balance sheet showed
GBP6.4 billion in total assets and GBP4.9 billion in total
liabilities, resulting in a GBP1.5-billion stockholders' equity.
"We have again delivered strong organic growth with particularly
strong growth in our online channels, Yell CEO John Condron
said. "At the same time we have focused on developing our
acquisitions for future growth. Integration is progressing as
expected with new sales management in place at TransWestern and
a good start at TPI, which has been renamed Yell Publicidad.
"In the U.K., we are confident that the future relaxation of
regulation will give us greater flexibility in the competitive
print market," Mr. Condron added.
"This nine month performance underpins our confidence that we
are on track to meet year end expectations," Yell CFO John Davis
said. "Our organic revenue growth of more than 7% at a constant
exchange rate, overall EBITDA margins of 33% and cash conversion
of 82% together demonstrate the robust nature of our businesses
in their dynamic markets. Underlying earnings per share,
excluding the impact of issuing shares for the acquisition of
TPI ahead of the acquisition itself and at a constant exchange
rate, grew 13.2%."
A full-text copy of the company's financial report for the nine
months ended Dec. 31, 2006 is available for free a
http://ResearchArchives.com/t/s?19a6
Headquartered in Reading, England, Yell Group plc --
http://www.yellgroup.com/-- is an international directories
business operating in the classified advertising market through
printed, online and phone media in the U.K. and the US.
* * *
As of Feb. 9, Yell Group plc carry these ratings:
* Moody's Investors Service:
-- Long-Term Corporate Family Rating: Ba3
-- Outlook: Stable
* Standard & Poor's Ratings Services:
-- Long-Term Foreign Issuer Credit Rating: BB-
-- Long-Term Local Issuer Credit Rating: BB-
-- Outlook: Stable
* Deloitte Warns Insolvency Crisis for U.K. Manufacturers
---------------------------------------------------------
Many small and medium sized manufacturers could face insolvency
unless they take radical action to deal with their pension
deficit, says Deloitte & Touche LLP, the business advisory firm.
According to recent figures from the Pensions Regulator and
Pensions Protection Fund, U.K. manufacturers have GBP19 billion
of pension deficits, and it is SMMs who face the most precarious
future. They often have deficits greater than the total value
of the business and for many SMMs insolvency seems inevitable.
"Increased life expectancy and lower than expected investment
returns are contributory factors creating a situation where many
U.K. manufacturers may never clear their deficit," Jane Lodge,
U.K. Manufacturing industry leader at Deloitte says. "Unless
this issue is addressed, the most likely outcome is that
manufacturing companies may fold and their pension schemes will
be taken over by the PPF."
Insolvency could result in shareholders receiving little or no
return on their investment while employees and former employees
could receive greatly reduced pension entitlements. Further,
the PPF could become overwhelmed by the net liabilities of
former manufacturing companies.
For many of these businesses, the alternative lies in a Company
Voluntary Arrangement. A CVA allows manufacturers to offset
some of their deficits against future earnings. Although
stakeholders need to accept a smaller return, it may be greater
than would be available through a formal insolvency procedure.
Tony Clare, pensions partner at Deloitte comments: "A CVA,
backed by the various stakeholders, including the PPF and TPR,
can result in a solvent company and job security, albeit at the
partial expense of the pension scheme. The alternative would
likely result in the loss of all jobs and an even smaller
entitlement for pension scheme members under the PPF."
Ms. Lodge adds: "What initially looks like a hopeless situation
can be turned around, resulting in a revitalized manufacturing
company with a solvent balance sheet free of historical pension
liabilities."
About Deloitte
Deloitte & Touche LLP -- http://www.deloitte.com/-- provides
audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance services through
more than 9,000 people in 21 locations. The group is the United
Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein
whose member firms are separate and independent legal entities.
