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Northern contemplates spinning off their Harsh Env rigs to Northern Ocean LTD

Rig Lynx
  • By Rig Lynx
  • Dec 09, 2019
  • Category : Archives
  • Views : 815

Northern Drilling Ltd. is contemplating to spin-off its two harsh environment rigs, West Mira and West Bollsta, together with related operating companies through its wholly-owned subsidiary Northern Rig Holding Ltd. (to be renamed Northern Ocean Ltd.) (“NOL”). With West Mira having commenced operations for Wintershall Norge AS and West Bollsta on schedule for contract start-up with Lundin Norway AS, expected in 2Q 2020, a separation is expected to crystalize the underlying values of NODL’s harsh environment fleet. NOL will benefit from a high quality fleet with strong contract coverage, a best in class balance sheet and 100% exposure to a harsh environment market that continues to recover. It is the opinion of the Board of Directors that a spin-off will improve flexibility for the harsh environment rigs and potentially accelerate NOL’s ability to return cash to shareholders.

In order to finance the remaining ready to drill cost for West Mira and West Bollsta, while preserving its best in class balance sheet, NOL is contemplating a private placement (the “Private Placement“) of new ordinary shares (the “Offer Shares“) for gross proceeds of approx. USD 100 million. The subscription price for the Offer Shares will be determined by the Board of directors of NOL based on an accelerated bookbuilding process.

NOL has received credit approval from lenders to increase its existing USD 400 million term loan facility by USD 50 million in the form of an RCF. The interest rate for the RCF is Libor plus 350 bps which is considered attractive.

NODL is contemplating an exchange offer (the “Exchange Offer”) as further explained below, where NODL shareholders can choose to exchange a portion of their NODL shares for NOL shares. The Exchange Offer is expected to be launched in Q1 2020 (if made) where NODL currently intends (to the extent possible) to offer substantial parts of its NOL shares to existing NODL shareholders.

Source: Northern

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