Reader's Digest administrator reports 'significant interest' in UK business

The administrator for the UK arm of Reader's Digest said there has been "significant interest" from potential suitors for the business, but would not be drawn on when a possible deal could be completed.

Around 117 jobs were put on the line when the UK arm of the publishing company filed for administration last month (17 February).

However, the April issue of the company's eponymous magazine is still scheduled to be published, and sales and campaigns are being put in place for the May issue.

Philip Sykes, administrator at Moore Stephens, said: "While we are reasonably optimistic, it is difficult to predict a timescale, but negotiations with interested parties have begun."

The collapse of the UK operation came as a deal to help bail out its £125m pension deficit fell through – an issue that the Reader's Digest Association (RDA) blamed on the UK Pensions Regulator.

The business had previously reached an agreement with the trustees of the fund to pay £10.9m in cash and one third of its shares to fill the deficit and transfer the scheme to the Pensions Protection Fund. However, this deal was rejected by the UK Pensions Regulator.

Speaking last month, Mary Berner, president and chief executive of the Reader's Digest Association, said: "Without this expected relief, and given the very significant outstanding liabilities, RDA UK is essentially insolvent."

As a result of the UK administration, the RDA, which filed for Chapter 11 in August 2009, has now emerged from bankruptcy protection after reducing its debt by 75%.