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INTO ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR
DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION,
SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO
SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN
PETROFAC LIMITED OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY
JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE
INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE UK VERSION OF
REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 ON MARKET ABUSE, AS IT FORMS PART OF
UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT
2018.
Petrofac enters Lock-Up Agreement
and announces comprehensive financial restructuring
Petrofac Limited (“Petrofac” or the
“Company” and
together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) today announces that it has
entered into a binding agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”) with key
financial creditors on the terms of a comprehensive restructuring
(the “Restructuring”) to significantly
strengthen the financial position of the Group and enable Petrofac
to deliver its strategy.
The Lock-Up Agreement formalises the in-principle agreement
announced by the Company on 27 September 2024 with certain key
stakeholders including an ad hoc group of holders of senior secured
notes (the “Ad Hoc
Group”) and certain other senior secured noteholders,
which together comprise approximately 57% of the senior secured
notes. It is part of a comprehensive restructuring that also
involves a new equity raise and certain agreements with core
clients and other counterparties. In aggregate, the Restructuring
will deliver at least US$325m of new funding to the Group. After
repayment of certain obligations, including payments required to
extinguish certain historical claims and contingent liabilities,
and payment of transaction costs, this will result in an immediate
increase in Group liquidity of at least US$195m.
Since announcing a review of the Company’s strategic and
financial options in December 2023, the Directors have considered
and evaluated several alternative options to improve the position
of the Group’s balance sheet. The Directors are of the view that
the Restructuring provides the best available outcome for the
Group, its 8,000 strong workforce and its external
stakeholders.
The components of the Restructuring are inter-conditional and
certain elements will be implemented by way of restructuring plans
launched by the Company and Petrofac International (UAE) LLC
(“PIUL”)
pursuant to Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006 which will require
sanction by the English court (the
“Restructuring
Plans”). Shareholders will be asked to approve certain
components of the Restructuring at a General Meeting of the
Company, which is expected to take place in February
2025.
The proposed Restructuring includes
the following:
-
Committed new funding of
US$325m:
-
US$131m of new debt, with US$94m
backstopped by the Ad Hoc Group and the Additional Noteholders and
US$38m committed by a new equity and debt investor (the
“New
Investor”); and
-
US$194m new equity committed by the
Ad Hoc Group, the New Investor and certain other new and existing
shareholders.
-
The Company may upsize the new
equity issuance by up to US$25m in aggregate prior to the
Restructuring Effective Date, and it intends to undertake a retail
offering of approximately US$8m in 2025.
-
Conversion of approximately US$772m
of existing debt into equity, which will significantly deleverage
and strengthen the Group’s balance sheet. Post-Restructuring total
gross debt (including new funding) will be approximately
US$250m.
-
Agreement with core clients in
relation to alternative performance security for certain contracts
awarded to Petrofac in 2023 and further contracts expected to be
awarded following the Restructuring.
-
Material dilution, while preserving
some value, for existing shareholders.
-
Extinguishing certain historical
actual and contingent liabilities including, notably, in relation
to the Thai Oil Clean Fuels contract.
-
US$72m of new performance guarantee
facilities for which discussions are at an advanced stage, which
will enable the release of US$56m of cash collateral to the
Group.
-
A transformation plan to formalise
the construct of the Group’s E&C, ETP and Asset Solutions
delivery units.
-
Changes to the Board and enhanced
corporate governance framework aligned with the aims of the
Restructuring.
It is expected that, subject to receipt of all requisite
approvals and satisfaction of conditions, the Restructuring will be
completed during Q1 of 2025 (the “Restructuring Effective
Date”).
René Médori, Chairman, said:
“We are pleased to have announced today a deal with creditors
and other stakeholders which will materially strengthen Petrofac’s
financial position. We recognise the demands that this process has
placed on the Group’s stakeholders, each of whom is playing a vital
role in delivering this critical step for the business. I would
once again like to thank our shareholders, clients, creditors and
employees – we will continue to depend on your support over the
coming weeks as we implement the agreement and deliver Petrofac’s
future growth potential.
“The financial restructuring will mark a new beginning for
Petrofac. I look forward to overseeing the conclusion of this
process with a view to transitioning my Board duties to a new
Chairperson in 2025.”
Tareq Kawash, Group Chief Executive,
said:
“The agreement announced today will provide a sustainable
financial structure that will support our business plan and allow
the Group to move forward with confidence. Bolstered by our current
backlog and pipeline of opportunities, the business is well
positioned as a leading provider of critical energy infrastructure.
We have made good progress in closing out our legacy portfolio of
contracts, our new projects are progressing well, we have a
refreshed strategy focused on our strengths, with enhanced bidding
discipline and project governance.
“I am grateful to our stakeholders for coming together as
part of the Lock-Up Agreement to deliver these stronger foundations
for the future and look forward to leading our exceptional team in
pursuit of future successes.”
Remaining Steps to the
Restructuring
The entry into the Lock-Up Agreement and associated
agreements represents the culmination of many months of work. A
number of steps are now required to complete the Restructuring,
which is critical for the Company to continue as a going concern.
Each of these steps is inter-conditional, and so all need to be
completed in order for the Restructuring (including the new funding
set out above) to proceed.
The equity raise is being conducted by way of a
non-pre-emptive placing, which in the view of the Directors was
critical for the purposes of announcing a fully committed
transaction. The Company values its retail investor base and is
keen to ensure that a broader range of investors have an
opportunity to participate in the Group’s future growth. The
Company therefore intends to announce an offer of ordinary shares
to retail investors to raise approximately US$8m, at the same issue
price as the new equity raise announced today, following the
publication of the Company’s audited financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2024. The Company also intends to give
preferential allocation to those retail investors who are
shareholders on the date of this announcement to the extent
reasonably practicable.
Implementation of the Restructuring requires (among other
things) (i) shareholder approval for components of the
Restructuring at a General Meeting of the Company, which is
expected to take place in February 2025; (ii) the requisite
creditor support (in particular from the Group’s senior secured
funded creditors), and sanctioning by the Court of the Group’s
proposed restructuring plans under Part 26A of the Companies Act
2006; (iii) agreement to secure performance guarantees for certain
key EPC contracts or agreeing to alternative solutions with the
clients; (iv) full and final settlement with HMRC in relation to
certain historical claims against the Group on terms acceptable to
creditors who have entered the Lock-Up Agreement; (v)
obtaining non-compromised Thai Oil guarantor support for the
Restructuring; (vi) consent from the Jersey Financial
Services Commission for certain issuances in connection with the
Restructuring; (vii) agreement with guarantee providers to waive
defaults resulting from the Restructuring; and (viii) receipt of
proceeds from the issuance of new ordinary shares and new notes.
Further detail on the conditions to the Restructuring is set out in
Section 5(a) below.
Certain shareholders, including each of the Directors, who
together hold in aggregate approximately 37% of the Company’s
outstanding share capital have undertaken to vote their
shareholdings in favour of the resolutions proposed at the General
Meeting. The Directors are confident in the Group’s
prospects and, in connection with the New Equity, René Médori
(Chairman), Tareq Kawash (Chief Executive Officer), Afonso Reis e
Sousa (Chief Financial Officer) and David Davies (Non-Executive
Director) have agreed to subscribe for new ordinary shares at the
same price as other New Equity investors for aggregate
consideration of US$1.08m.
The lenders under the Group’s existing revolving credit
facility and term loans (together, the “Bank Lenders”) have not yet signed
the Lock-Up Agreement. The Group is progressing discussions with
the Bank Lenders to seek their support for the final terms of the
Restructuring. The Group is aiming to conclude the discussions in
the coming weeks. The support of certain of the Bank Lenders will
be necessary in order for the Restructuring to take
place.
All
lenders (that is, all holders of the Group’s outstanding senior
secured notes and Bank Lenders (together the “Funded Creditors”))
are encouraged to accede to the Lock-Up Agreement and participate
in the Restructuring. Section 5 “Participation by Funded Creditors
in the Lock-Up Agreement and the New Money” sets out next steps on
how to do this.
