HOUSTON, April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cal Dive International, Inc.
(Nasdaq: CDIS) announced today that it has entered into an asset purchase
agreement with Torch Offshore, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: TORCQ). Under the
purchase agreement, Cal Dive has agreed to serve as the "stalking horse"
bidder for the purchase of Torch's fleet of vessels, including all equipment,
inventory, intellectual property and other assets related to the operation of
the vessels. In exchange for these assets, Torch will receive consideration
of approximately $92.0 million, including a deposit of $4.6 million, which
will be credited towards the purchase price. The purchase agreement does not
include Torch's accounts receivable, overhead assets unrelated to the
operation of the vessels, and claims owned by Torch's bankruptcy estate.
On April 6, 2005 Torch filed the purchase agreement with the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana along with a motion
seeking the establishment of bidding procedures for an auction that allows
other qualified bidders to submit higher or otherwise better offers for all or
part of Torch's assets, as required under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
If Cal Dive is the highest bidder for all of Torch's assets, it is anticipated
that the transaction will be completed in the second quarter of 2005, pending
approval of the Bankruptcy Court and certain government regulatory agencies.
Owen Kratz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "This transaction
represents our continued commitment to the Marine Contracting business as it
remains an integral part of our Production Contracting business model."
Cal Dive International, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an
energy service company which provides alternate solutions to the oil and gas
industry worldwide for marginal field development, alternative development
plans, field life extension and abandonment, with service lines including
marine diving services, robotics, well operations, facilities ownership and
oil and gas production.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that
could be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, any
projections of revenue, gross margin, expenses, earnings or losses from
operations, or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies
and objectives of management for future operations; any statement concerning
developments, performance or industry rankings relating to services; any
statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements
of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of
the foregoing. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above
include the performance of contracts by suppliers, customers and partners;
employee management issues; as described from time to time in our reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2004. We assume
no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Cal Dive International, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.caldive.com
CONTACT:
Wade Pursell, Chief Financial Officer of Cal
Dive International, Inc., +1-281-618-0400, or fax,
+1-281-618-0505
|
