A reminder23 Mar 2016 18:38
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Petroceltic consults lawyers over Worldview’s examinership move
Dissident shareholder seeks to secure court protection for oil and gas firm
Fri, Mar 4, 2016, 17:49
Mary Carolan
Worldview, a 29 per cent shareholder, has been in dispute with the board of Petroceltic for more than 18 months during which it sought to take over control of the company a number of times.
Worldview, a 29 per cent shareholder, has been in dispute with the board of Petroceltic for more than 18 months during which it sought to take over control of the company a number of times.
Petroceltic International says it is taking legal advice in relation to a surprise attempt by Worldview Capital, a dissident shareholder with a 29 per cent stake, to appoint an examiner to the exploration company.
Worldview on Friday brought a High Court petition aimed at securing court protection for Petroceltic, which owes about $230 million to its banks and is currently unable to make its repayments.
Worldview is seeking the appointment of of high-profile Grant Thornton accountant Michael McAteer as an examiner to the exploration company. The matter is due to come back before the High Court for hearing on April 4th.
Worldview’s bid to put the future of the company in the hands of an examiner is being viewed as an attempt to up the ante in its long-running row with Petroceltic’s board and management, which it has repeatedly tried to oust. Worldview has been in a bitter dispute with the company for more than 18 months over governance and strategy.
Petroceltic and its chief executive, Brian O’Cathain, have previously rejected Worldview’s criticisms and accused it of trying to take control of the company and its prime asset, an Algerian gas field, on the cheap.
The examinership move also comes in the wake of Worldview’s offer to buy the company for a cut-price 3p per share, valuing it at just £6.42 million. The shares closed on the London Stock Exchange on Friday at 7.5p.
Earlier on Friday, Skye Investments, the investment vehicle headed by Petroceltic chairman Robert Adair, which owns a 19 per cent shareholding in the exploration company, said the latest takeover offer from Worldview undervalued the company and it would reject it.
This effectively scuppered the bid, as the offer required 90 per cent acceptance to succeed.
The examinership petition seeks protection for Petroceltic International plc and two related companies, Petroceltic Investments Ltd and Petroceltic Ain Tsila Ltd.