‘Rebirth’ of Duprey
Divestment plan for Govt to exit CL Financial in 5 months, giving ex-chairman possible control...
Published on Jan 14, 2017, 9:00 pm AST
By Asha Javeed
on his way: Former chairman of collapsed CL Financial Lawrence Duprey gestures as he walks past our cameraman outside the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) Hotel in Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, two Fridays ago. Duprey, who has been living in Florida, USA, for several years and remains CL Financial’s majority shareholder, has travelled to Trinidad at least twice in the past few months to hold discussions on CL and its subsidiaries with several parties. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE
AFTER eight years, a commission of enquiry, civil action by the Central Bank and an active police investigation, former chairman of CL Financial (CLF) Lawrence Duprey could regain control because he remains the main shareholder of the once-mighty congloÂmerate.
That is if the Government follows the plan titled “Project Rebirth†prepared by auditor PriceÂwaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The plan paves the way for Government to exit CLF in five months, with the balance of $19.34 billion owed to it for the 2009 bailout.
The $19.34 billion payment will comprise 92 per cent cash and eight per cent real estate.
“Under the divestment plan, the Government receives within 150 days, $13.99 billion from the restructuring of CLICO, which comprises cash of $12.170 billion and real estate of $1,827 million,†the plan said.
The cash component of US$589 million will come from the sale of Methanol Holdings International Ltd (which should raise $2,507 million (US$369 million), CLF cash in CL World Brands of $182 million (US$27 million) and CLICO cash of $1,307 million (US$192 million).
The real estate component will consist of lands which Government requires for its infrastructure development plans.
The real estate up for divestment are Oceanic/Occidental land in Tobago for $867 million and HCL's Buccoo Lands for $960 million.
The plan, dated December 12, 2016, was presented to the CLF board last month.
It noted since 2009, the Government and related entities injected $22.4 billion into the CL Group—into Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO), British American (BAT), CMMB and Clico Investment Bank (CIB)—to mitigate risk.
CLICO remains under management by the Central Bank.
In March 2015, Central Bank GoÂvernor Jwala Rambarran announced that CLICO had turned a profit and was able to satisfy its main creditor—the Government—with a $7 billion payment.
However, only $4.9 billion was paid.
The Sunday Express understands however that CLF wants to hold on to Angostura.
CLF is chaired by former IndeÂpendent senator Dr Rolph Balgobin.
The plan
The Sunday Express obtained a copy of the plan which shows that PwC proposed a due diligence period of 30 days and a transaction period of 120 days, with interim payments being made until the sum is fully repaid.
That plan, which proposed that assets of CLF and two of its subsidiary companies—CLICO and CIB—be divested, remained with the CLF board for over a month before it was handed over to Finance Minister Colm Imbert, the Sunday Express was told.
He did not immediately respond to requests for comment yesterday.
PwC had projected that the exit plan should begin execution in January to meet the May deadline.
The plan comprises three major steps:
1. The restructuring/stabilisation of CLICO
2. The phased liquidation of CIB that commences with the sale of its marketable securities held
3. The transfer of CLF cash and HCL lands to the Government to make up the shortfall.
“Post-transaction execution CLICO is projected to have positive shareholders equity of $3.091 billiÂon, a surplus on its Statutory Fund and sustained after-operating and after-tax profits,†the plan read.
“The nuclear option (forced liquiÂdation of CLF Group) is estimaÂted to lead to the destruction of stakeholder value in the order $7.9 billion, plus the inevitable legal, accounting and other advisory fees, and would take several years to be fully resolved,†it said.
PwC noted CLICO has a deposit of $4.4 billion before interest due from CIB, as well as a repurchase agreement of $1.7 billion with CIB.
PwC expects CIB to meet at least 70 per cent of the agreement.
“Given this interdependence, we recommend that the restructuring and or liquidation of the respective entities be carried out in a co-ordiÂnaÂÂ- ÂÂted and holistic fashion whilst ensurÂing full compliance with the Companies Act and the Act of Parliament, which appointed the CIB liquidator.
“Also, in order to advance the interests of all stakeholders, all reasonable steps should be taken to secure the ‘block' sale of the 50 per cent Republic Bank Ltd (RBL) shares that are collectively held by CLICO, CIB and the Clico Investment Fund (CIF) to secure the premium that would arise from such a sale,†the plan said.
The sale of RBL shares is expected to earn $1,992 million.
www.trinidadexpress.com/20170114/news/di...ol-rebirth-of-duprey 
