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Air America restructures under new banner
Chicagotribune ^ | 06/19/04 | John Cook

Posted on 06/21/2004 12:13:28 PM PDT by Pikamax

Air America restructures under new banner

By John Cook Tribune staff reporter Published June 19, 2004

The investors in Air America Radio, the liberal talk radio network that launched in March, are restructuring the company to free it of any obligations incurred by ousted chairman and founding investor Evan Cohen.

The investors, including Highland Park couple Sheldon and Anita Drobny and Air America Chief Executive Doug Kreeger, formed a new corporation, Piquant LLC. They plan to use the new entity to purchase the assets of Air America from Progress Media and RadioFree America, two related companies that own and operate the network.

"We have an asset purchase agreement we've entered into," said Norman Wain, another investor. "Progress Media and RadioFree America are selling all of their assets to Piquant."

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: liberaltalkradio
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1 posted on 06/21/2004 12:13:28 PM PDT by Pikamax
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To: Pikamax
I'm not going to give the Tribune any information, but I take it that this:

restructuring the company to free it of any obligations

means that someone is getting screwed...

Hmmm... I thought liberals were against 'business screwing people'...

2 posted on 06/21/2004 12:15:52 PM PDT by IncPen (Proud member of the Half Vast Right Wing Conspiracy)
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To: IncPen
Hmmm... I thought liberals were against 'business screwing people'...

I thought liberals were in the business OF screwing people (sorry it had to be written).

3 posted on 06/21/2004 12:17:08 PM PDT by rhombus
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To: Pikamax

Hmmm... can you really buy only a company's assets and leave the liabilities behind?

If that's the case, I want to buy GM's assets and not have to bother paying back their loans or accounts payable!


4 posted on 06/21/2004 12:17:41 PM PDT by So Cal Rocket (Fabrizio Quattrocchi: "Adesso vi faccio vedere come muore un italiano")
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To: Pikamax
Another leftist shell game with other people's money.

Just like Big Stupid Government. Currently run by the Republicans. Hmmmmmm . . . . . . .

5 posted on 06/21/2004 12:17:57 PM PDT by Hank Rearden (Refuse to let anyone who could only get a government job tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Pikamax
The investors in Air America Radio, the liberal talk radio network that launched in March, are restructuring the company to free it of any obligations incurred by ousted chairman and founding investor Evan Cohen.

Is this just a nice way of saying they are going to declare bankruptcy?
6 posted on 06/21/2004 12:19:41 PM PDT by PA Engineer (Liberalism is a Hate Crime)
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To: Pikamax

FYI..there was a front page story on the same topic in today's WSJ....sounds like a lot of folks got conned...Franken's contract is for one million...remember all the hoopla when he said he would forgo it, to keep the program going?..it tuirns out he had been stiffed by the owners..FRanken had the choice at the time to quit, or to stay on, and put some spin on it..


7 posted on 06/21/2004 12:19:59 PM PDT by ken5050
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The image “http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2002/06.06/photos/newsart.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.The image “http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~kshining/alferd/images/garrison.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.



Separated at birth?
8 posted on 06/21/2004 12:21:20 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen
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To: So Cal Rocket
can you really buy only a company's assets and leave the liabilities behind?

Yep, you sure can. Those debts still exist, however. Typically the previous business continues to exist for the purpose of relieving those debts and a new business is formed.

I went through this very situation when we sold my debt-laden company. The buyer purchased the assets and we (the partners of the bought company) were left to deal with the debts separately.

10 posted on 06/21/2004 12:22:31 PM PDT by craig_eddy
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To: Pikamax

Over at DU, the Rats are in full on denial mode.

(fingers plugged in ears) "NA NA NA NA...these are lies concocted by ultra-right wing neo-cons! Everything is going smashingly with Air America! We'll be laughing when we dominate talk radio years down the road! NA NA NA NA!"


11 posted on 06/21/2004 12:22:39 PM PDT by ICX (Makin movies, makin songs, and fightin' round the world!)
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To: BurbankKarl; Pikamax

Thanks, Karl...FYI PIkamax.."ask and ye shall receivea"


12 posted on 06/21/2004 12:27:11 PM PDT by ken5050
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To: Pikamax

Yep, typcial leftist approach to business. Lose money, pile up debt, then disappear, only to re-emerge under a new name an a clean credit record. Then start the process over again.


