-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WrGPxWgZvgz3KxotCTG54zFg0BY0Vrp7BYJk9DLTUY2XoilsePvBw48D1xRAfdDx yqzsyPnluTDpq4gGjMCg7w== 0001199073-05-000661.txt : 20051118 0001199073-05-000661.hdr.sgml : 20051118 20051118155550 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001199073-05-000661 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 6-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20051118 FILED AS OF DATE: 20051118 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20051118 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HOLLINGER INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000911707 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711] IRS NUMBER: 135691211 STATE OF INCORPORATION: A6 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 6-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-22346 FILM NUMBER: 051215320 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10 TORONTO ST STREET 2: TORONTO CITY: ONTARIO CANADA STATE: A6 ZIP: 00000 BUSINESS PHONE: 4163638721 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 10 TORONTO ST STREET 2: TORONTO CITY: ONTARIO CANADA STATE: A6 ZIP: 00000 6-K 1 holl11805.htm HOLLINGER FORM 6-K asd

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 6-K
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the month of  November 2005
 
Commission File Number: 0 - 22346
 
HOLLINGER INC.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
10 Toronto Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 2B7
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.  Form 20-F þ Form 40-F ¨
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
 
  Yes  ¨
  No  þ
                 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
         
  Yes  ¨
  No  þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule
12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
  Yes ¨
  No  þ
 
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
 
EXHIBIT LIST:
99.1
 

Press release, dated November 18, 2005, regarding Status Update.
 
 
SIGNATURES:
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
     
 
HOLLINGER INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: November 18, 2005 By:   /s/ Randall C. Benson
 
Randall C. Benson
 
Chief Restructuring Officer
EX-99.1 2 ex99_1.htm PRESS RELEASE, DATED NOVEMBER 18, 2005, REGARDING STATUS UPDATE. Press release, dated November 18, 2005, regarding Status Update.

 
HOLLINGER INC.
 
STATUS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2005
 

 
TORONTO, Ontario, November 18, 2005 -- Hollinger Inc. ("Hollinger") (TSX: HLG.C; HLG.PR.B) provides the following update in accordance with the guidelines pursuant to which the June 1, 2004 management and insider cease trade order, as amended, was issued. These guidelines contemplate that Hollinger will provide bi-weekly updates on its affairs until such time as it is current with its filing obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws. Reference should be made to Status Update Reports and other press releases that have been previously filed by Hollinger and which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
 
Recent Events
 
On November 17, 2005, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (“the US attorney”) returned an indictment for fraud against Conrad (Lord) Black, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hollinger and Hollinger International Inc., John Boultbee, the former Chief Financial Officer of the two companies, and Peter Atkinson, former general counsel for Hollinger and Executive Vice President of Hollinger International. The U.S. Attorney also laid additional charges against The Ravelston Corporation Limited (“Ravelston”) and Mark Kipnis, formerly Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Secretary at Hollinger International.
 
On November 14, 2005, Ernst & Young Inc. (the "Inspector") delivered the tenth report of its inspection (the “Inspection”) of certain of Hollinger's related-party transactions to Mr. Justice Campbell of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The report is expected to be made publicly available shortly.
 
On October 27 and November 15, 2005, counsel for several parties including Hollinger attended on a motion for an Order directing the Inspector to deliver to Hollinger the hard drives previously used by certain Hollinger employees. The parties consented to an Order that will result in Hollinger receiving hard copies of all documents from John Boultbee's hard drive (except four documents over which privilege is claimed), and approximately 37 volumes of documents from the hard drives of Conrad (Lord) Black and Joan Maida. There remains a dispute between the parties as to (i) documents that have not been produced from the drives of Mr. Black and Ms Maida, and (ii) the production to Hollinger of the physical hard drives. If these remaining matters are not resolved, a further motion will be scheduled.
 
Financial Statements
 
As previously reported, Hollinger's 2003 and 2004 annual financial statements cannot currently be completed and audited for various reasons.
 
Hollinger has also been unable to file its annual financial statements, Management’s Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 on a timely basis as required by Canadian securities legislation. Hollinger has not filed its interim financial statements for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2004 and March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2005.
 
 
 

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Hollinger has released financial information in the form of an unaudited consolidated balance sheet as at September 30, 2004, together with notes thereto, prepared on an alternative basis (the "Alternative Financial Information"). The Alternative Financial Information, which may be found as part of Hollinger's press release issued on March 4, 2005, was prepared by the management of Hollinger at that time and was not audited or reviewed by Hollinger's auditors.
 
The Audit Committee is considering alternatives to provide additional financial information to the public.
 
