Pacific Drilling Announces Settlement in Mediation Between Quantum Pacific and Ad Hoc Group of Creditors

Pacific Drilling S.A. today announced that its plan of reorganization filed on July 31, 2018 (the “Plan”), based on a proposal presented to the Company’s Board of Directors by an ad hoc group of its secured creditors (collectively, the “Ad Hoc Group”), now has the full support of the Company’s majority shareholder, Quantum Pacific (Gibraltar) Limited (“QP”). The Plan was already supported by all of the Company’s major creditor interests. With QP’s participation, the Company expects a smooth plan confirmation process and a quick emergence from its Chapter 11 proceedings.

Pacific Drilling CEO Paul Reese commented, “The agreement reached by QP and the Ad Hoc Group delivers the final piece needed to make the Company’s Plan a consensual one that has the support of the Company’s major stakeholders. The agreement should allow the Plan to move forward efficiently and expeditiously through the implementation and confirmation process.”

Pursuant to the Plan, the Company expects to raise $1.5 billion of new capital comprised of $1.0 billion in a combination of first and second lien secured notes and $500 million of equity through a rights offering and a private placement. Under the Plan, existing holders of Pacific Drilling common shares would receive no recovery.

Under the agreement reached in successful mediation proceedings, QP and its investment partners will commit to purchase $100 million of the first lien secured notes and $100 million of the second lien secured notes to be issued pursuant to the third-party syndicated financing contemplated by the Plan and will commit to purchase $50 million of the new equity in the Company through a private placement.

Cyril Ducau, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, stated, “After over a year of negotiations, we are happy to see a breakthrough in the talks between the Quantum Pacific Group and the Ad Hoc Group. With significant new capital commitments from both groups and the support from all stakeholders, Pacific Drilling is now on track to exit Chapter 11 with one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry and ample liquidity to see it through the long-expected recovery of the offshore drilling industry.”

The Plan was developed over the course of comprehensive mediation discussions between the Company’s Board of Directors and its stakeholders. The Plan will strengthen the Company’s balance sheet by reducing its leverage and delivering a substantial amount of new capital. Upon consummation of the Plan, Pacific Drilling’s cash position will be significantly enhanced, and the Company will be in a much stronger financial position to take advantage of its dedicated, high-specification deepwater drillship fleet in anticipation of an improving market for offshore drilling services.

Additionally, upon consummation of the Plan, the Company expects to pay all unsecured trade claims in full. Consummation of the Plan is subject to execution and delivery of definitive agreements, Bankruptcy Court approval, completion of the anticipated financing transactions and other customary conditions. Given the consensus now achieved among all of the Company’s key stakeholders, it is expected that the remainder of the Chapter 11 proceedings can be concluded quickly.

N. Scott Fine, Vice Chairman of the Pacific Drilling Board of Directors, further commented, “We owe a debt of gratitude to all of our advisors and especially our mediator, Judge James Peck (ret), for their tireless work in helping us reach what the Company has strived for from the beginning of its Chapter 11 process, a consensual plan.”