BY Fraser Tennant
Another victim of the ongoing volatility across the sector, oilfield services provider Parker Drilling Company has entered into a restructuring support agreement (RSA) in a bid to reduce its spiralling debt and obtain access to capital commitments.
To implement the terms of the RSA, Parker has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection. The company’s non-US subsidiaries and certain US subsidiaries are excluded from the filing and will not be affected by the process. Furthermore, Parker intends to seek confirmation of a prearranged plan of reorganisation, for which consenting stakeholders have indicated their support.
Parker’s proposed plan, which is subject to court approval, reduces approximately two-thirds of funded debt and injects $95m of new, fully committed equity capital through a backstopped rights offering. It also contemplates the issuance of a new $210m loan.
In addition, Parker anticipates that its cash flow and existing liquidity will be sufficient to support global operations during the bankruptcy and restructuring process, and has further augmented liquidity with access to $50m in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. The lenders under the DIP financing have also committed to fund an exit facility of $50m.
“The steps we are announcing will ensure that we have the appropriate capital structure to take advantage of these opportunities to strategically grow our assets, our global footprint, and our suite of products and services," said Gary Rich, chairman, president and chief executive of Parker Drilling. "We are confident that by resolving our legacy balance sheet issues, we will be able to continue executing a strategy to build greater scale in core markets and expand strategic offerings, while strengthening our drilling and rental tools businesses.”
Parker’s existing customer and vendor contracts are expected to remain in place and be serviced in the ordinary course of business during the bankruptcy and restructuring process. Employee wages and benefits, as well as trade creditors, will be paid in full in the ordinary course of business.
A provider of drilling services and rental tools to the energy industry, Parker serves operators in the inland waters of the US Gulf of Mexico and in select US and international markets.
Mr Rich concluded: “I am confident that the strength of our complementary business lines, combined with a solid financial platform, will position Parker to lead the industry as market conditions improve."
The company has stated that it expects to emerge from bankruptcy protection early in 2019.
News: Parker Drilling files for pre-arranged Chapter 11 reorganization