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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 Groupâs 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 âRestructuring
Agreementâ) setting out the details and steps for the implementation of a
financial restructuring of the Group (the âRestructuringâ).
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
¡ Based on prevailing 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 claims.
¡ 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 Groupâs
key stakeholders, including all of the Groupâs secured finance providers (except
for BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento EcĂ´nomico e Social, which has
separately indicated that it supports the Restructuring) (collectively, the
âSenior Finance Partiesâ) and an ad hoc group of bondholders in DOF Subseaâs
three bond issues controlling in aggregate approx. 40 per cent. of the total
outstanding principal amount of the bonds (the âAd Hoc Groupâ).
DOFâs 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.
âThe 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 marketâ says CEO Mons Aase.
Additional details of the Restructuring as set out in the Restructuring
Agreement are as follows:
- 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.
- 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:
-
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 Groupâs 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 Subseaâs 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 DOFâs 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)).
-
-
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 Icemanâs 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.
- The Groupâs liabilities under existing sellersâ 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.
- 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.
- 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 Groupâs 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The current standstill arrangements in place with the Senior Finance Parties
and the bondholders will continue.
- 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 bondholdersâ 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 EcĂ´nomico e Social, 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 bondholdersâ 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 Groupâs secured lenders and bondholders
in DOF Subseaâs 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 Groupâs secured
lenders. The existing standstill arrangement with the bondholders in DOF
Subseaâs bond issues will continue, unless terminated earlier, by extension as
approved under the previous bond summons.
For further information, please contact:
CEO Mons Aase, tel. +47 91 66 10 12
CFO Hilde Drønen, tel. +47 91 66 10 09
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5
-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
With a multi-national workforce of about 3,800 personnel, DOF ASA is an
international group of companies which owns and operates a fleet of modern
offshore/subsea vessels, and engineering capacity to service both the offshore
and subsea market. With 40 years in the offshore business, the group has a
strong position in terms of experience, innovation, product range, technology
and capacity.
DOFâs core businesses are vessel ownership, vessel management, project
management, engineering, vessel operations, survey, remote intervention and
diving operations primarily for the oil and gas sector. From PSV charter to
Subsea engineering, DOF offers a full spectrum of top quality offshore services
to facilitate an ever-growing and demanding industry.
The companyâs main operation centers and business units are located in Norway,
the UK, the USA, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Angola, and Australia.
DOF ASA is listed on the Oslo Exchange since 1997.
Kilde
