The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on Friday (9 November) approved the debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility offered by Mercuria Energy Group Limited to fund the chapter 11 process of New York-listed bunkering firm Aegean Marine Petroleum Network (Aegean, or, debtors), despite objection from an Ad Hoc Group of bondholders.
The Ad Hoc Group of bondholders on Thursday (8 November) filed an objection at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court over the DIP financing facility offered by Mercuria to bail out Aegean, alleging the development to be an “insider transaction”.
“The debtors, with the support of Mercuria Asset Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, intend to undertake a robust, 120-day process to market their business as a going concern and otherwise solicit highest or otherwise best offers for the benefit of all parties in interest,” said Aegean on Friday.
As of 6 November, 2018 Aegean’s funded debt obligations totalled approximately $872 million consisting of 12 secured credit facilities and two issuances of unsecured convertible notes; the $532 million Mercuria DIP financing facility will supply a Stalking Horse baseline bid that provides $681 million in value to Aegean’s estates.
The company owns and/or operates a fleet of 57 vessels including 38 owned double hull bunkering tankers at more than 50 ports; it also owns or lease land-based storage facilities consisting of two terminals and more than 1,000,000 cubic meters of storage capacity in the U.S., Morocco, Canary Islands, Germany, and the U.A.E.
Not including delays to the ‘bidding procedure objection deadline’ at an unannounced date, Aegean is targeting to start the bidding procedures hearing process around 4 December 2018 and schedule the sale hearing by 22 February 2019.
A timeline organised list of events preceding the current development have been recorded by Manifold Times below:
Related: Aegean Chapter 11: Bondholders object Mercuria’s $532 million DIP Facility
Related: Aegean Chapter 11: Creditor list shows exposure of 30 parties
Related: Aegean files for Chapter 11, Mercuria to be ‘stalking horse bidder’
Related: Aegean auditors alleges up to $300 million ‘misappropriated’
Related: Aegean: Forensic auditors target investigations on four companies
Related: President of Aegean to leave, effective November 15
Related: Rumours: Alleged changes at Aegean’s management
Related: Mercuria starts ‘sole lender’ arrangement with Aegean
Related: Aegean establishes new management committee
Related: Mercuria bails Aegean out with $1 billion credit
Related: Ocean Intelligence comments on Aegean credit downgrade
Related: Aegean shares down 71%, to face legal investigations
Related: Aegean audit uncovers $200 million account discrepancy
Related: Aegean unfolds several business developments
Related: Aegean drops founder, elects new board members
Related: Aegean requests for ‘additional time’ to file annual report
Related: Aegean welcomes new Chief Financial Officer
Related: Lawsuit filed against Aegean’s H.E.C. acquisition
Related: Aegean to offer ‘one-stop-shop solution’ with H.E.C. acquisition
Related: Aegean in $367 million acquisition of port reception facilities services group
Related: Aegean shareholders ‘gravely concerned’ over board’s silence
Related: Shareholders nominate ‘highly qualified’ candidates to Aegean board
Related: Aegean Marine Petroleum Network under shareholder pressure
Published: 12 November, 2018
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