據離岸工程網8月4日報道，由于“大宗商品價格嚴重下滑，再加上covid19大流行”，海洋鉆井承包商諾貝爾公司(Noble Corporation)已申請破產保護，以重組其債務。

諾貝爾集團表示，已與公司未償債券最大持有人組成的兩個特設集團達成了一項重組支持協議。

該公司稱，這將大大降低該公司資產負債表的杠桿率，使來寶公司能夠實現長期增長。

除了其他事項外，協議還概述了一項全面計劃，通過取消重組后公司的債務，并將債務轉換為新股權的方式，來消除該公司當前超過34億美元的債務。

諾貝爾集團的主要債券持有人也同意以新的二次留置權票據的形式投入2億美元新資本。

在重組后，該公司預計將獲得一個新的6.75億美元有擔保的循環信貸支持，該貸款將由其目前的循環信貸貸款放款財團提供，摩根大通銀行將擔任行政代理。

為實施重組交易，該公司和選定的子公司自愿根據《美國破產法》第11章向美國德州南區破產法院申請救濟。

諾貝爾集團將通過一項重組計劃實施重組，預計該計劃將在今年秋季得到確認，從而使公司在年底前脫離破產保護。

該公司有足夠的資金來資助其全球業務，不需要額外的申請后融資在這個時候。

在重組期間，諾貝爾將繼續正常經營，不受干擾。

諾貝爾集團總裁兼首席執行官羅伯特?艾弗勒表示:“諾貝爾受到了大宗商品價格嚴重下滑的影響，而Covid-19疫情又加重了這種影響。

“經過數月的戰略選擇探索，我們得出結論，通過破產法第11章(Chapter 11)申請實施的一項大規模去杠桿化交易，得到了我們最大債權人的支持，將為諾貝爾集團和我們的股東帶來最好的結果。”

“我們資產負債表和流動性狀況的改善，將使我們能夠進一步投資于我們的資產、客戶關系和員工。”

壽琳玲 編譯自 離岸工程

原文如下：

Noble Corporation files for bankruptcy protection

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure its debt following a “severe downturn in commodity prices which has been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Noble Corporation said that it entered into a restructuring support agreement with two ad hoc groups of the largest holders of the company’s outstanding bond debt

According to the company, this will significantly deleverage the company’s balance sheet and position Noble Corp. for long term growth.

The agreement outlines, among other things, a comprehensive plan for the elimination of all of the company’s bond debt, which currently represents over $3.4 billion of debt, through the cancellation and exchange of debt for new equity in the reorganized company.

Noble Corp.’s major bondholders also agreed to invest $200 million of new capital in the form of new second-lien notes.

Following the restructuring, the company expects to emerge with an enhanced liquidity position supported by a new $675 million secured revolving credit facility to be provided by its current syndicate of revolving credit facility lenders, with JPMorgan Chase Bank as an administrative agent.

To implement the restructuring transaction, the company and selected subsidiaries voluntary filed petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

The restructuring will be implemented through a plan of reorganization that Noble Corp. expects to be confirmed by this fall, allowing emergence from Chapter 11 before year-end.

The company has sufficient capital to fund its worldwide operations and does not require additional post-petition financing at this time.

Noble will continue to operate as normal and without interruption for the duration of the restructuring.

Robert Eifler president and CEO of Noble Corporation, said: “Noble has been affected by the severe downturn in commodity prices which has been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“After many months exploring our strategic options, we concluded that a substantial deleveraging transaction implemented through a Chapter 11 filing, supported by our largest creditors, provides the best outcome for Noble and our stakeholders.”

“Our improved balance sheet and liquidity position will enable us to further invest in our assets, customer relationships and our people.”