Monday 21 December 2009

Dubai World Didn’t Ask Banks for ‘Standstill,’ Spokesman Says

Dubai World, which is seeking to restructure about $22 billion of debt, did not present a “standstill” offer to lenders at a meeting in the emirate today, a company spokesman said.

The company and its advisers presented to bankers part of the state-owned holding company’s plan to restructure its borrowings, said the Dubai World spokesman who declined to be identified because of company policy.

Dubai World said it will continue working with creditors to reach a standstill agreement on its borrowing “in an orderly way.” The company in a statement said it received assurances from the Dubai government that it will receive “financial support to cover working capital and interest expenses to ensure the continuity of key projects” if a standstill is achieved.

Dubai World, one of the emirate’s three main state-owned business groups, announced Nov. 25 it would seek to freeze or delay repaying debt until at least May 30. The company said Dec. 1 it wants to alter terms on about $26 billion of debt, including of property unit Nakheel PJSC, which is building palm tree-shaped islands off the emirate’s coast. It repaid $4.1 billion on an Islamic bond from Nakheel last week after Dubai received a $10 billion loan from Abu Dhabi.

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