Berggruen, Karstadt Administrator May Extend Talks To July 30
July 02 2010 - 10:09AM
Dow Jones News
Billionaire investor Nicolas Berggruen has asked Karstadt's
insolvency administrator to extend the deadline for completing
negotiations with Karstadt property owner Highstreet until July 30,
a person familiar with the matter told Dow Jones Newswires
Friday.
A spokesman for Klaus Hubert Goerg, Karstadt's insolvency
administrator, confirmed that Berggruen had sent a letter
requesting the extension and planned to discuss the matter with
Berggruen next week. A spokesman for Berggruen's holding company
confirmed the letter to Goerg, dated July 1.
Berggruen has already secured approval from the majority of
shareholders and lenders in the Highstreet consortium, but doubts
he can meet the deadline with all of its lenders by the current
July 15 deadline, according to the person familiar with the
matter.
Berggruen's request to extend the negotiation period underlines
the ongoing difficulties in closing his deal to acquire insolvent
German retailer Karstadt. Berggruen signed a tentative agreement to
acquire the iconic department store brand last month, but closing
hinges on reaching an agreement with its property owners, including
the Highstreet real estate consortium led by Goldman Sachs Group
Inc.
Berggruen and Highstreet have for weeks haggled over Berggruen's
request to lower rents, share upside in Karstadt's future profits
and restructure Karstadt into separate operating groups under one
parent company.
Although Berggruen has requested the extension, he will only
accept it if Highstreet shows it is willing to reach a deal,
according to the person familiar with the matter.
Highstreet must give notice by July 6 that it will host an
extraordinary shareholders meeting to discusss the outstanding deal
terms, under Berggruen's terms. Berggruen has further demanded that
Highstreet obtains internal approval by July 14 to the terms of the
Karstadt acquisition proposed by Berggruen, according to the
person.
A spokesman for Highstreet wasn't immediately available for
comment.
By William Launder, Dow Jones Newswires; +49(0)6929725515;
william.launder@dowjones.com
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