Hedge fund Chatham's bid wins auction for Miami Herald publisher McClatchy

[July 13, 2020]  (Reuters) - Hedge fund Chatham Asset Management's bid succeeded in a court-supervised auction for bankrupt news publisher McClatchy Co <MNIQQ.PK>, the news company said on Sunday.

A copy of the Miami Herald is shown on a supermarket rack in Doral, Florida, U.S., March 18, 2019. Picture taken March 18, 2019. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

The Miami Herald publisher said Chatham's proposed deal, which needs a court confirmation and other regulatory approvals, would help it exit Chapter 11 protection in the third quarter.

McClatchy had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, burdened by heavy debt it took on when it bought newspaper chain Knight Ridder in 2006 and large pension obligations that eat into its profits.

It began soliciting proposals for the company in April and received offers from Chatham and Brigade Capital Management, both holders of the company's debt.

The Sacramento, California-based publisher said it would contribute about $1.4 billion in pension assets to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation fund and expects it to assume the company's qualified pension plan.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

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