Seadrill New Finance Limited Announces Forbearance Agreement

Rhea-AI Summary

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited (OTCQX: SDRLF) announced a forbearance agreement for its 12.0% senior secured notes due 2025, allowing time for restructuring efforts amid Chapter 11 filing. The agreement protects the Issuer and its subsidiaries from enforcement actions by creditors until February 24, 2021. This move is aimed at negotiating terms for future restructuring while managing recent defaults, including a missed 4% cash interest payment due January 15, 2021.

Positive

• Entering a forbearance agreement provides breathing room for restructuring.
• Protection from creditor enforcement actions until February 24, 2021.

Negative

• Missed semi-annual 4% cash interest payment due January 15, 2021.
• Chapter 11 filing indicates significant financial distress.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or the "Company") (OSE:SDRL, OTCQX:SDRLF) announces that Seadrill New Finance Limited (the "Issuer"), a subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Bermuda in 2018 and issuer of the 12.0% senior secured notes due 2025 (the "Notes"), has entered into a forbearance agreement with certain holders of the Notes.

Pursuant to the forbearance agreement, the consenting creditors have agreed not to exercise any enforcement rights with respect to the Issuer and any subsidiary of the Issuer which is an obligor under the Notes to, or otherwise take actions in respect of, certain events of default that may arise under the Notes as a result of, amongst other things, the Issuer not making the semi-annual 4% cash interest payment due to the senior secured noteholders on 15 January 2021 in respect of their Notes and the filing of Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of Texas by the Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries (excluding the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries), until and including the earlier of 24 February 2021 and any termination of the forbearance agreement.

The purpose of the forbearance agreement is to allow the Company, the Issuer and its stakeholders (including the forbearing holders) time to seek to agree the terms of a restructuring of the Notes in parallel with the commencement by the Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries of their Chapter 11 cases. Such a restructuring may involve the use of a court-supervised process.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

CONTACT:
seadrill@hawthornadvisors.com 
020 3745 4960

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SOURCE Seadrill Limited

FAQ

What is the forbearance agreement announced by Seadrill Limited on February 11, 2021?

The forbearance agreement allows certain creditors to refrain from enforcing rights related to defaults on senior secured notes, facilitating restructuring efforts.

How does the forbearance agreement affect Seadrill's senior secured notes?

It protects the notes from enforcement actions due to defaults, including a missed interest payment, until February 24, 2021.

What financial issues prompted Seadrill to file Chapter 11?

Seadrill's Chapter 11 filing was triggered by financial distress, including the failure to make scheduled interest payments.

What is the deadline for Seadrill's restructuring plan as per the forbearance agreement?

The deadline is set for February 24, 2021, unless the agreement is terminated earlier.

What impact does the forbearance agreement have on Seadrill Limited's stock symbol SDRLF?

The forbearance agreement reflects the company's ongoing financial challenges, which could influence investor sentiment regarding SDRLF.