Afren plc was an international independent oil exploration and production company. It was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange, however it was de-listed in 2015. The company was placed in administration in July 2015. History The company was founded in 2004 by the Europe-based West African entrepreneur Ethelbert Cooper, with assistance from the former OPEC president and secretary general Rilwanu Lukman, as an exploration and production company focused on Africa. Most of Afren's production is in Nigeria. After the initial public offering in March 2005, Afren rapidly expanded its portfolio across six countries: Nigeria, São Tomé & Príncipe JDZ, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Iraqi Kurdistan. In March 2015, Afren reported lenders approved a three-month payment deferral for a $300 million debt facility. Afren said it won a payment deferral for a $50 million amortization payment for a $300 million Ebok debt facility that was due 31 January. On 4 March 2015 Afren defaulted on its 2016 bonds after refusing to make a $15 million interest payment in order to preserve cash for an ongoing capital structure review. In April 2015, Afren appointed Alan Linn its new chief executive, following the sacking of CEO Osman Shahenshah, along with chief operating officer Shahid Ullah over allegations of unauthorised bonus payments to themselves by an Afren joint venture partner. On 15 July 2015, Afren shares were suspended after its failure to raise enough funds to continue operating, and reduced production levels. On 16 July 2015 about 130 small shareholders wrote to the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate demanding a "full and prompt regulatory investigation" into Afren's conduct. On 31 July 2015 Afren plc released a corporate update announcing that, having failed to secure refinancing, the board of the company would file papers to put the organisation into administration. AlixPartners were appointed as administrators. On 10 August 2015 the company was delisted from the London Stock Exchange. In September 2015 stakeholders criticized Blackstone's involvement in Afren Administration. Concerns were raised over a potential conflict of interest in the process for winding up Afren. A suit was filed by Petroleum Zion Exploration and Production Ltd, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, claiming that the company interfered with their transaction to purchase Afren's stake in Oil Mining Lease ("OML") 26. The plaintiff was also seeking $230 million as damages against PJT Partners UK for disclosing its sensitive information to competitors