FROM THE ASHES
Deutsche Bank doubles down on a bet that commodity trader Noble will rise again.
LONDON/SINGAPORE: Deutsche Bank AG is doubling down on a bet that troubled commodity trader Noble Group Ltd will be able to rise from the ashes and deliver profits to creditors that back a $3.5 billion restructuring.
With less than a week before Noble shareholders vote on the debt-restructuring plan, the German lender’s London office is offering to buy the company’s senior unsecured bonds for 45% of face value, according to a memorandum seen by Bloomberg.
Deutsche Bank, one of the most active backer of Noble’s turnaround plan, said it was buying for its own account and would commit any bonds acquired to the restructuring.
Creditors who back the debt-for-equity swap and provide fresh trade finance to Noble will get a more valuable package of new securities in the restructuring than those who don’t.
That creates an opportunity for Deutsche Bank to buy Noble’s debt from investors who are unwilling or unable to participate in the trade finance facility.
“Deutsche Bank is a finance provider to and active supporter of the proposed restructuring of the Noble Group,” the German lender’s Singapore-based spokeswoman Sarah Stabler said in an emailed response to questions.
“The tender is part of Deutsche Bank’s normal market making activities.”
Deutsche Bank was one of the initial
creditors to sign onto the restructuring in March, agreeing to help provide Noble with $600 million in trade finance and a $100 million hedging facility.
The German lender, along with ING Groep NV, held about 4% of existing senior claims as of March, according to a statement at the time.
By offering to buy more of the debt, Deutsche Bank is likely to increase its stake in the reorganised Noble.
The deal, in which creditors will swap their existing holdings for equity and new debt, would hand creditors a 70% ownership stake. Existing investors, including top shareholder Richard Elman, would have their stakes diluted.
Elman, who started the company in 1980s Hong Kong as a small middleman to steelmakers before expanding it into a global conglomerate, has committed to vote in favor of the plan.
The company also has irrevocable support from Abu Dhabi-based shareholder Goldilocks Investment Co and a consortium including Value Partners Ltd and Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd.
Noble Group didn’t immediately reply a to request seeking comment through its external public relations representatives in Singapore.
Noble Group’s 2018 notes rose 1.8 cents to 46.6 cents on the dollar as of 3.52 p.m. in Hong Kong, while its 2022 notes gained 0.6 cent to 47.9 cents, according to Bloomberg-compiled prices.
Those prices were in line with their average levels over the past two months.
The company’s shares surged 22% in Singapore, set for the biggest rally in about two months.
Noble is approaching the end game in its drawn-out restructuring after years of crisis, public sparring with investors and billions in losses that culminated with a March default on its debt.
KPMG has warned that failure to secure the restructuring plan could end in a liquidation that would give creditors as little as 20% of face value.
Deutsche Bank’s tender offer for the bonds expires on Aug 24 and Noble shareholders are set to vote on the plan on Aug 27. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the offer Friday.
If the bank were to purchase bonds from undecided creditors, it would shrink the roughly 14% of holdings that hadn’t been pledged to back the restructuring deal.
The offer includes Noble’s $379 million of 3.625% notes that were due in March, as well as $1.18 billion of 6.75% bonds maturing in 2020 and $750 million of securities due in 2022.