LNG

Italian major Eni said it had begun to introduce feed gas into the “Tango FLNG” floating production plant ahead of the shipping of the first cargo in a project located offshore the Republic of Congo in West Africa.

Exmar, the listed Belgian shipping company with a fleet of more than 40 gas carriers and floating LNG terminal expertise and assets, has named Carl-Antoine Saverys as the new Chief Executive from January and current CEO Francis Mottrie will become Chief Operating Officer to help guide the new team and be on the board.

Sept 20 (LNGJ) - Belgian shipping company Exmar, which chartered a regasification barge to the Netherlands and sold a floating LNG production vessel to Italy’s Eni for deployment in Africa, is set to be taken over by Saverex NV, the holding company of the family of Exmar Executive Chairman Nicolas Saverys.

   Exmar, based in Antwerp, had reopened the acceptance period to September 15 for the voluntary public takeover bid launched by Saverex for all shares and share options not already controlled by the bidder. As a result, Saverex now owns 47.81 million shares, representing 80.36 percent of Exmar. Taking into account the shares held by Chairman Saverys and Exmar itself Saverex controls 49.83M shares, representing 83.76 percent of Exmar. “The payment of the bid price for the shares (€12.10 per share and €2.48 per share option) offered during the voluntary reopening is scheduled for October 2, 2023,” said Exmar.

July 14 (LNGJ) - Belgian shipping company Exmar, which chartered a regasification barge to the Netherlands and sold a floating LNG production vessel to Italy’s Eni for deployment in Africa, has altered share totals and schedules to progress with the takeover of Exmar by Saverex NV, the holding company of the family of Exmar Executive Chairman Nicolas Saverys.

   A statement said the initial acceptance period of the voluntary and conditional public takeover bid had an initial acceptance of 77.76 percent of the outstanding shares. Saverex has, therefore, decided to waive the 95 percent acceptance threshold and was proceeding with the bid. The payment of the bid price for the shares offered during the initial acceptance period is still scheduled for July 27. Saverex has also decided voluntarily to reopen the bid from Monday 28th August until Friday15th September 2023 at 16:00 (Belgian time).

Belgian shipping company Exmar, which chartered a regasification barge to the Netherlands and sold a floating LNG production vessel to Italy’s Eni for deployment in Africa, said the takeover process had begun involving Saverex NV, the holding company of the family of Exmar Executive Chairman Nicolas Saverys.

Belgian shipping company Exmar has reported on the progress of the liquefied natural gas barge for regasification deployed at Eemshaven in the Netherlands and advances made in the floating LNG production venture in the Republic of Congo.

Saverex, a holding company owned by Nicolas Saverys, the Chairman of Belgian shipping company and LNG player Exmar, said it intended
to launch a voluntary and conditional public takeover bid for Exmar and to take the company private.

Belgian shipping company Exmar reported improved annual results amid key floating liquefied natural gas charter and sales deals for its LNG barges that left the Antwerp-based operator free of net debts.

Belgian shipping company Exmar, owner of the “Tango FLNG” vessel last deployed in Argentina, has returned steady first-half results and said it was still pursuing opportunities for the LNG production barge as well as for a floating storage and regasification unit.

Exmar gave details of the LNG developments as it posted a 23 percent increase in third-quarter gross earnings for the shipping division of $4.4 million compared to $3.6 million in the same three months of 2020.

The earnings for the infrastructure division, comprising the two floating LNG vessels, was negatively affected by the current unemployment of the regasification vessel, known as “FSRU S188”.

This is because the same period of 2020 was boosted by the recognition of a provision of $16.4M on uncollected revenues from Argentine energy company YPF on the “Tango FLNG” charter cancellation.

The earnings, however, did includes an early termination fee of $56.8M for the “FSRU S188” charter agreement by global commodities company Gunvor.

“Exmar’s marketing efforts for employment of ‘Tango FLNG’ confirm strong market interest in our liquefaction barge,” stated the Antwerp-based company.

“Current high oil and gas prices further increase the interest in ‘Tango FLNG’. Term sheet discussions are ongoing with various parties. The monthly settlement payments from YPF are diligently being honoured,” added Exmar in reference to the settlement accord with YPF.

“Following the termination of the charter party with Gunvor earlier this year, the search for employment for the ‘FSRU S188’ is ongoing,” stated Exmar.

“Technical and commercial discussions for several opportunities are ongoing,” it added.

Additionally, Exmar noted that the company’s only conventional LNG carrier, the “Excalibur”, remains under time charter to US company Excelerate Energy and is expected to be redelivered at the beginning of 2022.

“The current strong LNG product market and LNG freight rates give us confidence we will be able to secure further employment either trading or as a conversion candidate,” said the company.

Exmar has slowly withdrawn from the LNG market but its gas fleet still numbers 40 vessels, about half comprising liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers, as well 10 pressurized tankers and as some eight other ships, including very large gas carriers.

The company said it expected a further strengthening of its liquidity position in the next few months.

One of its two new VLGCs, the “Flanders Innovation”, was put into operation and the “Flanders Pioneer” is expected to be delivered at the end of the third quarter of 2021.

“The lease financing for both vessels has been arranged and for both a minimum five-year charter with Equinor ASA (Norway) has been signed,” added Exmar. 

Belgian shipping company Exmar, owner of the “Tango FLNG” barge last deployed in Argentina, said it was actively pursuing various employment opportunities and had also had a settlement in the dispute with commodities firm Gunvor over a newbuild regasification vessel.