Seadrill New Finance Emerges from Chapter 11. To be Renamed Paratus Energy Services

Offshore drilling firm Seadrill Limited's unit Seadrill New Finance (the Issuer) has emerged from chapter 11 after successfully completing its pre-packaged restructuring pursuant to its chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

The Plan was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on January 12, 2022. All conditions precedent to the restructuring contemplated by the Plan have been satisfied or otherwise waived, Seadrill said.

According to the company, Seadrill New Finance Limited will shortly be renamed Paratus Energy Services Ltd.

Per a previous Reuters report, Seadrill New Finance which had around $535 million in secured debt, and no operations of its own.

Post-emergence, the board of directors of Seadrill New Finance/ Paratus Energy Services, will consist of between three and five members, up to four of will shall be the company's by the unit's noteholders, with the remaining director to be appointed by Seadrill.

As such, a newly constituted board of directors of the Seadrill New Finance was appointed Friday, consisting of Mei Mei Chow, Jim LaChance, Matt Lyne, and James Ayers. Sergio Delgado will initially act as an observer.

• Seadrill Unit Files for Bankruptcy Seeking 24-hour Turnaround

"The plan, which received support from an overwhelming majority of existing stakeholders, provides the Issuer with financial and strategic flexibility and stability.  Benefitting from both the new ownership structure and the continuity provided by the Seadrill group, the Issuer expects to continue to focus on maximizing value for all stakeholders from its portfolio of investments including the Seabras Sapura JV and the SeaMex group," Seadrill said.

The key terms of the Plan, as Shared by Seadrill, included:

• The release by the holders of the Issuer's pre-existing 12.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the "Noteholders" and the "Notes", respectively) of all existing guarantees and security and claims (if any) with respect to Seadrill and its subsidiaries (excluding the Issuer and certain of its subsidiaries);
• the Noteholders receiving 65% of pro forma equity in the Issuer, with Seadrill Investment Holding Company (a subsidiary of Seadrill) retaining the remaining 35% of pro forma equity in the Issuer, effecting a separation of the Issuer and its subsidiaries (including the Seabras Sapura assets and the SeaMex group) from the consolidated Seadrill group;
• the issuance of new notes pro rata to Noteholders on amended terms including:
•  total amount of reinstated new notes: $620,148,899; maturity date: July 15, 2026; 
• interest: either (a) 9.0%, consisting of (i) 3.00% cash interest plus (ii) 6.00% PIK interest, or (b) 10.0% PIK, in each case payable quarterly;
• call protection: redemption price:
  - prior to July 15, 2022: 105%;
  - on or after July 15, 2022: 102%; and
  - on July 15, 2023 and thereafter: 100%;
• the Noteholders will have a first priority right to fund any additional liquidity needs of the Issuer or its affiliates; and
• Seadrill or its subsidiaries will continue to provide certain management services to the Issuer's group.

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