-
Reasons for, and purpose of the Restructuring
Reasons for the
Restructuring
Under the current management team, Petrofac has made
significant progress having refreshed its strategy to focus on its
strengths and enhance bidding discipline and project
governance.
Despite significant progress in rebuilding the backlog in
2023, challenges with the Group’s legacy portfolio
impacted Petrofac’s financial performance. In particular, the
Group’s activities were exposed to adverse and significantly
delayed contractual outcomes and settlements and were negatively
affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to losses
on a number of contracts.
This included significant cost overruns on the Thai Oil Clean
Fuels joint venture contract, which have been driving losses at the
Engineering & Construction division (“E&C”) and Group level in recent
years. Here, the impact of the pandemic, together with the scale
and unique complexity of the project and its location, meant that
significant additional work and costs were necessary to recover
lost time and complete the project. In this context, the Group,
alongside its joint venture partners, has been in protracted
discussions since 2022 to recover costs incurred.
As part of the Restructuring, the Group continues to seek
agreed terms to continue its participation on the project on a
defined and limited basis. Absent this, the Group will exit the
Thai Oil Clean Fuels contract with associated potential claims and
contingent liabilities expected to be compromised as part of the
Restructuring Plans. In this regard, Petrofac is aware of the
announcement made on 20 December 2024 by Thai Oil that its board of
directors has convened an extraordinary general meeting of its
shareholders to consider and approve an increase of the investment
cost in the Thai Oil Clean Fuels Project. Due to the timing of this
announcement, its impact (if any) on the Restructuring remains
subject to ongoing review by the Company
In conjunction with the challenges noted above, a reduced
appetite for the provision of performance bonds and/or advance
payment guarantees (“guarantees”) across the sector,
impaired the Company’s ability to secure guarantees for its
engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) contracts — a standard
industry requirement — without the posting of cash
collateral.
These restrictions strained the liquidity of the Group,
preventing it from being able to execute its contract backlog
without support from its stakeholders to resolve both the guarantee
requirements and liquidity needs.
Purpose of the
Restructuring
The Directors believe that the Restructuring is critical to
deleverage and strengthen the Group’s balance sheet and liquidity
position, as well as to deliver a sustainable capital structure
that will allow the Group to meet future guarantee requirements and
deliver its strategy.
The Restructuring provides a comprehensive solution that
involves support from the Group’s various stakeholders and aims to:
(i) protect existing backlog contracts; (ii) protect the Group from
future exposure on the Thai Oil Clean Fuels contract and certain
other historical claims and contingent liabilities; (iii) support
access to future guarantees; (iv) reduce the Group’s gross
indebtedness; (v) restore the Group to a positive net equity
position; (vi) allow for the normalisation of the Group’s working
capital; (vii) improve the Group’s liquidity; (viii) reduce the
Group’s interest costs and (ix) rationalise the Group along
operational lines. The Group expects the Restructuring to provide a
foundation for significant growth in the coming years, as
summarised in Section 3 “Financial Outlook”.
The Directors believe that the Group’s ability to continue as
a going concern is contingent on the implementation of the
Restructuring. If the Restructuring is not implemented, the Company
would likely enter into liquidation proceedings. The Board has
carefully considered the terms of the Restructuring (including the
resulting equity dilution of existing shareholders) and believes
that the Restructuring is in the best interests of stakeholders as
a whole.
See Section 4 “Other considerations” for an overview of key
outstanding steps to implementation.
-
Overview of the key terms agreed for the
Restructuring
The equity allocation following implementation of the
Restructuring is summarised in the table below.[1]
Stakeholder
|
Equity
allocation
|
Funded Creditors (New Money providers)
|
50.0%
|
Funded Creditors (debt-for-equity)
|
17.3%
|
New equity and debt investor
|
12.5%
|
Other New Equity investors
|
17.8%
|
Current Shareholders
|
2.5%
|
The key terms of the Restructuring steps are summarised
below. Each component of the Restructuring is inter-conditional
with the other components.
-
New Money
The Group has secured new equity and debt commitments as set
out below (the “New
Money”).
New
Equity
US$194m of commitments to subscribe for ordinary shares in
the Company (the “new
ordinary shares”):
-
US$94m backstopped by the Ad Hoc
Group and certain other senior secured noteholders (the
“Additional
Noteholders”), in exchange
for 26.7% of the post-Restructuring share capital of the Company
(before accounting for any fees paid as new ordinary
shares);
-
US$38m committed by the New
Investor, in exchange for 10.7% of the post-Restructuring share
capital of the Company; and
-
at least US$62m to be subscribed
for by certain existing shareholders, including Directors of the
Company, and new investors in exchange for 17.8% of the
post-Restructuring share capital of the Company (together, the
“New
Equity”).
-
The Company may upsize the New
Equity issuance by up to a further US$25m.
In aggregate, taken together with the new ordinary shares to
be issued (i) in connection with the debt-for-equity swap (see
Section 2(b) below), (ii) to Funded Creditors that subscribe for
the New Money Notes (see “New Money Notes” in this Section 2(a))
and (iii) in respect of the backstop fees (see Section 2(i) below),
20,550m new ordinary shares are expected to be issued on completion
of the Restructuring representing 97.5% of the Company’s share
capital. This will result in a significant increase in the issued
ordinary share capital of the Company and consequently existing
holders of the ordinary shares will experience material
dilution.
As consideration for backstopping their portion of the New
Equity, the Ad Hoc Group and the Additional Noteholders will
receive a backstop fee, paid in part by the issuance of new
ordinary shares, as described further below in section
2(i).
All Funded Creditors will be entitled to participate in the
backstopped New Equity, provided they also participate in
the New Money Notes on a fixed ratio of 50/50 (the
“Funding Ratio”)
between New Money Notes and New Equity (see “New Money Notes” in this Section
2(a), Section 2(i) and Section 5 below).
In addition, the Company has agreed to issue two classes of
warrants over ordinary shares to existing shareholders who have
committed to subscribe for ordinary shares as part of the New
Equity, but excluding Directors, (the “Existing Shareholder Investors”)
for nil consideration. The key terms of the warrants are summarised
below.
|
Tranche 1
|
Tranche 2
|
Allocation
|
48 warrants for every 100 new ordinary shares subscribed
for
|
28 warrants for every 100 new ordinary shares subscribed
for
|
Duration
|
5 years from the Restructuring Effective Date
|
5 years from the Restructuring Effective Date
|
Subscription price
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Subscription right
|
Each warrant will give the holder the right to subscribe for
1 ordinary share
|
Exercise
|
Upon the Company reaching the applicable Threshold Market
Capitalisation (based on a 30-day GBP volume-weighted average share
price), prior to the end of the applicable warrant term
|
Threshold Market
Capitalisation
|
US$1.30bn
|
US$1.95bn
|
New
Money Notes
US$131m (before original issue discount (“OID”) and backstop fees) (the
“New Money
Notes”) of debt funding in the form of new super
senior secured notes, with US$94m backstopped by the Ad Hoc Group
and the Additional Noteholders and US$38m committed by the New
Investor.
As consideration for backstopping their portion of the New
Money Notes, the Ad Hoc Group and the Additional Noteholders will
receive a backstop fee, paid in part by the issuance of additional
New Money Notes, as described further below in section
2(i).
As noted above, all Funded Creditors (and certain other
existing secured guarantee providers) will be entitled to
participate in the backstopped New Money Notes (see Section 2(i)
and Section 5 below).
