<article> Singapore oil field services firm<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Swiber+Holdings+Ltd+" target="_blank"> Swiber Holdings Ltd</a> filed an application to wind up the company and said a Singapore court had appointed provisional liquidators, making it the biggest local name to fall victim to the slump in oil prices.
In a statement to the<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Singapore+Exchange" target="_blank"> Singapore Exchange</a>, Swiber said the hearing to wind&#8211;up the company has been set for Aug. 19.</article>

Singapore oil field services firm<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Swiber+Holdings+Ltd+" target="_blank"> Swiber Holdings Ltd</a> filed an application to wind up the company and said a Singapore court had appointed provisional liquidators, making it the biggest local name to fall victim to the slump in oil prices.
In a statement to the<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Singapore+Exchange" target="_blank"> Singapore Exchange</a>, Swiber said the hearing to wind&#8211;up the company has been set for Aug. 19.
Swiber, which operates a fleet of 51 vessels, did give any specific reason for the move but said it was facing letters of demand for $25.9 million and had warned earlier this month of delays in raising $200 million in preference shares.
Local oilfield services companies have been burdened by weak oil prices, which have strained their liquidity, with charter rates tumbling and clients either delaying or cancelling projects.
&#8220;If highly leveraged offshore and marine companies are unable to raise capital from equity markets, then they will be left with very little other options other than to file for liquidation or for judicial management,&#8221; said Joel Ng, an analyst at <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=KGI+Fraser+Securities" target="_blank">KGI Fraser Securities</a>.
Over the next year-and-a-half, bonds totalling nearly S$1.2 billion ($881 million) from energy and offshore marine issuers in Singapore will mature, with S$615 million ($455 million) due over the next five months, according to <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=IFR" target="_blank">IFR</a>, a Thomson Reuters publication.
Another firm, Technics Oil &amp; Gas Ltd, and its unit were placed under judicial management this month.
Investors had turned more positive on Swiber after it redeemed two bonds in June and July totalling S$205 million ($151 million).
Swiber said this month a preference share sale agreement for $200 million had been delayed and that it was seeking legal advice. But a flood of letters of demand, including statutory demands, had flowed in since Monday, claiming a total $25.9 million, as of July 26, adding more pressure on the company.
Swiber said some of its executive directors, including its chief financial officer, had resigned.
From just 10 vessels in 2006, Swiber has expanded to own and operate a fleet comprising 38 offshore vessels and 13 construction vessels. It has more than 2,700 employees across Southeast Asia and other countries, according to its website.
Swiber&#8216;s longest dated bond due 2018 started falling sharply in mid-March. The provisional liquidators of the company, which has a market value of S$50 million ($37 million), have asked for trading in Swiber&#8216;s shares to be suspended.
The High Court of Singapore appointed <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=KordaMentha+Pte+Ltd" target="_blank">KordaMentha Pte Ltd</a>&#8216;s Cameron Lindsay Duncan and Muk Siew Peng as the joint and several provisional liquidators of the company.
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Reuters

Swiber to wind up, biggest Singapore casualty of oil slump

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Swiber to wind up, biggest Singapore casualty of oil slump

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