Old News ... But Still Catching Up: NYT Business Deal Of The Year

The New York Times sells The Boston Globe -- > 90% loss.

Breitbart is reporting:

After purchasing the Boston Globe in 1993 for a then-record $1.1 billion, the financially troubled New York Times just announced it sold the 141 year-old paper to Boston Red Sox owner John Henry for a mere $70 million. That's a straight 93% loss. 

But the details of the deal suggests things are worse than the headline suggests. The Times had to swallow pension liabilities now estimated at over $100 million. Is The Times too big to fail?

Figuring in two decades of inflation would only make it worse -- as does the fact the Times retains the Globe's pension liabilities, estimated at over $100 million.

The Times announced in February that it was putting the : up for sale. News reports claimed that bids had been as high as $100 million. What might have sweetened the lower offer for the Times is that Henry offered a straight cash deal, which is expected to close sometime in September or October. 

Considering all the free business advice The Times has provided over the year, it certainly seems they really weren't all that astute. Today it's announced they sold it for $70 million in an improving economy; two years ago they turned down 3x that much when the economy was in even worse shape.

In 2011, the Times turned down a $300 million offer from Aaron Kushner, CEO of Freedom Communications, Inc., publisher of the Orange County Register and other newspapers in California. This offer even included the assumption of pension liabilities, which are currently estimated at $110 million.

The Times itself reports that today's sale to Henry does not include pension liabilities. Apparently, those remain a Times' responsibility and expense. 

Wow.

However, one can understand why the most liberal newspaper in America would not sell to the most conservative newspaper in the world.