THE WOODLANDS, Texas,
Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Trico Marine Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMA) (the "Company" or
"Trico") today announced that its U.S. companies and its
Cayman Islands holding company
have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title
11 of the United States Code ("U.S. Bankruptcy Code") in
the United States Bankruptcy Court
for the District of Delaware (the
"Court").
Aside from the Cayman Islands
holding company, Trico's foreign subsidiaries were not included in
the filing and will not be subject to the requirements of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code. Trico's U.S. and worldwide operations are
expected to continue without interruption during the restructuring
process.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Richard A.
Bachmann commented, "Over the last several months, we have
worked diligently to improve our liquidity, including through the
sale of $3 million of non-core
assets, the sale of a North Sea class vessel for $16 million and additional cost-cutting
initiatives. While we are beginning to see indications of
improved operational performance, the combination of a sluggish
economy, a highly leveraged balance sheet and imminent interest
payments due, has led us to determine that a court-supervised
restructuring is the best course of action for the Company and its
stakeholders. While we are continuing discussions with our
lenders, the Board decided to begin this process now in order to
get the Company's restructuring underway without delay. We
intend to move through this process as quickly as possible.
Throughout the restructuring process, we will remain focused
on operating our business worldwide while continuing our efforts to
manage costs, strengthen our balance sheet and gain financial
flexibility in order to position Trico as a strong and profitable
competitor in our industry."
In conjunction with the filing, Trico has received a commitment
for up to $35 million in
debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from Tennenbaum DIP
Opportunity Fund and other funds managed by Tennenbaum Capital
Partners, LLC (collectively, “Tennenbaum”), of which $10 million will represent incremental liquidity.
The Company expects that, upon Court approval and
satisfaction of other customary conditions, the DIP financing,
combined with cash from the Company’s ongoing operations, will
provide funding to support the business. In addition, the
Company anticipates that it will meet its obligations going forward
to its employees, customers and suppliers.
Separately, the Company announced that Trico Shipping AS and its
affiliates have reached an agreement in principle for $22 million in senior secured multi-draw term
loan financing from certain holders of its 11 7/8% Senior Secured
Notes (the “Trico Shipping Notes”) representing approximately 80%
of the Trico Shipping Notes and Tennenbaum. The closing of
this financing arrangement is subject to obtaining required
consents, as well as certain other closing conditions of Trico
Shipping AS and its affiliates. This financing would be used
to fund operating expenses and other working capital needs.
"We look forward to working together with all of our
stakeholders to complete a successful financial restructuring,"
said Mr. Bachmann. "Our global operations are expected to
continue without interruption throughout the restructuring process,
and we remain committed to providing our customers with high
quality service. We appreciate the ongoing dedication of all
our employees, whose hard work is critical to our success and the
future of the Company."
Trico will file a series of motions with the Court to ensure the
continuation of normal operations, including requesting Court
approval to continue paying employee wages and salaries and
providing employee benefits without interruption and to continue
use of its bank accounts and insurance policies. The Company
expects the Court to approve these requests. During the
Chapter 11 process, suppliers will be paid in full for all goods
and services provided after the filing date as required by the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, and Trico has taken steps to ensure continued
supply of goods and services to its customers.
Trico has established a toll-free Restructuring Information
Hotline for employees, suppliers, customers, investors and other
interested parties, in the United
States at 1-888-369-8929 or internationally at 214-647-7656.
More information is also available on Trico's website,
www.tricomarine.com, where the Company has set up a special
restructuring section. For access to Court documents and
other general information about the Chapter 11 cases, please visit
http://dm.epiq11.com/trico.
About Trico Marine Group
The Trico Marine Group is an integrated provider of subsea,
trenching and marine support vessels and services. Trico's
towing and supply division provides a broad range of marine support
services to the oil and gas industry through use of its diversified
fleet of vessels including the transportation of drilling
materials, supplies and crews to drilling rigs and other offshore
facilities; towing drilling rigs and equipment, and support for the
construction, installation, repair and maintenance of offshore
facilities. Trico's subsea services and
trenching/installation divisions control a well equipped fleet of
vessels and operate a fleet of modern ROVs and trenching and other
subsea protection equipment. The Trico Marine Group is
headquartered in The Woodlands,
Texas and has a global presence with operations in the North
Sea, West Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Southeast
Asia.
For more information about Trico Marine Services, Inc. visit us
on the web at www.tricomarine.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements and information in this press release may
constitute "forward-looking statements." The words "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee," "should,"
"would," "could" or other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not
historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on
the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future
developments and their potential effect on the Company. While
management believes that these forward-looking statements are
reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future
developments affecting the Company will be those that it
anticipates. The Company's forward-looking statements involve
significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond its
control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ
materially from its historical experience and its present
expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the
Company's and its subsidiaries' ability to continue as a going
concern; (ii) the Company's and its subsidiaries' ability to obtain
court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 cases;
(iii) the ability of the Company to confirm and consummate one or
more plans of reorganization with respect to the Chapter 11 cases;
(iv) the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to obtain and
maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers; (v) the
Company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its
operations; (vi) the potential adverse impact of the Chapter 11
cases on the Company's liquidity or results of operations; (vii)
the ability of the Company to attract, motivate and/or retain key
executives and employees; (viii) the ability of the Company to
attract and retain customers; and (ix) other risks and factors
regarding the Company and its industry identified from time to time
in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statements after the date they are made,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
CONTACTS
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Meaghan Repko / Nick
Lamplough
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Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer
Katcher
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(212) 355-4449
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SOURCE Trico Marine Services, Inc.
Copyright . 25 PR Newswire