Sino-Forest Files Bankruptcy, Sues Muddy Waters for $4B
Updated with added data and commentary throughout.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) --Sino-Forest(SNOFF) will file for bankruptcy and said that it has reached an agreement with a committee of bondholders for a sale of the company, or a restructuring that would put the company's assets in the hands of its creditors.
The Chinese forestry giant once traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange said that allegations of fraudulent accounting practices of its timber assets by hedge fund Muddy Waters Research were "defamatory." After those allegations surfaced in 2011, Sino-Forest shares plummeted, amid internal and regulatory investigations into the company's finances.
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Friday's bankruptcy plan signals that Sino-Forest will continue to actively fight fraud claims, as investors take control of the company and look for the least loss-making exit.
As Sino-Forest pursues third party sale efforts or a transfer of its assets to investors in bankruptcy courts, the company will also look to litigate claims of defamation on its collapse. Sino-Forest said that it is seeking damages of $4 billion from Muddy Waters and its head Carson Block, in addition to the recovery of profits that the investment firm made in shorting the company's shares.
"This is yet another indication of what we have said all along, that Sino-Forest's management has committed a massive fraud and has deceived its shareholders and creditors," Muddy Waters said in a statement. "If the company were really generating close to $2 billion in operating cash flow, it would not have had to file for a court supervised restructuring with its creditors."
"We believe the full value of our assets will only be achieved if we are able to continue operating the business, and repair and preserve relationships with our customers and suppliers...