13 posted on 06/21/2004 12:28:23 PM PDT by counterpunch (The CouNTeRPuNcH Collection - www.freepgs.com/counterpunch)
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To: Pikamax
Here's my theory.

Drobny figured out that there was a pent-up demand for liberal radio on the investor side. That is, there are a lot of rich liberals who are being driven up the wall every day by Rush, Fox News, etc., and are looking for a way to "do something about it."

Drobny said to his wife "I think there may be a way here for an honest man to make a dollar."

I don't know the details, of course, but I think what Drobny did was essentially set up a "deal" to fund a liberal alternative radio network with venture capital raised from such rich liberals. He kept most of the money, and "sold the idea" to someone else, who proceeded to run it into the ground.

Now Drobny is arranging to do it all over again with a second round of rich liberal (uh) investors.

(steely)

14 posted on 06/21/2004 12:30:12 PM PDT by Steely Tom
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To: ICX
I happen to agree with Neal Boortz, who said that the left wingers should have their own radio station. However, Air America is not it - the hosts are terrible, the programming is flat, and it's just plain dull.

If this was a serious liberal station, they would have at least gotten Alan Colmes.

Regards, Ivan

15 posted on 06/21/2004 12:31:56 PM PDT by MadIvan (Ronald Reagan - proof positive that one man can indeed change the world.)
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To: Pikamax
formed a new corporation, Piquant LLC

Sounds like they're being revamped as a porn company...

16 posted on 06/21/2004 12:31:57 PM PDT by DonaldDuke
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To: MadIvan

I'm all for the liberals having their own radio station, too. It's much easier to expose the fallacies of their arguments when idiots like Randi Rhodes are getting significant airtime. However, a liberal radio station just isn't viable in the real world. Talk radio is dominated by conservative voices because of consumer demand - conservative radio sells, liberal radio doesn't. Financing fiascoes aside, Air America doesn't have a shot because there's just no market for it. If somebody wants liberal news, they just have to buy the NY Times or flip on CNN.


17 posted on 06/21/2004 12:34:56 PM PDT by ICX (Makin movies, makin songs, and fightin' round the world!)
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To: Steely Tom

Whst is disturbing is that that makes a kind of sense.


18 posted on 06/21/2004 12:35:29 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy ("Despise not the jester. Often he is the only one speaking the truth")
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To: ICX

Oh brother...

Can't the media tell the truth here? 'Reorganization to remove debt load' has another name - Chapter 11, of the Bankruptcy Code.

If it were a conservative media outlet, the papers would be trumpetting 'Conservatives Declare Chapter 11'.


19 posted on 06/21/2004 12:38:52 PM PDT by Lightfinger
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To: So Cal Rocket
can you really buy only a company's assets and leave the liabilities behind?

Most assuredly you can. However, if the company's creditors can force it into involuntary bankruptcy within 90 days of the sale, the judge can over turn the sale under the doctrine of fraudulent conveyance.

20 posted on 06/21/2004 12:39:51 PM PDT by Maceman (Too nuanced for a bumper sticker)
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To: So Cal Rocket
Hmmm... can you really buy only a company's assets and leave the liabilities behind?

Yes and no. Since this appears to be a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation, the transaction constitutes a "bulk sale" under Article 5 of the Uniform Commercial Code and as result, the buyer/seller will have to give notice to creditors so they can grab onto the proceeds of the sale. Failure to give creditors notice of the bulk sale could result in a transfer of the liabilities to the buyer. The sale could also constitute a fraudulent conveyance, depending upon how it is structured, which could also result in the buyer being responsibe for the debt up to the value of the property transferred.

21 posted on 06/21/2004 12:40:03 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: Steely Tom

Mel Brooks should make a movie about this!