The New Notes (being the New Money Notes together with the
Reinstated Notes (as defined in Section 2(b) below) will be issued
by a newly incorporated subsidiary that will become the holding
company of the Group’s Asset Solutions division and have the
following key terms:
-
total quantum of up to US$250m,
taking account of (i) 7.5% OID and 7.5% backstop fee on the US$133m
New Money Notes and (ii) the US$96m Reinstated Notes (see Section
2(b) below);
-
maturity date of 30 June
2030;
-
9.75% p.a. payment-in-kind
(“PIK”) interest and/or cash interest (or
combination) at the Company’s discretion in year one and 9.75% p.a.
cash interest thereafter (payable on a semi-annual basis
(commencing 6 months from the Restructuring Effective
Date));
-
super-senior priority over an
enhanced common guarantee and security package, which will include
a share pledge over a new intermediate holding company of the
Group;
-
proceeds from the New Money
Notes will be paid into a segregated account and
must be used in accordance with a
pre-agreed proceeds usage plan, subject to compliance with agreed
liquidity tests and certain key milestones agreed as part of the
development of the delivery unit separation plan (see Section 2(g)
below);
-
semi-annual sweep of Assets
Solutions cash balances over US$50m, with 80% to be applied towards
redeeming the New Notes, to apply from completion of the delivery
unit separation;
-
Group minimum liquidity test, set
at US$40m 2025, US$55m H1 2026 and US$75m thereafter;
-
total funded debt
post-Restructuring will be capped at US$279m, excluding interest
and debt incurred pursuant to agreed baskets (note: if the
non-compromised Thai Oil guarantee is called and the guarantor’s
claim is reinstated on a senior basis before 31 December 2025, up
to c. US$19m of New Notes will be released in exchange for new
ordinary shares in the Company);
-
Asset Solutions net debt / EBITDA
covenant (applying post separation only) of 4.6x in 2026, 4.2x in 2027 and 4x in 2028, to
apply from completion of the delivery unit
separation;
-
From the Restructuring Effective
Date, a restriction on the transfer of assets from Asset Solutions
to non-Asset Solutions Group entities, which, with effect
from completion of the delivery unit separation, shall also apply
to cash; and
-
restrictions on the payment of cash
dividends (including the use of Asset Solutions cash, following
completion of the delivery unit separation) until the New Notes are
fully repaid.
Funded Creditors that subscribe for the New Money Notes will
also receive new ordinary shares constituting 17.9% of the
post-Restructuring share capital of the Company as additional
consideration for their New Money investment.
-
Debt Restructuring
Debt-for-equity
swap
Approximately US$772m of outstanding debt under the Company’s
revolving credit and term loan facilities and its senior secured
notes (the “Funded
Debt”) will be converted into new ordinary shares
constituting 17.3% of the post-Restructuring share capital of the
Company.
Reinstated
Notes
Funded Creditors who participate in the New Money Notes will
receive, for every US$1 of participation, reinstatement of US$0.81
of their Funded Debt as super senior secured notes (the
“Reinstated
Notes” and, together with the New Money Notes, the
“New Notes”),
subject to any adjustment to the reinstatement ratio in connection
with the provision of New Guarantee Facilities, the Thai Oil
non-compromised guarantor claims and the Thai Oil Guarantee
Claims.
Reinstated Notes will also be issued to Funded Creditors (and
certain other existing creditors) that participate in New Guarantee
Facilities (see Section 2(c) below).
-
New Guarantee Facilities
As of the date of this announcement, the Company is in
advanced discussions with an existing Funded Creditor to provide
US$72m of New Guarantee Facilities for a major E&C project. In
consideration, the Funded Creditor will receive, in respect of
their Funded Debt, a partial cash repayment (c.US$19.6m) and
partial reinstatement as Reinstated Notes (c.US$19.6m).
Funded Creditors and certain other creditors of the Group
will also be invited to participate in providing New Guarantee
Facilities for a second EPC contract in amount of €50m. For every
US$1 of such New Guarantee Facilities commitments, participants
will receive:
-
in the case of Funded Creditors,
cash repayment of US$0.26 and reinstatement of US$0.26 of their
Funded Debt (as described above);
-
in the case of the Thai Oil
guarantee providers, (i) US$0.26 cash repayment and (ii) US$0.26
reinstatement as Reinstated Notes of their contingent claims in
connection with the Thai Oil Clean Fuels Project (if and when they
crystallise) net of any cash collateral applied by the relevant
creditor; and
-
in the case of Unsecured Guarantee
Creditors, the elevation of US$1 of their existing unsecured
guarantees to senior secured ranking (“Elevated Existing Unsecured
Guarantees”).
The New Guarantee Facilities will be issued on terms
customary for facilities of this nature, and will be subordinated
to the New Money Notes, but rank pari passu with all other senior
secured debt over the common guarantee and security package. The
New Guarantee Facilities in respect of the first major E&C
project will benefit from the ring-fencing arrangements noted below
(see Section 2(d) below).
-
Key Client Arrangements
As part of the Restructuring, the Group has revised the terms
of the US$14bn multi-year framework agreement with TenneT in
relation to the Group’s work alongside Hitachi Energy on a series
of offshore wind projects (the “TenneT Framework
Agreement”). The revised arrangements
include a more gradual build-up of the performance security
requirement over the life of the TenneT Framework Agreement and the
ability to meet at least part of that security through retentions
rather than performance guarantees. These arrangements will apply
until 31 December 2026, following which performance security will
be required in the form of guarantees.
In exchange, future payments made by TenneT will be
ring-fenced and used exclusively for costs associated with the
TenneT contracts (including services provided by other Group
entities), and transfers outside of the ring-fence will only be
permitted for transfers of certain profits and overhead to the
Group, alongside limited additional amounts of excess
liquidity.
In addition, the Group has agreed revisions to its agreements
with ADNOC in relation to the provision of guarantees. The revised
arrangements include an extension, for 18 months from the date that
the Restructuring becomes effective, of the period to provide
guarantees for one contract. In exchange, future payments made by
ADNOC to the Group on the two contracts awarded in 2023 will be
paid into ring-fenced bank accounts and used exclusively for costs
associated with those contracts, including services provided by
other Group entities, and for transfers of overhead to the
Group.
-
Settlements and arrangements regarding certain claims and
contingent liabilities
As part of the Restructuring, the Group has agreed
settlements and/or will seek to settle and/or compromise certain
historical claims and contingent liabilities required under the
terms of the Lock-Up Agreement and as summarised below:
Consensual
settlements
-
HMRC: In October 2020, HMRC issued a decision
pursuant to section 8(1)(c) of the Social Security Contributions
(Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (the “Decision”) in respect of Petrofac Facilities Management
Limited (“PFM”), a subsidiary of the Company. Under that
Decision, PFM was liable to pay secondary Class 1 national
insurance contributions for the period 6 October 1999 to 5 April
2014. PFM has appealed that Decision and disputed the liability.
Since October 2024, PFM has been engaged in positive discussions
with HMRC with a view to a possible settlement of the Decision and
PFM’s appeal (the “NIC
Dispute”). The final terms
of any settlement of the NIC Dispute remain the subject of on-going
discussions between HMRC and PFM. It is a condition of the Lock-Up
Agreement, that a full and final settlement of the NIC Dispute is
concluded before the Restructuring Effective Date and that such
settlement is on terms acceptable to the creditors who have signed
the Lock-Up Agreement. If, as the Company hopes, PFM is able to
reach a settlement with HMRC which is acceptable to the creditors
who have signed the Lock-Up Agreement, the Company expects that the
settlement will shortly be concluded.
-
Thai Oil
non-compromised guarantor claims: The Group is in the process of concluding
negotiations with a non-compromised guarantor regarding discharge
of any claims it may have against the Group as a result of a demand
by Thai Oil Public Company on the performance bonds issued by the
guarantor in support of the Group’s obligations in respect of the
Clean Fuel Project. To the extent that such claims were to
crystallise, the claims will be reinstated (net of cash collateral
applied in partial satisfaction of such claims) as senior secured
debt of up to US$49m, maturing after the maturity of the New
Notes.
