The proposed restructuring, details of which have been published today in a combined shareholder circular and prospectus, involves the recapitalisation of the Petra Diamonds group including a conversion of US$409.9 million of Notes debt into new equity which, if approved by existing shareholders, will result in the Noteholder group holding approximately 91% of Petra Diamonds Limited's enlarged share capital.
The proposed restructuring also involves a creditor scheme in relation to the Noteholder debt (including the recognition of the scheme under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code), the partial reinstatement of the Notes debt not being converted to equity and a restructuring of the group's first lien facilities.
Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company has a diversified portfolio incorporating interests in three underground producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit mine in Tanzania (Williamson). Incorporated in Bermuda, Petra Diamonds' shares are premium listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and its US$650 million Notes are currently listed on the Global Exchange market of the Irish Stock Exchange.
The Ashurst team advising Petra Diamonds is being led by Giles Boothman, global head of Ashurst's restructuring and special situations group, and senior associate Molly Woods along with partners Tom Mercer and Nigel Ward, who are advising on corporate and banking matters respectively. The wider Ashurst team also includes a number of partners and lawyers across the firm's restructuring & special situations, corporate transactions, dispute resolution, global loans, global markets, high yield debt, incentives, projects and tax teams including:
- Restructuring & Special Situations: associates Charlotte Harvey and Samantha Ross.
- Corporate Transactions: senior associates Hayley Gow and Maria McAlister, associates Louise Johnson, Becky Eaton and Krishna Parikh, and trainees Ariella Moses and Joy Yeh. Partners Jennifer Schneck and Sarah Dulhunty and senior consultant Jeffrey Sultoon are also advising.
- Dispute Resolution: partner Lynn Dunne, associate Paul Ryan-Brown and trainee Mark Donnelly.
- Global Loans: senior associate Carrie Chen and trainee Chelsea Kwakye.
- Global Markets: partner Anna Delgado, senior associate Louise Young, associate Charlotte Coleman and trainee Emily Jones.
- High Yield Debt: senior associate Michael Lee and counsel Natalia Sokolova.
- Incentives: senior consultant Nicholas Stretch and senior assocaite Rebecca Servian.
- Projects: partner Yann Alix, senior associate Shan Koh and associate Claudia Cicone.
- Tax: partners Alexander Cox, Sharon M. Kim and Jeffrey H. Koppele, associate Shayaan Zaraq Bari and trainee Aaron Robertson.
Petra Diamonds is also being advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman, Werksmans Attorneys and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as to matters of Bermudian, South African and US bankruptcy law respectively.