22 posted on 06/21/2004 12:40:26 PM PDT by So Cal Rocket (Fabrizio Quattrocchi: "Adesso vi faccio vedere come muore un italiano")
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To: BurbankKarl
"It was a fun party, until I knew I was paying for it," says Bob Visotcky Typical Liberal... would only attend the function if it was on someone elses tab....
23 posted on 06/21/2004 12:41:22 PM PDT by fhlh ("Work Harder.... Millions of people on welfare are counting on you!!!")
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To: Pikamax

Nice way of saying they went belly up and are liquidating whatever assets are left.


24 posted on 06/21/2004 12:43:57 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: craig_eddy
Actually if done right it can be a good thing. However, if your intentions are to screw the creditor and they were dumb enough to lend money without conditions......? Somebody could get screwed and probably will.

I also had s similar experience. But none of the parties had any intent but to have a new beginning
25 posted on 06/21/2004 12:44:07 PM PDT by WHBates
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To: Pikamax

PIQUANT: Dictionary Entry and Meaning

Pronunciation:   'peekunt

Matching Terms:   piquance, piquancy, piquantly

WordNet Dictionary
 
  Definition:  
  1. [adj]  attracting or delighting; "an engaging frankness"; "a piquant face with large appealing eyes"
  2. [adj]  engagingly stimulating or provocative; "a piquant wit"; "salty language"
  3. [adj]  having an agreeably pungent taste
 
  Synonyms:   attractive, engaging, salty, savory, savoury, spicy, stimulating, tasteful, zesty
 

26 posted on 06/21/2004 12:48:26 PM PDT by VRWC_minion
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To: Pikamax

French = Piquant
English = Pissant

As in, "Welcome to Pissant radio! We're sassy and insignificant!


27 posted on 06/21/2004 12:49:38 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Pikamax

It's still going bankrupt. There may have been mismanagement but in the end it's the complete lack of interest that did it in. Liberals live in a fantasy world where they think everyone wants to hear what they have to say.


28 posted on 06/21/2004 12:50:48 PM PDT by Casloy
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To: BurbankKarl
Mr. Cohen told Mr. Walsh and others that he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2001 only to make a miraculous recovery that spurred him to devote his life to liberal causes.

Further proof that liberalism is merely another symptom of a serious brain malfunction.

29 posted on 06/21/2004 12:55:07 PM PDT by Flatus I. Maximus (Get 'em by the b@lls and their hearts and minds will follow.)
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To: Pikamax
Dead Airmerica is the Enron of Radio!

Pray for W and Our Awesome Troops

30 posted on 06/21/2004 1:02:03 PM PDT by bray (Let's win one more for the Gipper)
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To: Pikamax
...are restructuring the company to free it of any obligations incurred...

Is this how the liberal media describes impending bankruptcy(financial) for a liberal media member?

31 posted on 06/21/2004 1:05:08 PM PDT by conservonator (Blank by popular demand)
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To: Pikamax

I hear their real financial problem is Franken's deli tab.


32 posted on 06/21/2004 1:13:40 PM PDT by Spok
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To: Casloy

This has got to be a scam!

Just what ASSETS does this company have to sell?

It doesn't manufacture any product, so there's no inventory. Sounds like it rents/leases all of it's space, thus no buildings or related capital assets.

For a company that's only been around a very short time and can't pay it's bills there can't be many assets.

Except for studio equipment, office items (desks, computers, copiers, etc.) they don't have much in the way of assets.


33 posted on 06/21/2004 1:18:44 PM PDT by Jambe
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To: Pikamax
The purpose of the transaction is twofold: to eliminate Cohen and his partner Rex Sorensen's shares in the company, and to insulate the cash-strapped network from any debt or other obligation that Cohen may have incurred.

Sounds an awful lot like a fraudulent conveyance to hinder or delay creditors to me.

34 posted on 06/21/2004 1:20:46 PM PDT by kennedy
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To: Pikamax
The investors, including Highland Park couple Sheldon and Anita Drobny and Air America Chief Executive Doug Kreeger, formed a new corporation, Piquant LLC. They plan to use the new entity to purchase the assets of Air America from Progress Media and RadioFree America, two related companies that own and operate the network.

Look for the new book by the Drobny's and Mr. Kreeger How to Pi$$ Away Perfectly Good Money at Amazon now!

