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Blockbuster weighs refinancing woes

Marketplace Staff Mar 19, 2009
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Blockbuster weighs refinancing woes

Marketplace Staff Mar 19, 2009
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TEXT OF STORY

Renita Jablonski: Blockbuster is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings this afternoon. The company’s dealing with a lot of debt and there’s been talk recently of a possible bankruptcy filing.
Amanda Aronczyk has more.


Amanda Aronczyk: All of Blockbuster’s bonds and loans add up to about $850 million.

Chris Donnelly at Standard & Poor’s LCD says they have to refinance a chunk of that by August:

Chris Donnelly: What’s most pressing is a $350 million revolving credit — a corporation’s credit card if you will. Blockbuster is going to face tremendous sticker shock. They’re going to have to pay a lot to borrow.

With lending rates still painfully high, Blockbuster’s refinancing worries are distracting shareholders.

Arvind Bhatia tracks digital entertainment for Sterne, Agee and Leach. He doesn’t think Blockbuster’s facing bankruptcy.

Arvind Bhatia: Rumors of their death are perhaps exaggerated. If you think about it, this is a pretty good cash flow business.

He says the company’s done a good job of diversifying into video games and online movie delivery. Blockbuster has got a serious competitor in Netflix, but recent earnings have been relatively good. And, Bhatia says, more people are staying home and watching movies these days.

I’m Amanda Aronczyk for Marketplace.

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