Bank creditors to Drydocks World (DDW), Dubai’s maritime engineering business, are expecting to receive proposals from the government-owned company to restructure some of the US$2.3 billion debt it refinanced in 2012.
Recent talks with creditors have left them convinced that the company, owned by the Dubai World conglomerate, will seek to change the terms of its agreement to repay some $800 million of bank loans in the summer of 2017.
“We’re fully expecting a second round of restructuring, but there have been no formal proposals yet,” said one banking executive, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A spokesman for DDW declined to comment on the possibility of a new round of restructuring.
A source close to the company, who asked not to be named, said that a new deal on the $800m of debt would be a sensible option for the company to consider, given the global environment of lower interest rates than when the previous deal was hammered out, and the emirate’s improved economic prospects.
There was no immediate financial pressure on DDW as it has resources to meet the current repayment terms in 2017, the source said. A further tranche of debt, some $1.5bn repayable in 2027, is not currently under consideration.
Another reason for seeking to renegotiate is the example of Dubai World, which successfully restructured terms of $15bn of bank loans earlier this year.
It is also believed DDW is close to appointing a specialist restructuring adviser to handle the negotiations with creditors.
The spokesman declined to comment on the identity of the adviser. Blackstone, the US investment bank which was involved in the last Dubai World “debt optimisation” process, is not believed to have been chosen for the DDW mandate.
“It would make a big difference if they appoint a restructurer. It would show they are serious about the proposals and the whole process could get off to an orderly start,” the creditor said.
When DDW restructured in 2012, it was the first Dubai company to make use of the provisions of bankruptcy laws – Decree 57 – introduced to deal with parent Dubai World’s much bigger restructuring in 2010. It is not known if Decree 57 provisions would be used this time around.
The 2012 restructuring also involved DDW bringing in a Singaporean partner for its troublesome business in Indonesia. Borrowing to set up an operation in South East Asia before the financial crisis of 2009 was the main reason DDW was forced to seek a deal with creditors back then.
At a recent meeting, creditors were reassured that business in the UAE was good, but there were ongoing challenges in South East Asia. “Operations here are going very well, but it’s South East Asia that’s the problem,” said the creditor.
The trading update was positive on business at DDW’s main site at Port Rashid. Some industry analysts have speculated that DWD’s lucrative business in constructing and fitting out oil rigs would be hit by the fall in the oil price.
In February, DDW said that it had already achieved 93 per cent of its target revenue for 2015.
Any new negotiations will be held under the chairmanship of Abdulrahman Al Saleh, who was appointed to head DDW in May, replacing Khamis Buamim, the executive credited with putting the previous restructuring in place. Mr Buamim has remained with DDW as the head of the South East Asia business, now controlled by a local partner, the Kuok Group.
Mr Al Saleh has a reputation for expertise in financial restructuring. He is the director general of the Dubai Department of Finance and the chairman of the government’s Financial Support Fund, which played a crucial role in seeing the emirate through the 2010 financial crisis.
Standard Chartered, Mashreq and HSBC were among the main creditors involved in the 2012 deal, in addition to DBS bank of Singapore.
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Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Company%20Profile
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The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Key fixtures from January 5-7
Watford v Bristol City
Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan
Coventry v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Manchester United v Derby
Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom
Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon
Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City
Manchester City v Burnley
Shrewsbury v West Ham United
Wolves v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Luton Town
Fulham v Southampton
Norwich City v Chelsea
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