35 posted on 06/21/2004 1:21:05 PM PDT by Space Wrangler
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To: IncPen

They're probably just screwing another corporation, so that's OK in their book.


36 posted on 06/21/2004 1:22:01 PM PDT by AmericanChef
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To: IncPen
I thought liberals were against 'business screwing people'

You're close. They're against it as long as they're not in on the action.

37 posted on 06/21/2004 1:24:12 PM PDT by FourPeas
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To: Steely Tom

Bingo.


38 posted on 06/21/2004 1:24:58 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: PA Engineer

You got it--their insolvent-- at least until they run and hide from creditors.


39 posted on 06/21/2004 1:27:07 PM PDT by rod1 (On the front line)
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To: Pikamax
Messrs. Cohen and Sorensen were meanwhile raising money for their programming arm. They told potential backers they would put $12 million of their own money in the venture, according to two investors and Messrs. Walsh and Saade, who attended many pitches. Messrs. Cohen and Sorensen also told investors and employees they had raised $18 million from individual donors, these people say.

Norman Wain, a Cleveland radio entrepreneur, says Mr. Cohen told him that Air America already had $30 million in the bank. Mr. Wain says he was told that his contribution would not be used until a separate round of financing was completed.

Messrs. Walsh and Saade say Mr. Cohen told them that TV producer Norman Lear had given Air America $2 million and pledged another $2 million. They also say Mr. Cohen told them that Laurie David, wife of comedian Larry David, had invested $2 million and pledged another $4 million.

Buoyed by the good news, Mr. Walsh told reporters on a March 11 conference call that the network was "well on our way" to raising "upward of $30 million" by its planned March 31 launch.

In fact, Mr. Lear and Ms. David were approached by Mr. Cohen but didn't invest, their spokespeople say. The amount raised totaled only $6 million, Mr. Cohen and Air America executives agree.

Unleash the plaintiffs' lawyers! Let the securities fraud lawsuits begin!

40 posted on 06/21/2004 1:29:11 PM PDT by kennedy
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To: Flatus I. Maximus

Yep, they must not have gotten all of the tumor.


41 posted on 06/21/2004 1:31:00 PM PDT by oblomov
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To: IncPen

Another word for bankruptcy ?


42 posted on 06/21/2004 1:36:34 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (STAGMIRE !)
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To: PA Engineer
Is this just a nice way of saying they are going to declare bankruptcy?

exactly my sentiment in reading the first paragraph - you can't restructure without first declaring bankruptcy.

43 posted on 06/21/2004 1:39:04 PM PDT by Steven W.
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Another word for bankruptcy ?

Another word for fraudulent transfer.

44 posted on 06/21/2004 1:42:41 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: BartMan1; Nailbiter

... post 14 ...


45 posted on 06/21/2004 1:48:57 PM PDT by IncPen (Proud member of the Half Vast Right Wing Conspiracy)
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To: Pikamax
Isn't Piquant the doomed ship from Moby Dick?
46 posted on 06/21/2004 1:51:43 PM PDT by Pietro
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To: Pikamax
The issue was blogged by a law professor earlier today. It seems some question of fraud may be involved.

Professor Bainbridge on Air America

47 posted on 06/21/2004 1:57:33 PM PDT by beckett
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To: Pikamax
My fault, the ship in Moby Dick is the Pequod

nevermind

48 posted on 06/21/2004 2:04:31 PM PDT by Pietro
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To: beckett

A new banner? Hmmmm. I think that the Hammer and Sickle became available in 1989.

Thanks, President Reagan.


49 posted on 06/21/2004 2:06:38 PM PDT by IGOTMINE ("By God, I pity those poor bastards we're going up against. By God I do.")
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To: Pikamax
The investors, including Highland Park couple Sheldon and Anita Drobny and Air America Chief Executive Doug Kreeger

Suckers.

Wouldn't it be easier to just open your window and throw your cash out? Obviously these dunderheads are too stupid to realize that liberal talk radio won't work, no matter how much money you throw at it.
50 posted on 06/21/2004 2:18:42 PM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Liberalism is the end result of too many people peeing in the gene pool.)
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