Home World DOF ASA and DOF Subsea announced restructuring agreement

DOF ASA and DOF Subsea announced restructuring agreement


DOF ASA and its subsidiary DOF Subsea AS  have approximately NOK 18.7 billion in debt. Given lack of ability to repay or refinance this amount, a restructuring is required. The Group has since Q2 2019 worked on finding a long-term refinancing solution with all stakeholders, including shareholders, banks, and bondholders, with a structure that is aligned with the market environment. The Group’s large number of creditors together with the complex financing structure have resulted in significant time and efforts taken to reach a consensual agreement.
DOF and DOF Subsea are pleased to announce an agreement with a substantial group of creditors and certain other stakeholders on a comprehensive financial restructuring. This transaction maximises recoveries to all stakeholders by (i) addressing significant amounts of overdue debt that are not refinanceable, (ii) creating a stable and viable platform for the restructured Group, (iii) enabling enhancement of operating performance and (iv) creating a more sustainable and simpler financing structure going forward.
DOF and DOF Subsea have signed a restructuring agreement (the “Restructuring Agreement”) setting out the details and steps for the implementation of a financial restructuring of the Group (the “Restructuring”).
Highlights of the restructuring include:
• A substantial conversion of debt into equity (NOK 5.7 billion) across all major silos within the Group.
• A material reduction in the amount of reinstated debt and the terms of the reinstated debt being revised to provide liquidity for operations and a significant runway prior to final maturity of the reinstated debt
o Based on prevailing foreign exchange rates, the aggregate amount of reinstated debt will be approximately NOK 13.0 billion.
o This represents a substantial reduction from approximately NOK 18.7 billion of pre-transaction debt claims.
o Approximately NOK 675m of the DOFSUB Group bonds will be reinstated into a new bond recovery instrument maturing in December 2027.
• The consolidation of most bilateral facilities at DOFSUB Group to create a single syndicated loan.
• Upon completion of the Restructuring, the existing shares in DOF shall represent 4% of the issued shares in DOF, converting bondholders would represent 53.33% of the shares in DOF, whereas the holders of all other conversion liabilities would represent 42.67% of the shares in DOF, in each case on a fully diluted basis.
• As part of the transaction, a process for identifying a world class board with industrial, strategic, finance and international expertise has been initiated.
The Restructuring Agreement has been entered into with a majority of the Group’s key stakeholders, including all of the Group’s secured finance providers (except for BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Ecônomico e Social, which has separately indicated that it supports the Restructuring) (collectively, the “Senior Finance Parties”) and an ad hoc group of bondholders in DOF Subsea’s three bond issues controlling in aggregate approx. 40 per cent. of the total outstanding principal amount of the bonds (the “Ad Hoc Group”).
DOF’s largest single shareholder Møgster Offshore AS and Helge A. Møgster, which in aggregate controls 31.6% of the shares in DOF, have separately confirmed that they support the Restructuring.
“The agreement that has been reached is a key milestone in the restructuring of our balance sheet. I am grateful to all our employees, customers, partners, suppliers, creditors and shareholders for their continuing support through this process. The vital concessions from creditors will give us a  more sustainable debt level. With this firm financial footing and our continuing best-in-class fleet and operational capabilities, DOF is positioned to maintain its leadership position in the market” says CEO Mons Aase.
Additional details of the Restructuring as set out in the Restructuring Agreement are as follows:
1. Liabilities of the Group in an amount of approximately NOK 5.7 billion shall be converted into equity in DOF. The debt to be equitized as part of the Restructuring consists of secured debt, hedging liabilities, bond liabilities and other unsecured liabilities.
