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Aegean Chapter 11: Bondholders object Mercuria’s $532 million DIP Facility

‘It is an insider transaction designed solely to benefit Mercuria and is not in the best interests of the Debtors’ estates.’

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An Ad Hoc Group of bondholders with investments in troubled New York-listed bunkering firm Aegean Marine Petroleum Network (Aegean, or, Debtors) on Thursday filed an objection at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court over a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility offered by Mercuria to bail out Aegean.

“The Mercuria DIP Facility should not be approved because it is an insider transaction designed solely to benefit Mercuria and is not in the best interests of the Debtors’ estates,” they alleged in a court document seen by Manifold Times.

“Mercuria’s onerous insider DIP financing facility which, among other things, is designed to syphon value from the Debtors’ unsecured creditors for Mercuria’s benefit and facilitate Mercuria’s acquisition of all of the Debtors’ assets via an insider credit bid under Bankruptcy Code section 363.”

Mercuria has earlier agreed to provide more than $532 million in postpetition financing to fund the chapter 11 process and Aegean’s working capital needs. 

“Nominally, the Mercuria DIP Facility provides the Debtors with approximately $532 million in DIP financing,” claims the Ad Hoc Group.

“In reality, however, Mercuria will provide the Debtors with, at most, only an incremental $152 million of financing through revolving postpetition credit facilities and a new delayed draw term loan. The remaining $380 million of “DIP financing” is in the form of a roll up of Mercuria’s prepetition debt.

“Mercuria seeks to implement this roll up in an accelerated manner, with 50% of Mercuria’s prepetition debt to be rolled up automatically upon interim approval of the Mercuria DIP Facility and the remaining 50% of Mercuria’s prepetition debt to be transformed into postpetition debt through a ‘creeping roll up’ as prepetition receivables are collected during the early stages of these chapter 11 cases.

“If approved, the roll up would not only convert all of Mercuria’s prepetition debt into superpriority administrative expense claims, it would provide Mercuria with substantial credit enhancement.”

The group further alleges the Mercuria DIP Facility, and the path proposed by Mercuria in Aegean’s chapter 11 cases, “is a prime example of an insider transaction that should be subjected to heightened scrutiny to ensure a value-maximizing reorganization for all of the Debtors’ stakeholders.”

“Yet, since Mercuria entered into the MOU with the Debtors, Mercuria has sought to execute on its self-serving loan-to-own scheme.”

The Ad Hoc Group explained it had delivered a term sheet on July 6, 2018 to Aegean to provide up to $50 million in secured financing to address the November 1 maturity of the 2018 Notes.

However, Mercuria entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Aegean a day before on July 5, 2018 for a US$1 billion trade finance facility.

“From that point forward, Mercuria improperly exercised control of the Debtors to block any meaningful negotiation with other potential financing parties, refusing to consider restructuring proposals that would have avoided the need for the commencement of these cases,” they say.

“The MOU that was executed between Mercuria and the Debtors on July 4, 2018 was an overreaching agreement representing the first step in Mercuria’s scheme to take control of the Debtors.

“Pursuant to the MOU, Mercuria agreed to acquire the Debtors’ U.S. and global revolving credit facilities and, upon acquisition of the facilities, Mercuria would receive 30% of the Debtors’ common stock and the right to appoint a representative to the Debtors’ board of directors.

“From this initial agreement with Mercuria, it was clear that Mercuria was not interested in a traditional lender-borrower relationship but, rather, desired to—and started acting like—a controlling stakeholder of the Debtors.”

A timeline organised list of events preceding the current development have been recorded by Manifold Times below:

Related: Aegean Chapter 11: Creditor list shows exposure of 30 parties
RelatedAegean files for Chapter 11, Mercuria to be ‘stalking horse bidder’
RelatedAegean auditors alleges up to $300 million ‘misappropriated’
RelatedAegean: Forensic auditors target investigations on four companies
RelatedPresident of Aegean to leave, effective November 15
RelatedRumours: Alleged changes at Aegean’s management
RelatedMercuria starts ‘sole lender’ arrangement with Aegean
RelatedAegean establishes new management committee
RelatedMercuria bails Aegean out with $1 billion credit
RelatedOcean Intelligence comments on Aegean credit downgrade
RelatedAegean shares down 71%, to face legal investigations
RelatedAegean audit uncovers $200 million account discrepancy
RelatedAegean unfolds several business developments
RelatedAegean drops founder, elects new board members
RelatedAegean requests for ‘additional time’ to file annual report
RelatedAegean welcomes new Chief Financial Officer
RelatedLawsuit filed against Aegean’s H.E.C. acquisition
RelatedAegean to offer ‘one-stop-shop solution’ with H.E.C. acquisition
RelatedAegean in $367 million acquisition of port reception facilities services group
RelatedAegean shareholders ‘gravely concerned’ over board’s silence
RelatedShareholders nominate ‘highly qualified’ candidates to Aegean board
RelatedAegean Marine Petroleum Network under shareholder pressure

Published: 9 November, 2018
 

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China: Chimbusco and BJEC enter green methanol cooperation agreement

Document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

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Chimbusco x BJEC MT

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd. (Chimbusco) and POWERCHINA Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited (BJEC) on Thursday (3 July) formally entered into a green methanol strategic cooperation framework agreement.

