Convening Hearing21 May 2021 10:58
It is clear people really do not understand what is supposed to happen today in the convening hearing. Expecting a removal of directors today is completely wrong. That is to be decided in an extraordinary general meeting. I can see little difference even if the said removal of directors take place as that would not affect in principle the re-structuring plan. They are attempting to remove executive directors and gain more votes in the board of directors by appointing two other directors. If they were changing the CEO then that would be a complete different thing. CA fund previously requested that both the Chairman and the Senior Independent Director resigned immediately. They refused to do so.
What would be the best outcome from this Convening Hearing?
The convening hearing provides an opportunity for the proponents of the scheme to seek the court's approval to a proposed course of action. This approach provides creditors who are opponents of the scheme with an opportunity to seek to have it halted at an early stage, and before the level of support is tested. Thus, this would be the best outcome for shareholders but I am not sure if any creditors oppose the scheme as they seem to benefit from it.
Faced with an insolvent liquidation as the alternative to the scheme, there is already considerable commercial pressure to have the scheme approved. That pressure increases as the board has already secured 69% of bond holders approval and they require 75%. The Convening Hearing is for the purposes of seeking an order making certain directions in relation to the Restructuring Plan including permission to convene a single meeting of Bondholders for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the Restructuring Plan.Earlier in May, Hurricane Energy said it was set to agree a debt-for-equity swap that will leave bondholders with the bulk of the company. Hurricane has around £165m worth of bonds which are due for repayment next year, so directors have agreed in principle to a deal that will see bondholders exchange much the debt owed to them for 95% of the shares in the company.
The deal would see existing shareholders almost wiped out, but directors said there was no other way of keeping the company afloat. A deal struck with a 69% majority of the group’s convertible bond holders will see some US$50mln of the total US$230mln debt swapped for new shares in the company.
But the plan appears to offer little more than a stay of execution.
Even if it goes through, Hurricane’s board does not expect the firm’s only producing field, Lancaster, to receive further investment.
Production from Lancaster would stop in February 2024, with Hurricane’s operations wound down by year-end.
Analysts said the end was in sight for Hurricane, which was set up to develop fractured basement reservoirs west of Shetland.
This is not financial advice DYOR. This is more of a gamble than an investment at this point.