2. With the exception of certain guarantee liabilities, and ring-fenced structures, the surviving debt of the Group shall be reinstated as (i) new facilities with maturity on 9 January 2026 and generally extended amortisation schedule and reduced interest costs and (ii) new bonds with no cash debt service with maturity on 17 December 2027. Based on prevailing fixed foreign exchange rates, the aggregate amount of reinstated debt will be approximately NOK 13.0 billion. This represents a substantial reduction from approximately NOK 18.7 billion of pre-transaction debt, of which more than NOK 1.3 billion represents accrued but unpaid interest. The reinstated debt shall be structured as follows:
1.
a. All liabilities of the DOFSUB Group to the Senior Finance Parties other than one individual finance provider (and other than guarantee liabilities for DOFCON Brasil AS and its subsidiaries) shall be reinstated in new syndicated facilities to DOF Subsea in an aggregate amount corresponding to approximately NOK 5.4 billion.
b. The DOFSUB Group’s liabilities to the individual finance provider referred to in paragraph a) above shall be reinstated, with its own terms and conditions, in a separate facility to DOF Subsea Rederi AS in an amount corresponding to approximately NOK 0.3 billion.
c. The existing facilities from one individual finance provider to DOF Subsea Brasil Serviços Ltda. in an amount corresponding to approximately NOK 0.3 billion shall survive on amended terms.
d. DOF Subsea’s liabilities under DOFSUB07, DOFSUB08 and DOFSUB09 shall be converted into equity in DOF, save that a total of NOK 675 million shall be reinstated in a new bond loan to be issued by DOF Subsea.
e. Approximately NOK 1.4 billion of existing liabilities of DOF Rederi AS to the Senior Finance Parties shall be reinstated together with approximately NOK 0.1 billion of DOF’s liabilities to one individual finance provider, in a syndicated facility to DOF Rederi AS in an amount of approximately NOK 1.5 billion.
f. All existing liabilities of Norskan Offshore Ltda. to the Senior Finance Parties and one individual finance provider shall be split in two and reinstated in the form of guaranteed tranches (which will include the part of such liabilities that are secured by vessel mortgages within ~70% of the agreed fair market value of those vessels) and unguaranteed tranches (including all other parts of such liabilities). The Senior Finance Parties shall contribute their claims for the reinstated unguaranteed tranches to DOF in consideration of equity in DOF. The unguaranteed tranches shall not be guaranteed by DOF and for the avoidance of doubt shall not be converted to equity in DOF.
The guaranteed tranche of that one individual finance provider shall not cover less than 50% of the outstanding debt (i.e. a floor). The guarantee shall be reduced over time by the sum of (i) any amortisation on the guaranteed tranche, (ii) any interest paid on the unguaranteed tranche, (iii) 85% of cash sweep paid on both tranches, (iv) interest paid on the guaranteed tranche in excess of a certain benchmark rate and (v) 70% of any vessel sale proceeds (but so that the 50% floor shall not apply for (v)).
2.
1.
g. NOK 250 million of the liabilities of Iceman AS under Iceman AS’ existing loan shall be reinstated in a new loan facility for which Iceman AS shall be the sole obligor. The other liabilities under Iceman’s existing loan shall be converted into equity in DOF. The lenders to Iceman AS will be granted a right to purchase the shares in Iceman AS at a total amount of NOK 1,-, and Iceman AS shall have the right to cancel such purchase option against repayment of the loan with a premium reflecting the increase in the equity value of DOF from completion of the Restructuring until such cancellation of the purchase option.
3. The Group’s liabilities under existing sellers’ credits in the principal amount of approximately NOK 0.2 billion in the DOFSUB Group will be settled as part of the transactions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above.
4. The vessels of DOF Rederi AS shall be categorised into 12 core vessels and 3 non-core vessels, all of which shall serve as collateral vessels under the reinstated syndicated facility to DOF Rederi AS referred to in paragraph 2e) above. The core vessels will continue to be operated in the ordinary course of business, whereas the non-core vessels shall be sold subject to agreed terms and conditions and with net sale proceeds to be used as separate payments in addition to the outstanding principal of the reinstated debt.
5. Upon completion of the Restructuring, the existing shares in DOF shall represent 4% of the issued shares in DOF and the converted debt will represent the remaining 96%, enabling the Group’s pre-transaction shareholders to participate in the value creation going forward.
The holders of bond conversion liabilities will receive conversion shares that upon completion of the Restructuring represent 53.33% of the shares in DOF, whereas the holders of all other conversion liabilities will receive conversion shares that upon completion of the Restructuring represent 42.67% of the shares in DOF, in each case on a fully diluted basis.