The document was signed between Ding Lihai, deputy general manager of Chimbusco, and Li Jianjun, deputy general manager of BJEC.

BJEC, a subsidiary of China Power Engineering Group, is experienced in the survey, design, construction and technology research and development of large-scale renewable energy projects.

Moving forward, the two parties said they will respectively focus on their core advantages and work together to promote the production, supply, storage and refuelling of green methanol as an energy source to help support the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.

Ding Lihai said: “The shipping industry is one of the important sources of global carbon emissions. Promoting low-carbon fuel is the key to the transformation of the industry. As the main force in the supply of bunker fuel, Chimbusco has been committed to expanding its clean fuel supply capacity. The cooperation with BJEC will integrate the advantages of green energy development and fuel supply, accelerate the large-scale application of green methanol, and meet the needs of shipping companies for clean fuel. We look forward to providing effective solutions for the green transformation of the shipping industry through the joint efforts of both parties.”

Li Jianjun said: “Implementing the ‘dual carbon’ goal is an important responsibility of enterprises. BJEC has accumulated strong technical strength in the field of green energy. This cooperation with Chimbusco will focus on the entire industrial chain of green methanol, from raw materials, production to supply, to provide clean and sustainable fuel solutions for the shipping industry. The complementary advantages of both parties will promote the rapid development of the green methanol industry and inject strong impetus into the low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.”

 

Photo credit: China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co.,Ltd.
Published: 8 July 2025

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Towngas and Royal Vopak collaborate to expand green methanol supply chain network

‘Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said its Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

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Towngas x Royal Vopak MT

Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and Vopak China Management Co., Ltd. (Royal Vopak) on Tuesday (8 July) said both recently signed a strategic framework cooperation agreement to collaborate in areas such as green methanol production, storage, bunkering, and trading etc.

Focusing on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Asia-Pacific markets, both parties are joining forces to expand an efficient green methanol supply chain network and support the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.

The two parties will capitalise on their respective strengths to expand the supply network of green methanol.

Towngas employs proprietary technology to convert agricultural and forestry waste as well as scrap tyres into green methanol, and has obtained multiple international certifications and provides a sufficient supply of green methanol for maritime fuel bunkering.

Royal Vopak provides green methanol storage and terminal services with its comprehensive storage and terminal infrastructure and coastal port network advantages.

Together, the two parties will achieve efficient resource allocation and ship green methanol to the Greater Bay Area, East China, South China, and the broader Asia-Pacific markets, further expanding the green methanol supply chain network.

Towngas and Royal Vopak will further develop multiple areas of regional cooperation, including in the Greater Bay Area. By leveraging the strengths of the ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, the partnership will focus on “production and storage synergy” as its core to strengthen cooperation around logistics and terminal facility construction, and to build an integrated green methanol storage and transportation network.

In East China, the two parties will centre their collaboration in Shanghai and Ningbo, two major international ports, to further strengthen cooperation in logistics storage and bunkering facility construction to meet the growing demand for green fuels at both ports.

In the Bohai Bay region, with Tianjin as the strategic hub, Towngas will transport green methanol produced at its northern China production base to Royal Vopak’s local storage tank farm, then achieve resource allocation through the Royal Vopak’s distribution network, supporting the supply of green methanol from northern China to the national and Asia-Pacific markets.

The two parties will also target key export markets, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, to accelerate overseas expansion and boost the market competitiveness of clean energy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said Sham Man-fai, Towngas Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

“It was completed with the support of Royal Vopak’s Tianjin storage tank farm facilities, laying a solid foundation for this partnership.

“Towngas’s Inner Mongolia green methanol plant is set to increase its annual capacity from 100,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes by the end of this year, with plans to further expand to 300,000 tonnes by 2028. Together with Royal Vopak’s storage and terminal services infrastructure and coastal port network, the two parties will build a comprehensive green methanol supply chain network.”

 

Photo credit: Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Published: 8 July 2025

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SEKAVIN starts new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay

Operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E.

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SEKAVIN BARGE

Piraeus-based bunkering firm SEKAVIN on Monday (7 July) said it has recently started new physical supply operations in the port of Istanbul and Izmit Bay.

The operation is supported by three marine refuelling barges; namely Tarabya-E, Beykoz- E, and Kalamis-E. The bunkering vessels have successfully completed numerous deliveries to seagoing vessels.

According to SEKAVIN, Istanbul represents one of the world’s most strategic and challenging maritime environments. The country sees more than 43,000 annual Bosphorus passages and delivers roughly 2 million metric tons per year in bunkers to receiving ships.

In a statement to Manifold Times, John Tsogas, Global Head of Bunkering at SEKAVIN, noted his company intends to offer partners “a very reliable and flexible service” covering the Northeast Med with Istanbul.

The development is in combination with the bunkering firm’s current physical operations in Syros port, together with their traditional Piraeus physical operations which have been carried out for almost 50 years.

Related: SEKAVIN and GCL to strengthen marine fuel supply and logistics in key bunkering hubs

 

Photo credit: SEKAVIN
Published: 8 July 2025

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