Compromise of
certain historical claims and contingent liabilities
Certain historical liabilities of the Company and PIUL will
be compromised, subject to implementation of the Restructuring
Plans (see Section 4(a) below) (unless settlements are subsequently
agreed). These include:
-
claims of existing and former
shareholders (against the Company) seeking damages under s90A of
FSMA 2000, which concerns the making of allegedly false, misleading
or delayed statements and/or material omissions in public
disclosures. Claims will be released in exchange for a share of a
shareholder claims fund. Further detail will be provided as part of
the Restructuring Plans;
-
actual or potential claims (against
the Company and PIUL) in connection with the Thai Oil Clean Fuels
contract by Thai Oil Public Company, Saipem or Samsung entities
(and PSS Netherlands BV as a joint venture entity) that are party
to the project contracts. Claims will be released in exchange for
(in respect of Company claims) a share of a non-shareholder claims
fund and (in respect of PIUL claims) cash payment or (at their
election) new ordinary shares benchmarked against expected
recoveries in an insolvency (with the equity entitlement capped at
a further 1% of the post-Restructuring share capital, being issued
following completion of the Restructuring, and any excess paid in
cash);
-
any claims that the Thai Oil
guarantee providers, other than by the non-compromised Thai Oil
guarantor, may have against the Group pursuant to guarantee
arrangements to fund the Group project-related obligations (the
“Thai Oil
Guarantee Claims”), which
would be discharged (net of cash collateral deemed applied in
partial satisfaction of such claims) in exchange for new ordinary
shares (capped at a further 1.21% of the post-Restructuring share
capital, being issued following completion of the Restructuring),
subject to an election to participate in the New Guarantee
Facilities (per Section 2(c) above) or (if applicable as part of
the Restructuring Plan) the New Money;
-
any claims of the Group’s insurers
against the Company for the return of all insurance proceeds
received under certain historic D&O insurance policies
allegedly based on policy avoidance grounds. Claims will be
released in exchange for a share of the non-shareholder claims
fund; and
-
claims that may be brought by
former directors or managers of the Group against the Company
arising out of or in connection with the shareholder claims (above)
or the SFO Investigation, including certain potential contribution
or indemnity claims. Claims will be released in exchange for a
share of the non-shareholder claims fund.
The Company expects that the aggregate initial outflows
required to settle and/or compromise these historical claims and
contingent liabilities will not exceed US$25m from the proceeds of
the Restructuring, with certain other payments to be made in the
future. Further details on the terms of these compromises will be
provided as part of the Restructuring Plans process.
-
Other Stakeholders
Current
Shareholders
As a result of the Restructuring, including the conversion of
the Group’s debt to equity, current Shareholders will be diluted
through the resultant issuance of new equity in the Company, such
that existing Company Shareholders will hold approximately 2.5% of
the post-Restructuring share capital of the Company.
Other Guarantee Facilities
/ Sureties
Other guarantee facilities, surety facilities or similar
instruments that are not currently subject to the intercreditor
agreement (but which may have their own security / guarantees) will
not be amended or compromised by the Restructuring, but may become
Elevated Existing Unsecured Guarantees if the relevant creditors
agree to provide New Guarantee Facilities (see Section 2(c) above).
In addition, the Group will be required to procure waivers from
guarantee providers for defaults arising as a result of the
Restructuring.
-
Alignment of Delivery Units
Prior to the Restructuring Effective Date, the Company will
finalise its plan to formalise the legal and operational separation
of its delivery units (E&C, Energy Transition Projects
(“ETP”) and
Asset Solutions). This separation will help the relevant delivery
units of the Group that require access to guarantees to be able to
access and procure them more easily in future. On or before closing
of the Restructuring, the Company will establish a Transformation
Committee and appoint a Chief Transformation Officer
(“CTO”) to
oversee implementation with the aim of completing this work as soon
as possible after the Restructuring Effective Date in accordance
with determined milestones.
Upon completion (and subject to certain agreed terms), the
New Notes will continue to be secured on the Asset Solutions
sub-group and will benefit from a cash sweep and other covenants
from that sub-group, but will release security and guarantees
granted by entities within the E&C and ETP delivery
units.
-
Governance and Management Incentives
The Ad Hoc Group (in consultation with the New Investor) will
have the right to approve the composition of the Board to be
established on the Restructuring Effective Date. The Board is
expected to comprise:
-
at least 2 executive directors
(being the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer);
and
-
at least 4 independent
non-executive directors, including the Chairperson.
The Company’s current Chairman, René Médori, will continue in
his role during the implementation of the Restructuring in order to
guide the Group through the process, and will lead a transition to
a new Chairperson in the course of 2025, with a period of overlap
to ensure the Group’s stability as it emerges into its new capital
structure.
Given the changes to the Group’s capital structure through
the Restructuring, the Board and Group governance and executive
function will adapt to the post-Restructuring business plan,
including the establishment of the Transformation Committee and the
appointment of the CTO.
Following the Restructuring, the Company intends to put in
place a management incentivisation programme, which could result in
awards not exceeding 10% of the share capital of the
Company.
-
Lock-up Agreement and other commitment agreements
Lock-up
Agreement
The Group’s Bank Lenders have not yet signed the Lock-Up
Agreement. The Group is progressing discussions with these Bank
Lenders to seek their support for the final terms of the
Restructuring. The Group is aiming to conclude the discussions in
the coming weeks. The support of certain of the Bank Lenders will
be necessary in order for the Restructuring to take
place.
Each Funded Creditor that accedes to the Lock-Up Agreement by
10 January 2025 (or acquires funded debt that was locked up as of
10 January 2025) will be entitled to an early bird fee constituting
0.25% of its funded debt that was locked up as of 10 January 2025.
The early bird fee will be payable in cash at completion of the
Restructuring.
All Funded Creditors will be invited to participate in the
new funding backstopped by the Ad Hoc Group by providing commitment
letters no later than one business day after the date of the
creditor’s meetings that are expected to be held in the second half
of February 2025 to vote on the Restructuring Plans.
Pursuant to the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement, all creditors
party thereto undertake to support the implementation of the
Restructuring, including but not limited to voting in favour of the
Restructuring Plans, subject to the meeting of key milestones as
set out in the Lock-Up Agreement and certain customary termination
rights.
In addition, the Lock-Up Agreement provides for waivers of
any defaults under the Group’s revolving credit facility, term loan
facilities and senior secured notes triggered by the Restructuring,
as well as the temporary forbearance from enforcing their debt
claims in connection with non-payment of interest, principal and
other fees under these instruments.
Backstop
Agreement
The Company has entered into a backstop agreement with
certain members of the Ad Hoc Group and the Additional Noteholders
(the “Initial Backstop
Providers”), pursuant to which the Initial Backstop
Providers will backstop US$187.5m of Funded Creditor participation
in the New Money Notes and New Equity. In consideration for their
service, the Initial Backstop Providers will be paid a pro rata
share of a backstop fee of (i) 3.75% of the aggregate amount of
debt funding backstopped, which will be satisfied by the issuance
of New Money Notes, and (ii) 3.75% of the aggregate amount of
equity funding backstopped, which will be satisfied by the issuance
of additional new ordinary shares (constituting 1.67% of the
Company’s share capital post-Restructuring). Backstop fees will be
paid at completion of the Restructuring.
Funded Creditors will also be invited to accede to the
Backstop Agreement and provide backstop commitments up to their pro
rata share calculated by reference to the Funded Debt held by such
Funded Creditors (with the corresponding reduction of the backstop
commitments of the Initial Backstop Providers). Funded Creditors
that accede to the Backstop Agreement by 10 January 2025 and the
Initial Backstop Providers will be paid a pro rata share of an additional
backstop fee of 3.75% on the amount of debt funding and equity
funding backstopped by such Funded Creditors and the Initial
Backstop Providers, satisfied by the issuance of new ordinary
shares (constituting 1.67% of the Company’s share capital
post-Restructuring) and the issuance of additional New Money Notes
on the Restructuring Effective Date.
