Cablevision Executive:MSG Could Handle $300 Million-$400 Million Credit Facility
September 09 2009 - 6:45PM
Dow Jones News
DOW JONES (New York)--Gregg Siebert, executive vice president of
Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC), said Wednesday that MSG could
support a revolving credit facility of $300 million to $400 million
after it's spun off from the cable giant.
Beyond a possible revolving credit facility, Siebert signaled at
an investor conference in Marina del Rey, Calif., that MSG wasn't
likely to take on any more of Cablevision's debt load.
The potential for the MSG unit - which includes Madison Square
Garden, the New York Knicks and Rangers sports teams, and other
entertainment properties - to shoulder some of Cablevision's heavy
debt load has been a hot topic for investors since the company
announced its spin-off plan.
Siebert said he expects MSG to have more than $250 million worth
of "liquidity, for lack of a better term," on its balance sheet,
which includes a $190 million payment it expects to receive from
its parent.
That cash, in addition to a credit facility, he said, would be
enough to finance plans for the renovation of Madison Square
Garden, which is expected to cost more than $500 million.
Cablevision Chief Executive James Dolan said he didn't expect
any major changes at Cablevision or MSG after the spin-off since
both businesses already have a capable management team in
place.
Siebert said the company plans to present more details about the
MSG spin-off, which it expects to complete around the end of this
year, after it receives the necessary regulatory approvals.
Dolan said the renovation of MSG will set the stage for higher
revenue growth at the business. He said the company is comfortable
with its ownership of Rainbow Networks, its cable networks division
that has been a source of sale speculation in the past.
He also said Newsday, which the company acquired last year for
$650 million, would be "the one and only newspaper that we will
ever look at."
-By Nat Worden, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2472;
nat.worden@dowjones.com