Greenland Energy and Pelican Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: PELI) Appoints Ashiq Merchant, former BP executive, as Chief Financial Officer to Drive Transition to Public Markets and Advance World-Class Arctic Operations
Rhea-AI Summary
Greenland Energy (to trade as GLND) named Ashiq Merchant as Chief Financial Officer on March 13, 2026, to lead finance, reporting, capital markets, governance and capital allocation ahead of its planned business combination with Pelican Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: PELI).
The appointment follows SEC effectiveness of the Form S-4 and a strategic Arctic logistics agreement to support 2026 exploratory drilling in the Jameson Land Basin.
Positive
- Appoints CFO with 25 years of BP multinational finance experience
- Form S-4 registration declared effective by the SEC (February 17, 2026)
- Signed Arctic marine logistics agreement supporting 2026 drilling
- March GL to fund up to two exploration wells, earning up to 70% basin interest
Negative
- Business combination remains subject to shareholder approval and closing conditions
- Execution risks for exploratory drilling and licensing extensions in Greenland
News Market Reaction – PELIR
In the Mar 13 session, PELIR declined 13.92%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous Acquisition Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24 | S-4 effectiveness | Positive | -12.1% | SEC declares Form S-4 effective and sets shareholder meeting timeline. |
| Feb 23 | Arctic logistics deal | Positive | -3.5% | Strategic Arctic logistics agreement to support Jameson Land Basin drilling. |
| Sep 10 | Definitive merger pact | Positive | +27.9% | Definitive merger agreement to form Greenland Energy Company with GLND ticker. |
| Jun 23 | LOI to acquire GEL | Positive | +22.2% | Non-binding LOI to acquire Greenland Exploration Limited via share exchange. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Acquisition-related news has produced mixed reactions, with two strong positive moves and two notable selloffs, indicating inconsistent follow-through on deal milestones.
Over the past year, Pelican’s acquisition path toward Greenland Energy has unfolded through several milestones. A non-binding LOI on Jun 23, 2025 and a definitive merger agreement on Sep 10, 2025 drove gains of 22.22% and 27.85%. Later, more procedural updates, including SEC effectiveness of the S-4 on Feb 24, 2026 and related logistics news on Feb 23, 2026, saw declines of 12.14% and 3.5%. Today’s CFO and transaction-focused update fits into this ongoing deal-closure narrative.
Key Terms
form s-4 regulatory
registration statement regulatory
proxy statement/prospectus regulatory
business combination regulatory
forward-looking statements regulatory
prospectus regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
New financial leadership brings 25 years of multinational experience at BP across upstream and downstream businesses in multiple international jurisdictions, including the Middle East and North America
HOUSTON, March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The leadership team behind the formation of Greenland Energy Company (“Greenland”) today announced the appointment of Ashiq Merchant as Chief Financial Officer of the post-merger company.
Merchant joins the executive team at a pivotal moment as the company advances its proposed business combination with Pelican Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: PELI). Upon the expected closing of the transaction following the March 17, 2026, Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, the combined company will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “GLND”.
In his role as CFO, Merchant will oversee all financial operations and reporting, capital markets activities, governance, regulatory compliance, capital allocation and strategy. He will play a critical role in executing the financial strategy required to unlock the potential of Jameson Land Basin and supporting value creation for shareholders.
Strengthening the Leadership Team
“Unlocking a world-class frontier requires world-class financial discipline,” said Robert Price, incoming CEO of Greenland Energy. “Ashiq brings exactly the kind of rigorous financial leadership we need as we transition into a publicly traded company. His experience will be invaluable as we optimize our capital structure to fund our 2026 exploratory drilling program and deliver long-term value to our shareholders.”
Merchant brings over 25 years of senior multinational financial leadership at oil and gas company BP to Greenland Energy, having spent from September 2000 to September 2025 at BP. During his extensive tenure at BP, he held progressively senior finance roles across upstream and downstream businesses in multiple international jurisdictions, including North America and the Middle East. His background includes overseeing financial reporting, capital allocation, joint-venture financial oversight, and complex strategic transactions and restructurings.
A Certified Public Accountant and member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Merchant possesses a proven track record of maintaining rigorous internal controls, risk management, and regulatory compliance consistent with U.S. public company standards.
“I am thrilled to join Greenland Energy at such a transformative inflection point,” said Ashiq Merchant. “The company presents a unique value proposition: a world-class asset with the resource potential to impact global energy security. I look forward to working with Robert, the Board, and our partners to build a strong financial foundation that supports our ambitious 2026 operational goals.”