-
Financial Outlook
The Board firmly believes that the Restructuring will
significantly improve the Group’s financial stability, strengthen
its balance sheet and increase access to guarantees to support the
delivery of the Group’s strategy. This stronger platform, taken
together with a more selective approach to bidding and
comprehensive efforts to extend and embed assurance procedures and
cash flow discipline, will support the Group’s efforts to achieve
consistent project execution for predicable deliveries as well as
appropriate commercial settlements on legacy contracts. The Group
anticipates that, along with its strong backlog and pipeline of
opportunities, its established operating capabilities and renewed
focus on core jurisdictions and project types where the Group has a
strong track record will support significant improvements in
financial performance in the medium term, reversing the financial
and operational challenges experienced by the Group in recent
years.
On this basis, the Group expects to achieve its medium-term
ambitions of US$4 billion to US$5 billion of revenue, and build to
sector-leading EBIT margins in the medium term. This would see
annual Group revenue more than double over the period to 31
December 2027 (the “period”), supported by year-on-year
revenue growth across the Group and within each of its E&C and
Asset Solutions operating divisions. By leveraging the
opportunities in its pipeline, the Group projects backlog to grow
to over US$15 billion by 2027 and is expected to deliver improved
performance year-on-year:
-
The Group’s E&C operating
division is expected to observe a higher rate of revenue growth
over this period, with approximately 50% CAGR from 2024 levels
(based on annualised H1 2024). This is expected to be driven
through selective bidding and disciplined execution. This includes
a strategic refocus on core MENA jurisdictions and clients on
traditional hydrocarbon projects within the Group’s core competency
areas—oil and gas gathering and processing facilities, now also
including petrochemical projects—and offshore wind for energy
transition projects, with win-rates expected to revert to
historical levels (i.e., excluding the pandemic and periods during
which it has been restricted from bidding in certain
jurisdictions). Revenues are expected to be split broadly evenly
between traditional hydrocarbon and energy transition
projects.
The E&C division is expected to return to profitability
early in the period, as increased activity levels on new contracts
(secured in 2023) outweigh overhead costs and the reducing impact
of legacy contracts. In the medium term, profitability is expected
to increase to mid-to-high single-digit EBIT margins, as the higher
quality backlog contracts, particularly in offshore wind, which are
also lower risk due to their partially reimbursable pricing
structure, have an increasing impact, whilst activity levels take
the division to optimal operating scale.
This strategy is underpinned by a strong backlog and pipeline
of opportunities in its core regions and target markets. The
pipeline includes a further four HVDC offshore wind projects
expected to be awarded in the period under the TenneT Framework
Agreement.
-
The Group’s Asset Solutions
operating division is expected to increase annual revenue,
achieving a low-double digit CAGR over the period from 2023 levels,
leveraging its existing backlog and from continued success in
delivering new order intake from a healthy pipeline of
opportunities. The division is seeking to improve the bottom-line
profitability, with EBIT expected to return to slightly higher than
2021/22 levels (in US$ value terms) in the earlier part of the
period, resulting from the targeting of further higher-margin
contracts in less mature basins.
The Group’s target performance for Asset Solutions reflects
the multi-year impact of recent contract wins and extensions, which
includes notable wins delivering geographical expansion in
Turkmenistan, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico, also resulting
from the strategic focus on integrated activities and late life
asset management and decommissioning.
-
The Group’s Integrated Energy
Services division (“IES”) revenue is expected to deliver low single
digit percentage of E&C and Asset Solutions combined revenue
during the remaining life of the asset, with anticipated natural
declines in crude production at the field, until the end of its
contract period in 2026. EBITDA is expected to be less than 2% of
total Group revenue early in the period, and decreasing for the
asset’s remaining lease, with depreciation and amortisation
expected to be in a similar range.
The Group’s ability to grow revenue in its E&C division
through new order intake from EPC contracts, into the medium term,
and realising its potential, will be significantly dependent on its
ability to source adequate guarantees on commercially acceptable
terms or, potentially, agree alternative arrangements with clients.
The Group expects that the Restructuring will permit it to
gradually re-enter the market for these guarantees from the second
half of 2025.
The Group expects to generate a small positive net cash flow
for the year ending 31 December 2025, at a Group level, improving
its liquidity, largely reflecting inflows from the Restructuring,
partly offset by working capital normalisation across the business.
Beyond this, net cash flows are expected to be materially above
EBITDA, driven by the improvement in activity levels in the E&C
division, as described above, with profitable contracts;
benefitting from positive working capital on EPC contracts, even
without assuming the receipt of advance payments on new
contracts.
The Restructuring is expected to provide a sustainable
platform to meet these ambitions. However, the outlook set out
above may prove to be incorrect, including for the reasons set out
in Section 4(d) “Risks to implementation of the Restructuring and
Financial Outlook” and under the heading “Cautionary statement
regarding forward-looking statements”. If these risks materialise
or the Group otherwise fails to achieve its anticipated financial
performance, this could negatively impact the Group’s profitability
or liquidity position, including in the short term.
The Board recognises the importance of dividends to
shareholders and expects to reinstate them in due course, once the
Company's performance has improved.
-
Other considerations
-
Implementation of the
Restructuring
The Company intends to complete the Restructuring in Q1 2025
and implement this through two concurrent Restructuring Plans
pursuant to Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006 to be proposed by
the Company and PIUL. Pursuant to the Restructuring Plans, certain
historical liabilities and contingent liabilities of the Group will
be compromised or settled, and claimants will be entitled to submit
claims for admission and adjudication which, if successful, will
entitle them to a share of settlement funds that will
be set up by the Group, as further described in Section 2(e) above
and in the restructuring documentation to be shortly
published.
The current expected timetable of the Restructuring Plans and
Restructuring as a whole is:
-
Convening Hearing: 28 January
2025
-
Publication of the Prospectus and
General Meeting Shareholder Circular: January 2025
-
Creditor Meetings: week commencing
17 February 2025
-
General Meeting: prior to 25
February 2025
-
Sanction Hearing: 25 February
2025
-
Restructuring Effective Date: on or
around 28 February 2025
The shareholder circular and notice of general meeting (the
“Circular”) for
the General Meeting of the Company, which is expected to take place
in February 2025, will be distributed at least 14 clear days prior
to the date of the meeting. Certain shareholders, including each of
the Directors, who together hold in aggregate approximately 37% of
the Company’s outstanding share capital have undertaken to vote
their shareholdings in favour of the resolutions proposed at the
General Meeting.
The Company will also be required to publish a prospectus in
connection with the admission of the new ordinary shares to be
issued in connection with the Restructuring to the equity shares
(commercial companies) segment of the Official List (the
“Prospectus”).
The Company anticipates publishing the prospectus around the same
time as the Circular subject to it being approved by the Financial
Conduct Authority (the “FCA”).
Details of the Restructuring Plans, including the convening
hearing and creditor meetings, and details of the shareholder
meeting of Petrofac, and any further announcements required under
applicable law or regulation, will be published in due
course.
The issue of the new ordinary shares and the New Notes is
expected to occur on or around the Restructuring Effective
Date.
Implementation of the Restructuring is also subject to the
satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including (among
others):
-
the resolutions to be proposed to
shareholders at the General Meeting for the purposes of
implementing the Restructuring having been passed by the requisite
majorities;
-
the Restructuring Plans having been
sanctioned by the Court and a copy of the sanction orders having
been published in the London Gazette;
-
the Restructuring documentation
summarised in Section 2 having become unconditional in all
respects;
-
the settlement agreement with HMRC
in relation to the historical claims described in Section 2(e)
above having been entered into and remaining in full force and
effect;
-
the supplemental agreements entered
into between the Group and each of ADNOC and TenneT remaining in
effect and having not been terminated;
-
securing a performance guarantee
for a key EPC project or agreeing to an alternative solution with
the client;
-
obtaining sufficient Bank Lender
and non-compromised Thai Oil guarantor support for the
Restructuring;
-
the FCA and the London Stock
Exchange having approved the applications for the new ordinary
shares to be issued in connection with the Restructuring to the
equity shares (commercial companies) segment of the Official List
and to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for
listed securities, respectively; and
-
obtaining the consent of the Jersey
Financial Services Commission to the issue of any securities by a
Jersey company (other than the new ordinary shares) as part of the
Restructuring.
