Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
As previously disclosed, on May 11, 2019 (the “Petition Date”), Bristow Group Inc. (the “Company”, “Bristow Group”, “we”, “us” or “our”) and its subsidiaries BHNA Holdings Inc., Bristow Alaska Inc., Bristow Helicopters Inc., Bristow U.S. Leasing LLC, Bristow U.S. LLC, BriLog Leasing Ltd. and Bristow Equipment Leasing Ltd. (together with the Company, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”) seeking relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The Debtors’ Chapter 11 Cases are jointly administered under the captionIn re: Bristow Group Inc., et al., Main Case No.19-32713. The Debtors continue to operate their businesses and manage their propertiesas “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court.
As previously disclosed, on August 1, 2019, the Debtors filed a joint chapter 11 plan of reorganization and a related disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court, and on August 20, 2019, the Debtors filed an Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization (as subsequently modified on August 22, 2019, the “Amended Plan”) and the related disclosure statement for the Amended Plan with the Bankruptcy Court. The Amended Plan is subject to confirmation by the Bankruptcy Court and acceptance by the Debtors’ creditors (as and to the extent required under the Bankruptcy Code).
As previously disclosed, on July 25, 2019, the Debtors filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking, among other things, interim and final approval of the proposed DIP Credit Agreement (as defined herein), and on August 21, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order (the “DIP Order”), which, among other things, approved the DIP Credit Agreement.
DIP Credit Agreement
In connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, on August 26, 2019, the Company entered into the Superpriority SecuredDebtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement (the “DIP Credit Agreement”) among the Company, as lead borrower, Bristow Holdings Company Ltd. III, asco-borrower (“BHC III” and, together with the Company, the “DIP Borrowers”), the other Debtors and guarantors party thereto and other guarantors from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “DIP Obligors”), the financial institutions or other entities from time to time party thereto, and Ankura Trust Company, LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “DIP Agent”).
The DIP Credit Agreement contains the following terms:
| • | | a term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $150 million, the full amount of which was drawn at closing, the proceeds of which, net of applicable commitment fees, were deposited into an escrow account and pledged to the lenders to secure the obligations under the DIP Credit Agreement; |
| • | | proceeds of the term loan facility may be used by the DIP Borrowers (i) to provide working capital to the Company and fund the costs of the administration of the Chapter 11 Cases and the consummation of the Approved Reorganization (as defined in the DIP Credit Agreement), (ii) to finance the previously announced cash tender offer for a portion of the Company’s outstanding 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “8.75% Senior Secured Notes”) and to pay fees and expenses associated therewith and (iii) as otherwise agreed in writing by the lenders; |
| • | | the maturity date of the DIP Credit Agreement is the earliest of (i) August 21, 2020, (ii) as directed by the lenders following and during the continuation of any event of default and (iii) the effective date of the Amended Plan; |
| • | | interest will be payable monthly in arrears and will initially accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the DIP Credit Agreement) plus 6.00%; |
| • | | the obligations and liabilities of the DIP Obligors owed to the DIP Agent and lenders under the DIP Credit Agreement and related loan documents will be entitled to joint and several superpriority administrative expense claims against the Company and the DIP Obligors that are Debtors in their respective Chapter 11 Cases, subject to limited exceptions provided for in the DIP Order and the DIP Credit Agreement, and will be secured by (i) a first priority security interest and lien on all unencumbered property of the Company and the DIP Obligors that are Debtors, subject to limited exceptions provided for in the DIP Credit Agreement and the DIP Order, (ii) a first priority, priming security interest and lien on all property of the Company and the DIP Obligors that are Debtors securing the 8.75% Senior Secured Notes and the 2019 Term Loan (as defined herein), subject to limited exceptions provided for in the DIP Order and the DIP Credit |
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