6. The Restructuring Agreement provides that all conversion shares received by the holders of bond conversion liabilities and other conversion liabilities will be subject to arrangements whereby 1/4 of the conversion shares received by each holder may not be sold, pledged or otherwise disposed of until the earlier of 17 October 2022 and four weeks after the completion of the Restructuring, and 3/4 of the conversion shares received by each holder may not be sold, pledged or otherwise disposed of until the earlier of 17 January 2023 and four months after the completion of the Restructuring. There will be certain exceptions from the restrictions on tradability among the holders of conversion shares and upon an organised block sale of conversion shares. A requisite majority of the Senior Finance Parties and the Ad Hoc Group may also relax or amend the arrangements prior to the notice to the extraordinary general meeting of DOF that will be called to approve the Restructuring.
7. As part of the Restructuring Agreement, DOF has undertaken to prepare a plan for the future organisation and structure of DOF and the Group, which shall include an assessment of, and an implementation plan for, establishing DOF as a non-operational holding company with no assets other than certain shareholdings and other assets as may be necessary.
8. The Restructuring Agreement provides that a new board of directors agreed between a requisite majority of the Senior Finance Parties and the Ad Hoc Group shall be put up for election at the extraordinary general meeting of DOF that will be called to approve the Restructuring, and a process for identifying a world class board with industrial, strategic, finance and international expertise has been initiated.
9. The current standstill arrangements in place with the Senior Finance Parties and the bondholders will continue.
10. The Senior Finance Parties and the Ad Hoc Group may terminate their participation in and obligations under the Restructuring Agreement upon certain events, and the Restructuring Agreement will automatically terminate upon the earlier of: (i) the completion of the Restructuring, (ii) 31 October 2022 (unless extended by the required majority of the Senior Finance Parties and the Ad Hoc Group); or (iii) if and when a sufficient number of Senior Finance Parties and members of the Ad Hoc Group terminate their participation and obligations in the Restructuring Agreement.
All of the key elements set out above are subject to the more detailed regulations and provisions set out in the Restructuring Agreement and related documents.
The implementation of the Restructuring is conditional upon a number of conditions to the satisfaction of the Senior Finance Parties and the Ad Hoc Group, including (i) approval by a duly convened bondholders’ meeting in each of DOFSUB07, DOFSUB08 and DOFSUB09, (ii) approval from the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority (Norwegian: Finanstilsynet) of the listing prospectus in respect of the new shares to be issued as part of the equity issues and confirmation that the shares to be issued will be listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange when the prospectus is published, (iii) the general meeting of DOF resolving to carry out a preparatory capital reduction, a consolidation of shares, the equity issues to holders of conversion liabilities as described above and the election of new directors, (iv) agreement on long form documentation with relevant stakeholders, (v) the approval by certain secured finance providers and a joint venture partner, (vi) the consent by Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Ecônomico e Socia, and (vii) certain other customary conditions precedent.
It is a requirement under the Restructuring Agreement that the Restructuring is implemented by 31 October 2022, with a possibility for extensions to be agreed by requisite majorities of stakeholders if required.
Subject to completion of certain preparatory steps, and in accordance with the terms of the Restructuring Agreement, DOF will issue a notice convening an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders and DOF Subsea will issue summons in respect of the bondholders’ meetings in each of DOFSUB07, DOFSUB08 and DOFSUB09. Provided that the requisite majorities at such meetings grant the necessary consents and approvals for the Restructuring, completion is expected to take place within Q3 2022.
In the event that the requisite majorities at such meetings do not grant the necessary consents and approval, the Restructuring Agreement requires its parties to negotiate in good faith and seek to agree alternative implementation steps to implement the Restructuring.
All liabilities of the Group towards the Group’s secured lenders and bondholders in DOF Subsea’s bond issues will continue to be subject to standstill arrangements up to completion of the Restructuring. The Restructuring Agreement includes suspension provisions (which, inter alia, relate to the suspension of debt service on affected liabilities, restrictions on enforcement actions and undertakings by the members of the Group during the implementation period), which shall apply as an integrated part of the Restructuring Agreement in replacement of the existing standstill arrangements with the Group’s secured lenders. The existing standstill arrangement with the bondholders in DOF Subsea’s bond issues will continue, unless terminated earlier, by extension as approved under the previous bond summons.
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