-
Trading update
Financial performance for 2024 is expected to reflect similar
levels of operating activity compared to 2023, with the ramp up of
the new E&C contract portfolio replacing legacy contracts and a
robust business in Asset Solutions.
E&C is expected benefit from a reduced impact from legacy
contracts, as they reach the latter stages of completion, and with
the initial margin recognition on new contracts partially reducing
the adverse operating leverage. ETP has contributed to an
increasing proportion of E&C performance. In Asset Solutions,
the Group expects to achieve low-single digit margin improvement in
H2 2024.
Free cash flow in the second half of the year is expected to
be broadly neutral, as the Group has continued to manage its
payment obligations in line with its operational collections
pending the financial restructuring. As a result, net debt is
expected to be broadly in line with the first half of the year,
before adjusting for accrued and unpaid interest costs. Readily
available liquidity is also expected to be broadly in line with the
Group’s half-year position.
-
Further detail on the Financial
Outlook
In addition to the outlook provided in Section 3 “Financial
Outlook”, additional outlook on the Group’s targeted financial
performance is summarised below:
-
In addition to the ambitions
described in Section 3 “Financial Outlook”, central overhead
cash outflows are expected to be between US$40m-US$50m annually
during the period, excluding interest costs on the New Debt.
-
Depreciation and amortisation in
the E&C operating division is expected to approximately double
during the period from 2024 levels (based on annualised H1 2024),
predominantly as a result of the expected increases in activity
levels at project sites for new contracts. In the Asset Solutions
operating division, it is expected to be lower than 2024 (based on
annualised H1 2024) levels over the period.
-
Capital expenditure in the E&C
operating division is expected to be less than 1% of revenue during
the period. Asset Solutions, as a traditional asset light business,
will have minimal capital expenditure during the
period.
-
Levered cash flows in the operating
divisions are expected to be as follows:
-
E&C: in the early part of the
period, cash flows are expected to be negative, as working capital
normalisation for the E&C operating division is expected to be
US$250m-US$300m during 2025, funded through increased liquidity
from the Restructuring proceeds and ongoing operational cash
collections from existing and new projects. During the period,
total cash flows are expected to be approximately low single digit
multiples of the EBITDA generation of the operating division as a
result of the accelerated collection profiles of new contracts,
with the exception of 2026 and 2027 where a low-to-mid-single digit
multiple is expected.
-
Asset Solutions: cash flows are
initially expected to be a mid-to-low teens percentage of the
EBITDA generation of the operating division (before working capital
normalisation from Restructuring proceeds of US$50m), rising to
approximately 50% during the period.
-
IES: cash flows are expected to be
at a low single digit percentage of Group revenue during the
remaining life of the asset.
-
Cash outflows in relation to tax
payments in E&C are expected to be US$20m-US$40m annually
during the period. In Asset Solutions, cash outflows in relation to
tax payments are expected to be US$20m-US$25m annually during the
period.
-
In the period to 2026, remaining
net cash collections from substantially complete legacy projects
are expected to be in the range of US$50m-US$100m
annually.
-
Risks to implementation of the Restructuring and Financial
Outlook
-
Risks to
implementation of the Restructuring
There is no guarantee that the Restructuring will be
implemented on the anticipated timeframe or at all.
-
It is the Directors’ view that the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is contingent on
the implementation of the Restructuring. If the Restructuring is
not implemented, the Directors expect that the Lock-Up Agreement
will be terminated and, as a result, the waivers and forbearance
from the Funded Creditors would cease, following which the Company
would likely enter into administration or liquidation
proceedings.
-
The components of the Restructuring
are inter-conditional, and as a result the implementation of the
Restructuring depends, among other things, on the passing of the
resolutions proposed at the General Meeting and the court
sanctioning the Restructuring Plans. Risks to sanctioning of the
Restructuring Plans include not garnering the requisite support
from creditors or failing to achieve approval by the court at the
sanction hearing. The court has a wide discretion whether to
sanction a restructuring plan and will take into account a number
of factors, including the level of creditor support, the fairness
of the plan and any challenges raised by stakeholders.
-
The terms of certain components of
the Restructuring are still subject to agreement. These include arranging performance
guarantees for certain key contracts (or agreeing to alternative
solutions); full and final settlement with HMRC; obtaining
non-compromised Thai Oil guarantor support for the Restructuring;
and agreement with guarantee providers to waive defaults resulting
from the Restructuring. If the Group cannot agree resolutions on
these matters, which are conditions to effectiveness of the
Restructuring, the Restructuring will not be
implemented.
-
The implementation of the
Restructuring also relies upon the Group’s ability to maintain
sufficient liquidity prior to the implementation of the
Restructuring, including maintaining the support of trade and other
creditors without acceleration of their debt or enforcement of
their security rights.
-
Risks to the
Financial Outlook
The Group’s strategic and financial ambitions following
implementation of the Restructuring, as summarised in Section 3
“Financial Outlook” and Section 5(b), are subject to a number of
assumptions regarding its operational and financial performance,
certain of which are outside of the Group’s control. As a result,
there are significant risks to the Group’s ability to achieve these
ambitions, including (but not limited to) the matters set out below
and under the heading “Cautionary statement regarding
forward-looking statements”.
-
The Group’s operating environment
may become increasingly challenging, beyond the Group’s current
expectations. In the coming months and following completion of the
Restructuring, the Group may continue to face risks to its
liquidity, including for reasons beyond the Group’s control, which
may result in failure to achieve the operational and financial
performance targeted by the Group.
-
An inability to secure guarantees
in the future may have a material adverse impact on the Group. If
the Group is unable to secure new guarantees (which are expected to
be required gradually from H2 2025) as anticipated, or to agree
alterative arrangements with its clients, this could limit its
ability to take on new E&C contracts or require material
collateral postings, either of which would negatively affect the
Group’s liquidity.
-
The Group’s success in achieving
its financial ambitions will depend on its ability to win new
contracts and renewals and extensions of existing contracts, in
particular given the material concentration among the Group’s
clients. Client expenditure and bidding opportunities will be
dependent on their strategy and outlook, as well as macroeconomic
conditions (including commodity prices), all of which are outside
the Group’s control. New order intake represents a significant
proportion of targeted revenue in the coming years, and the Group
may not achieve its anticipated win rates.
-
Failure to successfully execute
contracts, including as a result of delays or cost overruns, may
result in substantial penalties or losses. One of the Group’s
contracts is currently suspended. Although the Group expects
operations on this project to re-commence following implementation
of the Restructuring, there can be no assurance this will occur on
the timing expected, that re-start costs will not be material, or
that the Group will not incur any related liabilities.
-
The Group has a number of material
outstanding disputes. Material deviations from projected contract
settlements and AVO expectations could negatively affect the
Group’s financial performance or liquidity or its ability to meet
its financial ambitions.
-
The Group has not released audited
consolidated financial statements since May 2024 (as at and for the
year ended 31 December 2023), and the Group’s independent auditor
did not express an opinion on these financial statements, as
described therein. The Group’s 30 June 2024 interim consolidated
financial statements were not audited and or subject to independent
auditor review.
-
The Group’s relationships with its
clients, suppliers and sub-contractors have at times been
materially strained and its liquidity position in recent years has
required renegotiation of contractual terms. Although the Group
will take steps, following implementation of the Restructuring, to
unwind these balances, it may experience reputational damage as a
result of historical liquidity measures and steps taken to
implement the Restructuring and it may have limited ability to
achieve similar arrangements in the future. If the Group is unable
to maintain positive and supportive relationships with contractual
counterparties, it could create risks to completion of projects in
a timely manner, at the cost levels anticipated or at
all.
