Bankrupt offshore drilling contractor Seadrill Limited has hammered out a reorganisation plan with its consenting lenders, which will allow it to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Seadrill expects to get approval for the plan in early November 2021.
To remind, Seadrill filed for Chapter 11 in February 2021. Just last week, it was reported that rival offshore rig owners were looking to buy Seadril’s assets as the company is working to emerge from its second Chapter 11 in four years.
Seadrill said over the weekend it had entered into a plan support agreement (the PSA) with certain of the company’s senior secured lenders holding approximately 57.8 per cent of the company’s senior secured loans as well as a backstop commitment letter entered into with certain of the consenting lenders.
The agreements contemplate a plan of reorganisation that will raise $350 million in new financing and reduce the company’s liabilities by over $4.9 billion.
The plan provides a clear pathway for Seadrill to restructure its balance sheet with the support of the majority of its senior secured lenders. Certain of the consenting lenders have also agreed to backstop a first lien exit facility totalling $300 million. The lenders participating in (and backstopping) the new-money facility will collectively receive 16.75 per cent of new equity in the newly constituted Seadrill, subject to dilution.
Under the plan, the senior secured lenders will also exchange $5.6 billion of existing debt for $750 million of second-lien, takeback debt and 83 per cent of the new equity, subject to dilution. John Fredriksen’s Hemen Holding, currently the company’s largest shareholder, has also committed to fund a $50 million new-money unsecured bond to be issued under the plan, which is convertible into 5 per cent of the new equity under specified circumstances.
Specified trade claims will be paid in full in cash and other general unsecured claims will receive their pro-rata share of $250,000 in cash. Existing shareholders will receive 0.25 per cent of the new equity, subject to dilution, if all voting classes of creditors accept the plan, and otherwise will not receive any recovery. Consummation of the plan is subject to a number of customary terms and conditions, including court approval.
Stuart Jackson , CEO, commented: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached a consensual deal with a large element of Seadrill’s secured lenders that will pave the way for a significant balance sheet deleveraging. It has taken time to reach the right outcome but throughout the process we have maintained strong support from our creditors and we look forward to maintaining that as they become our shareholders as well as our lenders.
Jackson added: “We should not lose sight of the fact that we collectively provide vital services in difficult circumstances on a daily basis. This dedication, coupled with our restructured balance sheet, will allow Seadrill to emerge from Chapter 11 as a stronger company and play its part in the necessary industry consolidation”.
The company filed the plan, an accompanying disclosure statement, and related documents in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on Saturday and will proceed expeditiously to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval of the same. The PSA includes a milestone for Bankruptcy Court approval of the Plan by 5 November 2021.