By Joseph Checkler 
 

A group of well-known luxury resorts owned by hedge-fund manager Paulson & Co. filed a new reorganization plan that would pay several key creditors in full but would leave junior creditors with much lower recovery.

In a Tuesday filing with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, the resort owner, MSR Resort Golf Course LLC, said it plans to pay 100% of the claims of Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International Inc. (MAR), which have managed several of the resorts. Some of the resorts' so-called "mezzanine" lenders will get 100% of their money back, while another tier of those lenders will get between 8% and 68%. Five Mile Capital Partners, which is owed $50 million as the company's junior-most mezzanine lender, is set to get nothing for that claim.

The filing of MSR's plain-language plan to exit bankruptcy, called a disclosure statement, must eventually be approved by a judge and voted on by MSR's creditors.

MSR plans on generating money through an auction of its four remaining properties, which will happen on Nov. 8. Singapore's real-estate investment arm has been named the lead bidder, with an offer of $1.5 billion. The document contains several clauses that give Five Mile the right to object to aspects of the auction, including a $14 million breakup fee that could go to the Singapore entity, GIC Re, if it's outbid. As one of the lenders on MSR's bankruptcy loan, Five Mile is a key creditor in the case.

GIC's offer includes $360 million in debt forgiveness and $1.1 billion in cash. The entity holds mezzanine debt in the resorts and mortgage-backed securities tied to one of the group's mortgage loans.

Paulson and Winthrop Realty Trust put MSR--which encompassed five resorts at the time--into bankruptcy protection in February 2011. Since then, the company has sold its Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami to Donald Trump for $150 million, forged a new management deal for its Grand Wailea resort hotel and spa in Maui, and is trying to negotiate a new management pact for its La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, Calif.

The resorts up for sale at the auction are the Grand Wailea, La Quinta, Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, and the Claremont in Berkeley, Calif.

GIC was involved very early in the case as well, offering $1.48 billion for what was then a group of five properties right after the bankruptcy filing.

(Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review covers news about distressed companies and those under bankruptcy protection. Go to http://dbr.dowjones.com)

Write to Joseph Checkler at joseph.checkler@dowjones.com

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT.WI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. Charts.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT.WI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. Charts.