-
Structure of the New Equity capital raise
The New Equity capital raise is being conducted by way of a
non-pre-emptive placing and, together with the issuance of ordinary
shares in the debt restructuring, it will result in material
dilution for existing Shareholders. In aggregate, 20,550m ordinary
shares will be issued, representing 97.5% of the
Company.
The Board has carefully considered, including following
consultation with a number of the Company’s largest shareholders
and creditors, whose support and/or participation is critical for
the completion of the Restructuring, the best way to structure the
proposed transactions. In deciding to structure the New Equity
capital raise by way of a non-pre-emptive placing, the Board sought
to balance the dilution to shareholders with the benefits of
announcing a fully committed transaction, which the Board
considered was vital to the stability of the Company and the
success of the wider Restructuring.
As referenced above, the Company values its retail investor
base and is keen to ensure that retail investors have an
opportunity to participate in the equity capital raise. The Company
therefore intends to announce an offer of new ordinary shares to
retail investors to raise approximately US$8m at the same issue
price as the New Equity issued as part of the Restructuring,
following the publication of the Company’s audited financial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Company also
intends to give preferential allocation to those retail investors
who are shareholders on the date of this announcement to the extent
reasonably practicable.
-
Restructuring alternative
The Company has worked with its advisors and experts over the
past 12 months to identify the likely alternative to a
restructuring and the impact of such an alternative on shareholders
and creditors. In this regard, the Company believes the likely
alternative to the restructuring is a Group-wide insolvency, in
which there would be no recoveries for shareholders and creditor
recoveries would be uncertain. Work remains ongoing in this regard,
is not finalised and is subject to change. Further detail will be
provided as part of the Restructuring Plans process. However, at
present the Company expects the outcome for its secured creditors
in respect of outcomes across the Group to be in the range of 10
pence to 45 pence in the pound.
-
Related-party New Equity subscription
In connection with the New Equity, (i) Ayman Asfari (in his
own capacity), (ii) HARK PTC Limited (as trustees of the Lam Trust)
and (iii) HARK PTC Limited (as trustees of the Lamia Trust)
(together, the “Related
Parties”) have agreed to subscribe for new ordinary
shares representing 2.85% of the post-Restructuring share capital
of the Company, together with warrants as described above, for
consideration of US$10m (the “Related Party Subscription”). Ayman
Asfari, is a related party of the Company under UK Listing Rule
8.1.11R(4) and the subscription by the Related Parties constitutes
a related party transaction under UK Listing Rule 8.2.1R. Pursuant
to UK Listing Rule 8.2.2R, the Board of the Company confirms its
view that the Related Party Subscription is fair and reasonable as
far as the shareholders of the Company are concerned and that the
Board has been so advised by J.P. Morgan Securities plc (which
conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan
Cazenove), as sponsor to the Company.
Each Director is a related party of the Company for the
purposes of the UK Listing Rules. In connection with the New
Equity, René Médori (Chairman), Tareq Kawash (Chief Executive
Officer), Afonso Reis e Sousa (Chief Financial Officer) and David
Davies (Non-Executive Director) have agreed to subscribe for new
ordinary shares representing in aggregate 0.31% of the
post-Restructuring share capital of the Company, for consideration
of US$1.08m (the “Director
Subscriptions”). The Director Subscriptions fall
within the scope of the UK Listing Rules, however, due to the size
of each individual subscription relative to the Company’s market
capitalisation, the Director Subscriptions are exempt from the
rules regarding related party transactions under UK Listing Rule
8.
-
Participation by Funded Creditors in the Lock-Up Agreement
and the New Money
All Funded Creditors will be invited
to accede to the Lock-Up Agreement, by signing an accession
agreement substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 of the
Lock-Up Agreement, and to the Backstop Agreement by 10 January
2025.
Each Funded Creditor that accedes to
the Lock-Up Agreement by 10 January 2025 (or acquires funded debt
that was locked up as of 10 January 2025) will be entitled to an
early bird fee constituting 0.25% of its funded debt that was
locked up as of 10 January 2025. The early bird fee will be payable
in cash at completion of the Restructuring.
All Funded Creditors are also
invited to accede to the Backstop Agreement and provide backstop
commitments up to their pro rata share calculated by reference to the Funded Debt
held by such Funded Creditors by signing an accession agreement
substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2 of the Backstop
Agreement by 10 January 2025.
Each Funded Creditor that accedes to
Backstop Agreement by 10 January 2024 will receive a backstop fee
of 3.75% on the amount of debt funding and equity funding
backstopped by such Funded Creditors and the Initial Backstop
Providers, satisfied by the issuance of new ordinary shares and the
issuance of additional New Money Notes on the Restructuring
Effective Date.
In addition, all Funded Creditors
will also be invited to participate in the New Money
opportunity, pro rata to their Funded Debt (with the corresponding
scale back of the original backstop
commitments).
Funded Creditors who wish to
participate are advised that, pursuant to the terms of the Lock-Up
Agreement, eligibility for participation is contingent on
subscription for both New Equity and the New Notes in the Funding
Ratio.
Details of the terms on which Funded Creditors will be
invited to participate are set out in Sections 2(a), (b) and (c) of
this announcement.
The Company has engaged Kroll Issuer Services Limited to act
as lock-up agent for the Lock-Up Agreement (the
“Lock-Up
Agent”). Questions about how to accede to the Lock-Up
Agreement and the Backstop Agreement and participate in the New
Money should be directed to the Lock-Up Agent at the contact
details provided below.
All documentation relating to the Lock-Up Agreement and the
Backstop Agreement, together with any updates, will be available on
the dedicated website:
https://deals.is.kroll.com/Petrofac.
For additional information and questions about the
Restructuring, holders of the Group’s senior secured notes are
encouraged to contact the Ad Hoc Group via its financial advisor,
Houlihan Lokey UK Limited (projectplutohl@hl.com).
* *
* *
* *
The information contained within this announcement is deemed
by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on market abuse (which forms part of
UK domestic law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018) and was authorised for release by Scott Brooker, Company
Secretary.
For further investor relation queries, please email:
financialrestructure@petrofac.com
Contact details of the Lock-Up Agent and the Company’s
financial advisors are as follows:
Lock-Up
Agent
Kroll Issuer Services
Limited
The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG
Email: petrofac@is.kroll.com
Website: https://deals.is.kroll.com/petrofac
Attention: Petrofac team
Company
financial advisor
Moelis & Company
Telephone: +44 207 634 3660
Email: project_peru_wt_ext@moelis.com
Attention: Rohan Choudhary
IMPORTANT NOTICES
This announcement has been issued by and is the sole
responsibility of the Company. The
information contained in this
announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport
to be full or complete. No reliance may or should be placed by any
person for any purpose whatsoever on the information contained in
this announcement or on its accuracy or completeness. The
information in this announcement is subject to change.
A copy of the Prospectus and Circular, once published, will
be available on the Company's website at https://www.petrofac.com.
Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website
accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated
in, or forms part of, this announcement. The Prospectus and
Circular will provide further details of the Restructuring,
including securities being issued pursuant to it.
This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer for
sale or the solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the
United States. No securities referred to herein have been or will
be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities
Act") or under any securities laws of any state or
other jurisdiction of the United States and such securities may not
be offered, sold, taken up, exercised, resold, renounced,
transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United
States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from or in a
transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities
laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. No
public offering of securities is being made in the United States.
No securities referred to herein, nor this announcement nor any
other document connected with the proposed transactions referred to
herein has been or will be approved or disapproved by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission or by the securities
commissions of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States
or any other regulatory authority, and none of the foregoing
authorities or any securities commission has passed upon or
endorsed the merits of the proposed transactions or the securities
referred to herein or the adequacy of this announcement or any
other document connected with the proposed transactions referred to
herein. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in
the United States.
