PLCS Polarcus Limited

Polarcus: Appointment of Joint Provisional Liquidators

Polarcus: Appointment of Joint Provisional Liquidators

Polarcus Limited (in provisional liquidation) (“Polarcus” or the “Company”) (OSE: PLCS) refers to the announcements made on 26 January 2021 (Polarcus Addressing Long Term Financing Structure Following Financial Default and Polarcus: Notices Of Enforcement) and on 2 February 2021 (Polarcus: Lenders Withdraw Support Of Ongoing Vessel Operations). Capitalized terms in this announcement have the same meaning as given in those announcements.

Throughout the above-referenced period, the Board has continued to have regard to the developing financial position of the Company, including the events of default that have occurred, the enforcement action which resulted in the Vessel-owning companies being transferred to a company controlled by the Lenders, and the Lenders confirming their withdrawal of continuing support of the Vessels' operations. The Board has at all times taken steps in the best interests of the Company having regard to the interests of the Company's creditors as a whole.

The Board remains focused on pursuing a restructuring of its indebtedness and maintaining the underlying business as a going concern. Discussions between the Company and its creditors, including the Secured Creditors, remain ongoing.

In furtherance of the Board's desire to effect a restructuring and to maximize value for all creditors, the Company filed an application with the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands ("Court") seeking the appointment of Soft Touch Provisional Liquidators over the Company, with a specific mandate to work alongside the Board to pursue a restructuring in the interests of all creditors (the "JPL Restructuring Application").

On 8 February 2021, David Griffin and Andrew Morrison of Suite 3212, 53 Market Street, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman KY1-1203, Cayman Islands ("FTI Cayman") and Lisa Rickelton of 200 Aldersgate St, Barbican, London EC1A 4HD ("FTI London") were appointed as Joint Provisional Liquidators ("JPLs") by an order of the Court ("Order"). Their appointment has immediate effect, and the JPLs are specifically authorized by the Court to take all necessary steps to develop and propose a restructuring of the Company's financial indebtedness with a view to making a compromise or arrangement with the Company's creditors or any class thereof. The JPLs intend to discuss and consult with the Board wherever practicable throughout their tenure acting as agent for and on behalf of the Company, and to work alongside the Board in pursuing a restructuring and in ensuring that returns to creditors are maximized.

The Board retains all powers of management conferred on it by the Order, subject to the appropriate and necessary oversight and monitoring of the JPLs as regards the exercise of such powers. The Board and the boards of directors of the Company's subsidiary entities will continue, working alongside the JPLs as appropriate, to engage with the creditors, employees, other stakeholders and third parties in relation to the business and operations of the Polarcus group.

The Company will publish further announcements to update the Company's stakeholders on the progress of the restructuring as and when appropriate.

Management Contacts

Duncan Eley, CEO

5

Hans-Peter Burlid, CFO

5

For media enquiries to the JPLs please contact:

Ben Brewerton/ Elizabeth Adams, FTI Consulting

07703 329963

07974 982331

For other enquiries to JPLs please contact:

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act



EN
09/02/2021

Underlying

To request access to management, click here to engage with our
partner Phoenix-IR's CorporateAccessNetwork.com

Reports on Polarcus Limited

Jon Masdal
  • Jon Masdal

US GoM round back on calendar

Following the legal battle and indications last week that a US GoM licensing round was moving forward, the US Department of the Interior announced yesterday that it intends to hold licensing round 257 this autumn, with all regular US GoM acreage included. We believe that uncertainty on future rounds has hampered multi-client sales in the US for the seismic companies, and see this development as a positive. Out of our coverage, TGS has the highest US exposure, although the main contributor to the...

Jon Masdal
  • Jon Masdal

Polarcus (No_rec, TP: NOK) - Discontinuing coverage

We have discontinued coverage of Polarcus. Our last published recommendation, target price and estimates should no longer be relied upon.

Martin Huseby Karlsen
  • Martin Huseby Karlsen

More detail on licensing round

Ahead of the white paper on Friday, the government provided more details on offshore wind development in Norway. The bottom-fixed areas will be developed without state-aid, and awards will follow an auction in early 2022. Floating areas will be awarded on qualitative criteria and receive government support (level not yet decided). Both areas will be split into 2–3 licences, which will allow multiple consortiums to be awarded. While we believe the planned sizes (in GW) allow for critical mass, th...

Martin Huseby Karlsen
  • Martin Huseby Karlsen

Crowded and high-profile in Norway

The initial licensing rounds for offshore wind acreage in Norway are lining up to be competitive, with several high-profile local companies/consortiums already having announced their intention to participate. In addition, we would expect traditional renewables producers and international E&P companies to take part. Currently there is limited clarity on how the licensing process will work, but more details are expected in a government white paper (‘Stortingsmelding’) on 11 June. Although the winn...

Jon Masdal
  • Jon Masdal

And then there were two

We believe Shearwater’s acquiring the former Polarcus vessels was the best outcome for the industry. We expect a disciplined approach to future capacity additions; however, with a low-cost offering and more optimal fleet size, we believe Shearwater will gain market share from PGS.

ResearchPool Subscriptions

Get the most out of your insights

Get in touch