* BOND PRICING: For the Week February 12 to February 17, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------
Issuer Coupon Maturity Currency Price
------ ------ -------- -------- -----
AUSTRIA
-------
Kommunal Kredit
Austria AG 0.500 03/15/19 CDN 63.38
0.250 10/14/26 CDN 37.57
Republic of Austria 7.000 08/04/25 EUR 70.15
5.000 10/10/25 EUR 69.41
GERMANY
-------
Kommunekredit 0.500 05/11/29 CDN 40.57
FINLAND
-------
Muni Finance PLC 0.250 06/28/40 CDN 19.50
0.500 09/24/20 CDN 58.07
1.000 11/21/16 NZD 58.85
0.500 04/26/13 AUD 70.57
1.000 03/19/13 AUD 73.48
FRANCE
------
Accor S.A. 1.750 01/01/08 EUR 67.04
Alcatel S.A. 4.750 01/01/11 EUR 17.13
Altran Technologies S.A. 3.750 01/01/09 EUR 12.39
AXA S.A. 6.000 01/29/49 EUR 70.94
BNP Paribas 0.250 12/20/14 US$ 67.13
CAP Gemini S.A. 2.500 01/01/10 EUR 56.97
1.000 01/01/12 EUR 52.88
Club Mediterranee S.A. 3.000 11/01/08 EUR 65.70
4.375 11/01/10 EUR 50.53
Elior S.A. 1.000 06/08/07 EUR 19.82
Havas S.A. 4.000 01/01/09 EUR 10.68
Infogrames
Entertainment S.A. 4.000 04/01/09 EUR 7.20
1.500 07/01/11 EUR 23.49
Ingenico 2.750 01/01/12 EUR 20.01
Maurel & Prom 3.500 01/01/10 EUR 22.57
Publicis Group 0.750 07/17/08 EUR 35.47
1.000 01/18/18 EUR 43.81
Rallye 3.750 01/01/08 EUR 49.00
Scor S.A. 4.125 01/01/10 EUR 2.49
Soc Air France 2.750 04/01/20 EUR 36.57
Soitec 4.625 12/20/09 EUR 22.53
SR Teleperform 3.250 01/01/08 EUR 34.92
Thomson (EX-TMM) 1.000 01/01/08 EUR 39.10
Valeo 2.375 01/01/11 EUR 47.21
Vivendi Universal S.A. 1.750 10/30/08 EUR 32.16
Wendel Invest S.A. 2.000 06/19/09 EUR 52.92
GERMANY
-------
Deutsche Bank AG 5.000 10/13/35 EUR 69.15
KfW Bankengruppe 0.500 10/30/13 AUD 67.60
0.500 12/19/17 EUR 68.00
5.000 07/07/20 EUR 76.11
5.000 07/29/20 EUR 77.21
6.000 07/21/25 EUR 73.94
5.000 09/01/25 EUR 76.13
5.000 08/10/30 EUR 70.94
Landeskreditbank Baden-
Wuerttemberg Foerderbk 0.500 05/10/27 CDN 43.93
ICELAND
-------
Kaupthing Bank 6.500 02/03/45 EUR 71.43
IRELAND
-------
Depfa ACS Bank 0.500 03/03/25 CDN 48.03
0.250 07/08/33 CDN 26.49
Irish Perm Plc 6.125 02/15/35 EUR 70.03
Magnolia Finance IV Plc 1.050 12/20/45 US$ 25.42
LUXEMBOURG
----------
Parmalat Soparfi S.A. 6.125 05/23/32 EUR 43.83
Teksid Aluminum S.A. 12.375 07/15/11 EUR 62.29
NETHERLANDS
-----------
BK Ned Gemeenten 0.500 06/27/18 CDN 62.95
0.500 02/24/25 CDN 48.07
EM.TV Finance B.V. 5.250 05/08/13 EUR 5.71
Gerling Global
Rentefonds 6.625 08/16/21 EUR 59.60
Lehman Bros TSY B.V. 8.250 03/16/35 EUR 70.63
Ned Waterschapbk 6.500 08/15/35 EUR 72.95
Nib Capital Bank N.V. 7.000 02/21/40 EUR 64.04
Parmalat Finance BV 5.500 03/30/09 EUR 27.98
Rabobank Groep N.V. 6.000 02/22/35 EUR 76.20
8.000 02/23/35 EUR 67.17
5.000 02/28/35 EUR 77.16
7.000 03/23/35 EUR 72.82
6.000 06/30/45 EUR 73.60
NORWAY
------
Kommunalbanken A.S. 0.500 02/07/13 AUD 70.24
SWEDEN
------
AB Svensk Export 0.500 03/27/13 AUD 70.50
UNITED KINGDOM
--------------
Anglian Water
Finance Plc 2.400 04/20/35 GBP 56.91
1.678 07/03/56 GBP 36.26
National Grid Gas Plc 2.228 06/28/35 GBP 56.91
1.754 10/17/36 GBP 49.50
1.771 03/30/37 GBP 49.54
Royal BK Scotland Plc 0.250 03/27/14 US$ 71.07
9.500 04/04/25 US$ 74.15
7.000 06/09/25 EUR 73.17
7.000 06/29/30 EUR 68.49
7.000 02/15/45 US$ 72.50
6.500 02/23/45 EUR 72.83
RSL Communications Plc 10.125 03/01/08 US$ 6.39
TXU Eastern Funding Co. 6.750 05/15/09 US$ 5.44
Wessex Water Finance Plc 1.369 07/31/57 GBP 33.42
*********
Each Tuesday edition of the TCR contains a list of companies
with insolvent balance sheets whose shares trade higher than
US$3 per share in public markets. At first glance, this list
may look like the definitive compilation of stocks that are
ideal to sell short. Don't be fooled. Assets, for example,
reported at historical cost net of depreciation may understate
the true value of a firm's assets. A company may establish
reserves on its balance sheet for liabilities that may never
materialize. The prices at which equity securities trade in
public market are determined by more than a balance sheet
solvency test.
A list of Meetings, Conferences and Seminars appears in each
Thursday's edition of the TCR. Submissions about insolvency-
related conferences are encouraged. Send announcements to
conferences@bankrupt.com/
Each Friday's edition of the TCR includes a review about a book
of interest to troubled company professionals. All titles are
available at your local bookstore or through Amazon.com. Go to
http://www.bankrupt.com/books/to order any title today.
*********
S U B S C R I P T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N
Troubled Company Reporter -- Europe is a daily newsletter co-
published by Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc., Fairless
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Maryland USA. Jazel P. Laureno, Julybien Atadero, Carmel Zamesa
Paderog, Joy Agravante, Zora Jayda Zerrudo Sala, Kristina A.
Godinez, and Pius Xerxes Tovilla, Editors.
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. ISSN 1529-2754.
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