Nobu Su is asking a federal judge to allow him to move forward in his effort to recoup billions of dollars in alleged claims against Vantage Drilling International.
The Taiwanese shipping magnate filed a complaint for declaratory judgement Tuesday in Delaware federal court, requesting to immediately proceed to move onhis more than $2bn in claims against the Houston-based drilling contractor.
"The confirmation order [from Vantage's 2015 bankruptcy case] is unclear as to whether the releases and injunctions apply to [Su]," the complaint read.
According to the complaint, the request was made to avoid "uncertainty" and the risk of violating the bankruptcy plan's injunction.
In 2016 Su, once Vantage's largest shareholder through F3 Capital, mounted challenges to the approval of Vantage's pre-packaged bankruptcy deal and the ruling they lacked standing to challenge the plan in bankruptcy court.
Those cases are currently under advisement, according to a joint letter filed in the fall, after having been reassigned to a new judge.
Regardless of the judgement in either case, the complaint argues Su can still pursue claims against Vantage.
Further, it says the $622m that Vantage won in arbitration against Petrobras from wrongfully terminating a contract in the midst of a probe into corruption in the Brazilian oil company could be claimed by Su.
Both Vantage and Su were implicated in the probe, known as Operation Car Wash.
The canceled $1.82bn contract for the 67,800-gt Titanium Explorer (built 2012) landed Vantage in bankruptcy.
Su was charged for allegedly paying a $31m bribe to Petrobras officials and Brazilian politicians to secure the contract.
Vantage is still working to secure the $622m arbitration award. In August, a Dutch court ordered the attachment of various Petrobras assets held in the country.
