EIRCOM HAS sought an assurance from Truvo Ireland that it will be able to publish and distribute its telephone directories here from September, after its parent, Truvo USA, filed for bankruptcy protection this week.

A spokesman for Eircom confirmed that it has sought a clarification from Truvo that it will be able to meet the terms of its contract to deliver the white telephone directory to every home and business with a phone line.

“Eircom has asked Truvo Ireland to clarify its position on whether this will have any significant operational impact on the distribution of the 2010 telephone directory,” the spokesman said.

No response had been received by Truvo by the close of business yesterday, he added. Attempts to get a comment from Truvo Ireland yesterday were unsuccessful.

Truvo publishes and distributes the telephone directory for Eircom as part of a seven-year contract that expires in 2013. It also owns and publishes the Golden Pagesand operates an online directory service.

Truvo USA this week filed for Chapter 11 cover in New York, to give it protection from its creditors. The company is owned by funds associated with Apax Partners and Cinven. These private equity funds acquired the former VNU World Directories in 2005 for about €2 billion.

The companies told the court this week their assets were worth €1 billion and it estimated liabilities at about €1.7 billion.

Eircom sold its 65 per cent stake in the Golden Pages to VNU in 2002. It subsequently signed a seven-year contract with Truvo to print and distribute six telephone directories for the different regions around the State.

Eircom is obliged by the regulator to produce a white directory every year. The latest editions are due to be delivered in September and October.

The Golden Pages, meanwhile, is owned by Truvo and operated separately from the telephone directory. About 1.8 million copies are distributed annually.

The latest accounts for Truvo Ireland show it made a profit of €18.1 million on turnover of €73.6 million in 2008.