Strategic Momentum
Merchant’s appointment follows a series of significant operational and regulatory milestones for the Greenland Energy team. This includes the SEC’s recent declaration of effectiveness for the Form S-4 Registration Statement and the execution of a strategic Arctic marine logistics agreement with Desgagnés and Royal Arctic Line to mobilize drilling equipment into the Jameson Land Basin.
About the Transaction
Greenland Exploration Limited and March GL Company are currently in the process of a business combination with Pelican Acquisition Corporation. The transaction aims to create a publicly traded energy company focused on enhancing global energy security through the responsible development of Greenland’s natural resources.
About Greenland Exploration Limited
Greenland Exploration Limited is a Texas-based entity focused on developing strategic positions in North American energy assets. Through its partnerships, Greenland aims to deliver long-term shareholder value in a dynamic and evolving energy market. https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenland-energy-company
About March GL Company
March GL Company, a privately-owned Texas Corporation, entered into an agreement with 80 Mile for drilling to commence at the Jameson oil and gas basin in Greenland. March GL will fund
About Pelican Acquisition Corporation
Pelican Acquisition Corporation is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Pelican is not limited to any particular industry or geographic region in identifying prospective targets.
Additional Information About the Business Combination and Where to Find It
In connection with the Business Combination, Pelican filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), which includes a proxy statement/prospectus of Pelican and was declared effective on February 17, 2026. Pelican will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination to Pelican’s shareholders as of the respective record dates to be established for voting on the Business Combination. The Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, contains important information about the Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at a meeting of the Pelican shareholders (the “Pelican Shareholder Meeting”). This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the Business Combination and other matters and is not intended to provide a basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect of such matters. Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, or Greenland may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Business Combination. Pelican’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, Greenland, and the Business Combination.
Pelican’s shareholders and other interested persons will be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC, free of charge, by Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, and Greenland through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Participants in the Solicitation
Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, Greenland, and their respective directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Pelican shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. More detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Pelican, and a description of their interests in Pelican is contained in Pelican’s filings with the SEC, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended October 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on December 19, 2025, July 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on September 15, 2025, April 30, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on June 27, 2025, and the initial business combination offering filed on Form S-1, and effective as of May 22, 2025, which are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding the persons who may, under the SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Pelican’s shareholders and other interested persons in connection with the Business Combination and other matters to be voted upon at the Pelican Shareholders Meeting will be set forth in the Registration Statement for the Business Combination when available.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “would,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, and March GL Company’s ability to effectuate the Business Combination discussed in this document; the benefits of the Business Combination; the future financial performance of Greenland (defined as the Greenland Energy Company, which will be the go-forward public company following the completion of the Business Combination) following the contemplated transactions; changes in the parties’ strategy; future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this document, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Pelican’s, Greenland Exploration Limited’s, March GL Company’s, or Greenland’s views as of any subsequent date, and none of Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, and Greenland undertakes any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Neither Pelican nor Greenland gives any assurance that either Pelican or Greenland will achieve its business expectations. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, Greenland’s actual result or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: (i) the timing to complete the Business Combination by Pelican’s business combination deadline, including after approval of applicable extensions and the potential failure to obtain such extension(s) of the business combination by the deadline if sought by Pelican; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreements relating to the Business Combination, (iii) the outcome of any legal, regulatory, or governmental proceedings that may be instituted against Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, or Greenland or any investigation or inquiry following announcement of the Business Combination, including in connection with the Business Combination; (iv) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of Pelican’s shareholders or other interested persons; (v) Greenland Exploration Limited, March GL Company, and Greenland’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in its officers, key employees or directors, following the Business Combination; (vi) the ability of the parties to obtain the listing of the Greenland’s common stock on a national securities exchange upon the date of closing of the Business Combination; (vii) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Greenland Exploration Limited or March GL Company; (viii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; (ix) the unexpected costs related to the Business Combination; (x) the amount of redemptions by the Pelican public shareholders being greater than expected; (xi) the management and board composition of Greenland following the Business Combination; (xii) limited liquidity and trading of Greenland’s securities following completion of the Business Combination; (xiii) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions, including March GL Company’s expectations of receiving extensions on applicable licenses, (xiv) the possibility that Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, or March GL Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (xv) operational risks; (xvi) litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, or March GL Company’s resources; (xvii) the risk that the consummation of the Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur; and (xviii) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Registration Statement, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in other filings of Pelican with the SEC.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release relates to a Business Combination by and among Pelican, Greenland Exploration Limited, Greenland, and March GL Company. This document does not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Business Combination. This document does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there by any offer, sale or exchange of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities will be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act or an exemption therein.
Contact
Robert Labbe
Chief Executive Officer
Email: admin@pelicanacq.com
Tel: (212) 612-1400
