Caraustar Industries exits bankruptcy

ATLANTA — Caraustar Industries Inc., which makes paperboard, said Friday it eliminated about $135 million in debt and has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection as a private entity.

Shares of stock in Caraustar, which continued to operate during its 82 days in bankruptcy, will be retired and previous shareholders will receive a pro rata share of $2.9 million.

The company’s 7 3/8 percent and 7 1/4 percent senior notes were exchanged for $85 million in new senior secured notes and 100 percent of the common stock of the reorganized company.

“Caraustar has closed on a new $75 million revolving credit facility with General Electric Capital Corp., which provides Caraustar with more than adequate liquidity to meet all of its working capital needs, including any future capital investments,” the Atlanta company said.

Caraustar, whose stock ticker used to be “CSAR,” has not drawn on its new facility.