Weatherford International plc Announces the Pricing of a $500,000,000 6.5% Senior Secured Notes Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Weatherford International plc (WFRD) has announced the pricing of a $500 million offering of 6.5% senior secured notes due 2028, set to close on September 30, 2021. These notes will yield interest semi-annually starting March 15, 2022.

The proceeds will be used to redeem existing 8.75% notes due 2024 and part of the 11.0% notes due 2024, with potential future redemptions based on cash flow and liquidity. Investment opportunities are limited to qualified institutions and non-U.S. investors under Rule 144A and Regulation S.

Positive

• Successful pricing of $500 million senior secured notes at 6.5%, showing investor confidence.
• Proceeds to strengthen balance sheet by redeeming higher-interest debt, potentially reducing interest expenses.

Negative

• No assurance that future asset-based lending or additional notes redemptions can be achieved, indicating liquidity risks.

HOUSTON, Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) ("Weatherford" or the "Company") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Weatherford International Ltd. (the "Issuer"), has priced its previously announced offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% senior secured first lien notes due 2028 (the "Secured Notes") at an issue price of 100.0%. The offering of the Secured Notes is expected to close on September 30, 2021 subject to customary closing conditions.

The Secured Notes will pay interest semi-annually on September 15 and March 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2022 at a rate of 6.5% per year. The Secured Notes will mature on September 15, 2028. The Secured Notes will be guaranteed by the Company and the same subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee the Issuer's 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the "2024 Secured Notes").

The Issuer will use the net proceeds from the offering and cash on hand to redeem all of its 2024 Secured Notes on September 30, 2021 and pay related fees and expenses. If the offering of the Secured Notes is completed, the Issuer also intends to use cash on hand to redeem $200 million principal amount of its 11.0% senior notes due December 1, 2024 on October 20, 2021 (the "Unsecured Notes").

Under the indenture governing the Unsecured Notes, the Issuer has the right to redeem up to $500 million principal amount of the Unsecured Notes at a redemption price of 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date, at any time prior to December 1, 2022.  Following the completion of the redemption of the $200 million principal amount of the Unsecured Notes described above, the Issuer will have the ability to redeem a further $300 million principal amount of the Unsecured Notes at the redemption price described above. The Issuer may consider redeeming additional principal amounts of the Unsecured Notes in the future depending on generated cash flow and incremental available liquidity under any future asset-based lending facility or revolving credit facility, subject to its liquidity needs and other considerations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to enter a new asset-based lending facility or revolving credit facility or that the Issuer will redeem any additional Unsecured Notes.

The Secured Notes are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and outside the United States, only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The Secured Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Secured Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning, among other things, the Company's strategy and financing plans and goals. These forward-looking statements are also generally identified by the words "intends", "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "outlook," "budget," "intend," "strategy," "plan," "guidance," "may," "should," "could," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs of Weatherford's management and are subject to significant risks, assumptions, and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results, including the price and price volatility of oil and natural gas; the extent or duration of business interruptions, demand for oil and gas and fluctuations in commodity prices associated with COVID-19 pandemic; general global economic repercussions related to COVID-19 pandemic; the macroeconomic outlook for the oil and gas industry; and operational challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and COVID-19 variants, including logistical challenges, protecting the health and well-being of our employees, remote work arrangements, performance of contracts and supply chain disruptions; financial market conditions and availability of capital; our ability to generate cash flow from operations to fund our operations; and the realization of additional cost savings and operational efficiencies. Forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and those set forth from time-to-time in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required under federal securities laws.

About Weatherford

Weatherford is a leading global energy services company. Operating in approximately 75 countries, the Company answers the challenges of the energy industry with its global talent network of approximately 17,000 team members and approximately 365 operating locations, including manufacturing, research and development, service, and training facilities.

Contact:
Weatherford Investor Relations
+1 713-836-7777
investor.relations@weatherford.com

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SOURCE Weatherford International plc

FAQ

What is the amount of the senior secured notes offered by Weatherford (WFRD)?

Weatherford is offering $500 million in senior secured notes.

What is the interest rate for Weatherford's senior secured notes due 2028?

The interest rate for the senior secured notes is 6.5%.

When will Weatherford's senior secured notes due 2028 mature?

The senior secured notes will mature on September 15, 2028.

What will Weatherford do with the proceeds from the senior secured notes offering?

The proceeds will be used to redeem existing higher-interest debt and cover related expenses.

Who can invest in Weatherford's senior secured notes?

The notes are being offered to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. investors.