New Chapter 22 Filing - Venoco LLC

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Venoco LLC

  • 4/17/17 Recap: Denver-based E&P company that FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY LITERALLY 13 MONTHS AGO and emerged 9 months ago filed for bankruptcy again because of "material operational and regulatory setbacks." The prior bankruptcy eliminated nearly $1b of debt and the restructuring was predicated upon various operational objectives. First, the Plains All American Pipleine line 901 going online. Well, that didn't happen. Second, regulatory approval of "the highly anticipated lease line adjustment." Spoiler alert: that didn't happen either. Third, the extension of the lease term by the Beverly Hills Unified School District of an onshore facility beyond its 12/16 expiration date. Any guesses what happened there? Right, nada. And, fourth, an insurer required that the company post an additional $35mm in collateral to support bonds issued by it. You guessed it: the company didn't have the money for that either which, of course, would have effectively terminated operations altogether. Hence, the bankruptcy filing.
  • Jurisdiction: D. of Delaware     
  • Company Professionals:
    • Legal: Bracewell LLP (Robert Burns, Robin Miles, David Riley, Mark Dendinger, Jason Hutt) & (local) Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP (Robert Dehney, Andrew Remming, Marcy McLaughlin)
    • Financial Advisor/CRO: Zolfo Cooper LLC (Bret Fernandes)
    • Investment Banker: Seaport Global Securities LLC
    • Claims Agent: Prime Clerk LLC (*click on company name above for free docket access)
    • Board of Directors: Mark DePuy, Gene Davis, Daniel Vogel, Jeffrey Bartlett, Chris Bement, Bill Lockyer
  • Other Parties in Interest:
    • Significant Shareholders: Apollo Investment Corporation, MAST Capital Management LLC, Candlewood Special Situations Master Fund Ltd.
    • Exxon Mobil Corporation
      • Legal: Haynes and Boone LLP (Charles Beckham, Kelli Norfleet) & (local) Farnan LLP (Michael Farnan)

Updated 4/22/17