United States Bankruptcy Court Of Southern News

Rig contractor Ocean RIG UDW Inc filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court amid a deep and prolonged downturn in the industry. Shares of the company plunged 36.4 percent to 46 cents in early trading on Tuesday. The Cyprus-based company, which had $3.25 billion in debt as of Dec. 31, filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of New York on Monday. Under U.S. bankruptcy laws, Chapter 15 grants a foreign company protection from creditors looking to seize its assets in the country.

American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) has emerged from Chapter 11 protection pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization approved on December 30, 2004 by the United States Bankruptcy Court of Southern Indiana, New Albany Division. Under the terms of the Plan of Reorganization, ACL LLC’s emergence from bankruptcy became effective on January 11, 2005. Equity in ACL LLC was transferred to a new parent company, American Commercial Lines Inc. (“ACL”), which will transfer shares to the holders of approximately $278 million of pre-petition bonds and other secured creditors. On January 13, 2005, ACL renewed approximately $364 million of secured financing with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as Agent for the pre-petition secured lenders. Bank of America, N.A.