Sparebank News

Swedbank has signed the Poseidon Principles, a global framework for integrating climate considerations into lending decisions within ship financeThe Poseidon Principles provide a standardised methodology for data collection and reporting of emissions from banks’ shipping portfolios, with the overall ambition of supporting and facilitating the decarbonization of the shipping industry.The Poseidon Principles are consistent with the policies and ambitions of the IMO, including its…

Edda Wind announced it has entered into a green term loan facility agreement for the pre- and postdelivery financing of four new commissioning service operation vessels (CSOV) under construction at Vard.The agreement is a €161 million green loan facility with Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Danske Bank A/S, DNB Bank ASA and SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA, with expiry in 2029 and a profile of 12 years. The facility corresponds to a leverage ratio of 60% of the total ready…

Offshore wind installation company Havfram has signed a Senior Secured Green ECA Term Loan Facility to fund its two wind turbine installation vessels ("WTIVs"), currently under construction at CIMC Raffles in China. The Facility was entered into with a syndicate led by DNB Bank ASA (Coordinator, Bookrunner, Green Loan Advisor and Agent) with SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA, Credit Agricole, Sparebanken Vest and Rabobank as Mandated Lead Arrangers and with Export Finance Norway as ECA lender.

Danish wind turbine installation company Cadeler is contemplating a private placement of shares to raise funds to pay for a portion of a planned order for a newbuild offshore wind foundation installation vessel (F-Class) vessel.The company, which owns two offshore wind turbine installation vessels, with another two (X-class) on order, said Wednesday it planned to raise between $70 – 90 million through the placement of new ordinary shares with a par value of DKK 1.00 in the company at an offer price of NOK 32.32 per share, through an accelerated bookbuilding process.

Oslo-listed offshore heavy transport and wind installation company OHT has received and accepted a firm offer for a USD 135 million Senior Secured Green ECA Credit Facility.The loan was accepted by OHT's ship owing company OHT Alfa Lift AS, which is building the offshore wind foundation installation vessel Alfa Lift in China. OHT ordered the Alfa Lift on speculation in 2018, and has since secured contracts to install foundations at the world's largest wind farm - the Dogger Bank in the UK.Sharing further details on the loan…

Lenders took control of Polarcus' ships on Tuesday after the seismic surveyor defaulted on its bank loans and bonds, hit by a drop in spending by energy companies struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile oil prices.The company's Oslo-listed shares plunged as much as 47% after they resumed trading following an earlier suspension.Polarcus said lenders had taken over shares in subsidiaries that own seismic vessels and replaced directors in each subsidiary, but wanted to continue its operations."In parallel with their actions described above…

Oslo-listed seismic surveyor Polarcus has defaulted on its bank loans and bonds, it said on Tuesday, sending the company's shares plunging more than 30%.Polarcus and other seismic surveyors have been hit by weak demand as oil companies slash spending on geological data amid the coronavirus pandemic and last year's crash in the price of crude."The company intends to pursue all available options with a view to ensuring the financial sustainability of the company and in the meantime will halt all payments of interest and amortization to finance providers…

Many of the world’s biggest lenders to shipping companies fell short of carbon-cutting targets last year in the first analysis of CO2 goals for the sector by financiers, a report showed on Wednesday.Global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world’s CO2 emissions and the industry is under pressure to reduce those emissions and other pollution. About 90% of world trade is transported by sea.Last year, a group of leading banks signed up to environmental commitments known as the Poseidon Principles…

Danish offshore wind turbine transportation and installation company Swire Blue Ocean (SBO) is getting ready for listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange, to position the company for the next phase of its growth.Also, Swire Blue Ocean, as a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Offshore, will be rebranded and renamed Cadeler. The company said the new name would reflect the company’s Scandinavian maritime heritage "and its commitment to excellence in maritime operations."In connection with the Mikkel Gleerup…

The Norwegian oil and gas operator focused on the Middle East and the North Sea, DNO ASA said it has completed the private placement of USD 400 million of new, five-year senior unsecured bonds with a coupon rate of 8.375 percent.The bond placement received strong investor demand across international markets and was oversubscribed, said a press release from Norway's oldest oil company. The bond issue is expected to be settled on or about 29 May 2019, subject to customary conditions precedent.An application will be made for the bonds to be listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. In connection with the bond placement, the Company has agreed…

Norway's dry bulk owner Belships Group has secured a USD 140 million loan facility. The loan replaces the Group's current senior debt of USD 105 million.The new loan will be available in two tranches, said a press release from the bulk ship operator and management company. An initial tranche of USD 110 million will replace Belships existing loan and strengthen the Group's working capital. An accordion tranche of USD 30 million will be available for fleet expansion.Following the merger with Lighthouse Group in December 2018, Belships currently owns twelve supramax and ultramax dry bulk vessels. In addition, the Group operates three ultramax on time and bareboat charter with purchase options.

Swedish oil firm Lundin Petroleum expects to increase its resource estimate for the Alta discovery in Norway's Arctic region following a successful two-month production test.Finding significant oil reserves in the Norwegian Arctic has been challenging for oil firms, but Alta is among the exceptions along with ENI's Goliat field and Equinor's Johan Castberg discovery.Lundin and its partners are considering developing the discovery as a subsea field connected to a floating production and storage vessel…

Norwegian marine geophysical services company Shearwater GeoServices Holding AS has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the marine seismic acquisition assets and operations of Schlumberger’s geophysical services product line, WesternGeco.The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018.Houston based Schlumberger will receive cash consideration based on an enterprise value of $600 million plus a 15 percent post-closing equity interest in Shearwater. For a limited period, Schlumberger  will be entitled to payments under an earn-out agreement linked to future vessel usage over and above specific thresholds.

Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) 'Far Scotsman' delivered from STX OSV Langsten shipyard to Farstad Shipping Ltd. The vessel is of PSV 08 CD design, developed in close co-operation between STX Europe and Farstad Shipping. Far Scotsman will trade the spot market in the North Sea. Eksportkreditt Norge AS  financed the vessel in cooperation with DNB Bank ASA, GIEK and SpareBank 1 SMN. Farstad Shipping's fleet currently consists of 54 vessels (29 AHTS, 22 PSV and 3 SUBSEA) with 7 PSV and 4 AHTS under construction.

Normand Ranger for Solstad Offshore is delivered from Ulstein Verft May 5. Completion of the anchor handling vessel has been a challenging task but the shipyard delivers the project to the agreed terms within time. Ulstein Verft won the contract with GIEK and Sparebank 1 SR-Bank for completion of the anchor handling vessel last spring. The ship came to Ulstein Verft from the bankrupt shipyard Karmsund Maritime Service in August 2009. Normand Ranger type VS 490 AHTS from Wärtsilä Ship Design.

Norse Cutting & Abandonment AS (NCA) has acquired an additional 21% of mooring specialist IOS Offshore, bringing its total engagement up to 91%. IOS Offshore (IOS) offers rental, sales and service of specialized mooring and lifting equipment. The company has several bases along the Norwegian coast and delivers chains, buoys, mooring lines, anchors and lifting equipment to oil companies and rig operators. Their main office is located in Dusavik outside Stavanger. ”Since IOS became part of the NCA Group two years ago, the company has had a very positive development, both in terms of organizational development as well as delivering results.