Inspection
 
Ernst & Young Inc. is continuing the inspection of certain of Hollinger's related-party transactions pursuant to an Order of Mr. Justice Campbell of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The Inspector has now provided 10 reports regarding its inspection of Hollinger. Through November 14, 2005, the cost to Hollinger of the Inspection (including the costs associated with the Inspector and its legal counsel, as well as Hollinger's legal counsel) is in excess of C$14.1 million.
 
Supplemental Financial Information
 
As of the close of business on November 14, 2005, Hollinger and its subsidiaries (other than Hollinger International and its subsidiaries) had approximately US$58.0 million of cash or cash equivalents on hand, including restricted cash, other than as described separately below. At that date, Hollinger owned, directly or indirectly, 782,923 shares of Class A Common Stock and 14,990,000 shares of Class B Common Stock of Hollinger International. Based on the November 14, 2005, closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock of Hollinger International on the New York Stock Exchange of US$8.91, the market value of Hollinger's direct and indirect holdings in Hollinger International was US$140.5 million. All of Hollinger's direct and indirect interest in the shares of Class A Common Stock of Hollinger International are being held in escrow in support of future retractions of its Series II Preference Shares. All of Hollinger's direct and indirect interest in the shares of Class B Common Stock of Hollinger International are pledged as security in connection with the Notes. In addition to the cash or cash equivalents on hand noted above, Hollinger has previously deposited: (a) approximately C$8.5 million in trust with the law firm of Aird & Berlis LLP, as trustee, in support of Hollinger's indemnification obligations to six former independent directors and two current officers; and (b) approximately US$572.0 thousand in cash with the trustee under the Indenture governing the Senior Notes as collateral in support of the Senior Notes (which cash collateral is also collateral in support of the Second Secured Notes, subject to being applied to satisfy future interest payment obligations on the outstanding Senior Notes).
 
There is currently in excess of US$134.1 million aggregate collateral securing the US$78 million principal amount of the Senior Notes and the US$15 million principal amount of the Second Secured Notes outstanding.
 
 
 

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Ravelston Receivership and CCAA Proceedings
 
On April 20, 2005, Mr. Justice James Farley of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the "Court") issued two orders by which The Ravelston Corporation Limited and Ravelston Management Inc. ("RMI") were: (i) placed in receivership pursuant to the Courts of Justice Act (Ontario) (the "Receivership Order"); and (ii) granted protection pursuant to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (the "CCAA Order"). Pursuant thereto, the Receiver was appointed receiver and manager of all of the property, assets and undertakings of Ravelston and RMI. On May 18, 2005, Mr. Justice Farley further ordered that the Receivership Order and the CCAA Order be extended to include Argus Corporation Limited and five of its subsidiary companies which collectively own, directly or indirectly, 61.8% of the outstanding Retractable Common Shares of Hollinger (collectively such entities, including Ravelston and RMI are referred to as the "Ravelston Entities"). The Court has extended the stay of proceedings against the Ravelston Entities to January 18, 2006.
 
On August 18, 2005, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois returned an indictment (the “Indictment”) against Ravelston and others pursuant to which they have been charged with five counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343, 1346, and 2. Neither Ravelston nor the Receiver on behalf of Ravelston has been served with the Indictment.
 
On October 3, 2005, the Receiver brought a motion seeking certain relief and direction with respect to the Indictment. Specifically, the Receiver requested that the Court grant an Order (the “Indictment Order”) authorizing and directing the Receiver on behalf of Ravelston to voluntarily accept service of the summons to the Indictment and voluntarily appear and enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of Ravelston. The Court granted this relief on October 4, 2005. Counsel for Conrad Black appealed that decision. The Ontario Court of Appeal heard a motion on October 18, 2005 and, on November 10, 2005, denied leave to appeal. Counsel for Conrad Black has indicated his intention to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. A motion by Conrad Black to stay the Indictment Order will be heard by the Court of Appeal on November 22, 2005.
 
The Receiver has brought a motion seeking certain relief with respect to, inter alia, funding, an extension of the Claims Bar Date from December 15, 2005 to February 16, 2006, and an extension of the stay of proceedings to March 17, 2006. That motion is expected to be heard on November 21, 2005.
 
Company Profile
 
Hollinger's principal asset is its approximately 66.8% voting and 17.4% equity interest in Hollinger International, a newspaper publisher with assets which include the Chicago Sun-Times, a large number of community newspapers in the Chicago area, and a portfolio of news media investments. Hollinger also owns a portfolio of commercial real estate in Canada. Further information can be obtained at www.hollingerinc.com.
 
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Media contact:
 
John Lute
Lute & Company
416 929 5883
jlute@luteco.com

 

 

 

 

 

 
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