Havila Shipping ASA avoided a potential bankruptcy filing, after bondholders accepted a debt-restructuring deal hours before a company deadline, Bloomberg News reported yesterday. The Norwegian operator of oil-rig support vessels won support from holders of two-thirds of its bonds, according to a statement. The company said last week that it would probably seek court protection if there was no agreement by yesterday. Havila lenders had announced plans to call in borrowings after bondholders failed to support a debt reorganization. Norwegian oil-service providers are suffering because crude prices below $50 a barrel have damped drilling, while competition has surged due to a flood of vessels ordered before the market collapse.
