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Genting Hong Kong files to wind up as cash runs outGenting Hong Kong files to wind up as cash runs out

Genting Hong Kong — the parent of Star Cruises, Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises — filed to wind up the company with cash expected to run out by the end of January.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

January 19, 2022

2 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

'Certain business activities of the group, including but not limited to the operations of cruise lines by Dream Cruises Holding Limited, shall continue in order to preserve and protect the core assets and maintain the value of the group; however it is anticipated that majority of the group’s existing operations will cease to operate,' Genting HK said in a filing.

Joint provisional liquidators

Applying to the Supreme Court of Bermuda, Genting HK said it had exhausted efforts to negotiate with creditors. It seeks to appoint Edward Simon Middleton and Wing Sze Tiffany Wong of Alvarez & Marsal Asia Limited in Hong Kong and Edward Alexander Niles Whittaker of R&H Services Limited in Bermuda as joint provisional liquidators.

Restructure debt to continue as a going concern or dispose of assets

The liquidators would assist in developing a debt restructuring to allow the company to continue as a going concern or, otherwise, be authorised to dispose of all or certain assets to satisfy creditors. A Bermuda hearing is set for Thursday.

Trading of Genting HK shares remains suspended on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The remaining three executive directors are Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Colin Au and Chan Kam Hing.

MV Werften insolvency triggered default

The company had been in talks with creditors and other stakeholders for some time and went to a German court to force Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state to pay a backstop loan of €78m, warning it wouldn't be able to meet financial obligations without that. Last week its German shipyards, MV Werften and Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, filed for insolvency and on Monday the court ruled against Genting's loan demand.

MV Werften's filing gave rise to an event of default for the Global Dream newbuild facility agreement and this, in turn, triggered cross default events under certain financing arrangements for the group that total approximately $2.7bn.

MV Werften's bankruptcy administrator has said he's prioritizing the completion of Global Dream while also exploring ideas for the long-term future of the shipyards group.

Prior restructuring

Genting HK completed a $2.6bn restructuring in June 2021 after suspending payments to creditors in August 2020 due to the pandemic's impact on operations. 

 

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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