Some Energy Future creditors walk away from talks

According to a filing with U.S. regulators, unsecured bondholders at Energy Future Intermediate Holdings (EFIH), the parent of Energy’s Future’s regulated subsidiary, are no longer engaged in ongoing discussions with the company and other creditors.

EFH’s creditors want to finalize a restructuring plan before Nov. 1, when $250 million in bond payments are due. Filing for bankruptcy before Nov. 1 would suspend the bond payments; but filing without a restructuring plan could entail years of battles and competing restructuring plans in bankruptcy court.

EFH, formerly TXU Corp, was taken private in 2007 in a $45 billion buyout, the largest-ever leveraged buyout. The deal saddled the company with debt just before a sharp decline in natural gas prices and energy markets.

The buyout consortium included private equity firms KKR & Co LP, TPG Capital Management LP and Goldman Sachs Group Inc’s private equity arm.

Michael Erman is a reporter for Reuters News in New York