iHeartMedia, Inc. won its lawsuit blocking notices of default from several of its creditors. The verdict on Tuesday from state District Judge Cathleen Stryker permanently blocks bondholders unhappy over a recent transfer of assets within the radio, billboard and digital company from filing default notices against the company in connection with the transfer.
iHeartMedia, Inc. is the parent company of Clear Channel Outdoor.
The legal dispute involved a Dec. 3, 2015 transfer of 100 million shares of iHeartMedia’s billboard subsidiary Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. to another subsidiary for the purpose of issuing new debt to buy back expiring debt. IHeartMedia had $20.75 billion in debt as of March 31. The Dec. 3 share transfer upset existing bondholders because, they said, the action moved collateral for their bonds out of their control.
The bondholders had threatened default notices against iHeartMedia earlier in the year, and several notices were filed March 7, but those were rescinded March 9 under a temporary restraining order pending the trial.
IHeartMedia contended during the trial that the rules for its earlier bond sales allowed the company to make the Dec. 3 transfer.
mySA reports that iHeartMedia is now attempting to buy back existing debt, which is trading on the secondary market at a discount, to save money on future interest payments. The debt buybacks will improve the firm’s financial position, the company’s lawyers said during the trial.
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