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not
intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer or
invitation to purchase or subscribe for, or any solicitation to
purchase or subscribe for any securities in any jurisdiction. No
offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for, or any
solicitation to purchase or subscribe for, any securities will be
made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is
unlawful. The information contained in this announcement is not for
release, publication or distribution to persons in the United
States or Australia, Canada, Japan, the People's Republic of China
or South Africa, and should not be distributed, forwarded to or
transmitted in or into any jurisdiction, where to do so might
constitute a violation of local securities laws or
regulations.
No representations or warranties, express or implied, are
made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the accuracy,
fairness or completeness of the information presented or contained
in this release.
This release is for informational purposes only and does not
constitute or form part of any invitation or inducement to engage
in investment activity, nor does it constitute an offer or
invitation to buy any securities, in any jurisdiction including the
United States, or a recommendation in respect of buying, holding or
selling any securities.
This announcement is an advertisement for the purposes of the
Prospectus Regulation Rules of the FCA and not a prospectus and not
an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or
to acquire securities. Neither this announcement nor anything
contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in
connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever in any
jurisdiction. This announcement is not a "prospectus" for the
purposes of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991.
J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment
banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove (“J.P. Morgan”), is authorised in the
United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the “PRA”)
and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and PRA. J.P. Morgan
is acting exclusively as the sole sponsor to the Company and no one
else in connection with the matters referred to in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the
Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P.
Morgan nor for providing advice in relation to the matters referred
to in this announcement. Neither J.P. Morgan nor any of its
affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility
whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in
tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client
of J.P. Morgan in connection with this announcement, any statement
contained herein or otherwise.
Moelis & Company UK LLP ("Moelis & Company"), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, is acting as
exclusive financial adviser to the Company and no one else in
connection with the matters described in this announcement and will
not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing
the protections afforded to clients of Moelis & Company nor for
providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein.
Neither Moelis & Company nor any of its affiliates owes or
accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether
direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or
otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Moelis &
Company in connection with this announcement, any statement
contained herein or otherwise.
Cautionary statement regarding
forward-looking statements
This document and the information incorporated by reference
into this document include guidance regarding the Group’s
anticipated future performance. Such statements (including
estimates and projections prepared by Petrofac's management with
respect to its anticipated future performance) are, or may be
deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”,
“anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”,
“continue”, “goal”, “target”, “aim”, “may”, “will”, “would”,
“could” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other
variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking
statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They
appear in a number of places throughout this document and include
statements regarding the intentions, beliefs or current
expectations of the Directors, the Company or the
Group concerning, among other things, the
operating activities, results, financial condition, prospects,
growth, strategies and dividend policy of the
Group and the sectors and markets in which it
operates.
Such forward-looking statements involve elements of
subjective judgement and analysis and reflect various assumptions
made by the management concerning anticipated results (including
the successful completion of the Restructuring, implementation of
the Group’s strategy commercial discussions (including variation
orders and settlements) and development of the Group’s operating
environment), which may or may not prove to be correct. By their
nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may
or may not occur in the future and may be beyond the Directors’ or
the Company’s ability to control or predict. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance. The
Group’s actual operating activities, results,
financial condition, dividend policy and the development of the
sectors and markets in which it operates may differ materially from
the impression created by the outlook and other forward-looking
statements contained in this document and/or the information
incorporated by reference into this document.
The outlook and other forward-looking information included in
this document is illustrative and unaudited information. It has
been prepared for internal scenario planning purposes and is based
on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside of management
control and have high levels of uncertainty attaching to them. The
forward-looking financial information of the Group has been
prepared by, and is responsibility of, management, and the Group’s
current independent auditors have not audited, reviewed, compiled,
examined nor applied agreed-upon procedures with respect to such
information. Such information is being included for information
only and is not to be relied on as any indication of the future
performance of Petrofac.
In addition, even if the operating activities, results,
financial condition and dividend policy of the
Group, and the development of the sectors and
markets in which it operates, are consistent with the outlook and
other forward-looking statements contained in this document, those
results or developments may not be indicative of results or the
development of such sectors and markets in subsequent
periods.
Important factors that could cause these differences between
the outlook set out herein and the Group’s actual operational and
financial performance include, but are not limited to, failure to
implement the Restructuring on the targeted timeframe (or at all);
risks and uncertainties relating to Petrofac’s business (including
order intake, bidding success and client retention), successful
completion of contracted work and backlog delivery (in particular
legacy backlog and paused projects), variation orders and client
settlements, maintenance of supplier relationships and the ability
to source new suppliers, ability to implement strategic bidding
objectives and achieve targeted organisational efficiencies, and
receipts of payments from third parties); general political,
economic and business conditions; banking and surety market
appetite to provide performance bonds and/or payment guarantees (in
particular on targeted new contracts, on anticipated timing in H2
2025); the timing of receipts of payments from third parties;
sector and market trends; changes in government; changes in law or
regulation; stakeholder perception of the Group
and/or the sectors or markets in which it operates;
unforeseeable circumstances over the period; errors and
uncertainties in the Group’s systems utilised in preparing the
outlook; and the risks described in the Group’s Annual Report for
2023. The Group’s ability to achieve the outlook set out herein is
substantially dependent on its ability to achieve its strategic
operational goals, objectives and targets over applicable periods.
Financial restrictions arising as a result of the
Restructuring, including cash-flow restrictions
imposed by certain key client contracts and
restrictive financing covenants, may limit the Group’s ability to
achieve these strategic objectives. In addition, Petrofac’s
financial condition and results of operations may be materially
affected by factors largely or entirely outside of the control of
management, including whether shareholders pass the resolutions
required to implement the Restructuring and the Restructuring Plans
are sanctioned by the court. This information also reflects
assumptions as to certain business decisions of the Group that have
been and will be subject to change.
The Directors are of the opinion that, if the steps
comprising the Balance Sheet Restructuring are implemented, this
will significantly deleverage the Group’s balance sheet, alleviate
pressure on the Group’s liquidity and deliver a sustainable capital
structure to support its ability to achieve its financial ambitions
in the coming years. However, the Directors have reached this view
based on a number of assumptions regarding the Group’s operational
and financial performance in the coming years, certain elements of
which are beyond the Group’s control or otherwise subject to
material risks. These assumptions include the following: access to
Guarantees for E&C contracts from June 2025, on expected
commercial terms consistent with those historically procured by the
Group; successful legal and operational separation of the Group’s
delivery units; delivery of the Group’s E&C contracts in line
with client agreed milestones and forecast margins, without
liquidated damages arising on any contract and including the timely
and full releases of applicable retentions; the Group’s E&C and
Asset Solutions operating segments being awarded future contracts,
including renewals and new awards from existing clients, in line
with its outlook and strategy, and the IES operating segment
production and oil price assumptions; timely normalisation of the
Group’s working capital position, particularly creditor payments
and the settlement of overdue creditors, and (if required in the
future) successful negotiation of amendments to applicable payment
terms;.collection of a number of material forecast one-off receipts
from clients in line with management’s expected timing and quantum,
including assessed variation orders and other settlements, certain
of which are the subject of arbitration; no requirement for
ringfenced payments for contracts other than those already
committed at the date of this announcement; no significant
settlements are required with respect to litigations, disputes and
claims; and no significant unforeseen income taxes become payable
under the new federal Corporate Income Tax Regime in the UAE
(effective from 2024).
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit
forecast, and no statement in this announcement should be
interpreted to mean that underlying operating profit for the
current or future financial years would necessarily be above a
minimum level, or match or exceed the historical published
operating profit or set a minimum level of operating
profit.
Neither the Company nor any of its advisers is under any
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking
statement contained within this announcement, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, other than in
accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations (including,
for the avoidance of doubt, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the
Listing Rules and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency
Rules).