CGG calls safeguard creditor committee vote
Paris, France | Jul 13, 2017
On June 14, 2017, CGG S.A. (“CGG”) announced (i) the execution of a lock-up agreement dated June 13, 2017 (the “LUA”) with certain of its key financial creditors in support of its proposed financial restructuring plan (the “Financial Restructuring”) and, in connection therewith, (ii) the opening of a Sauvegarde proceeding in France (and concurrent Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 filings in the U.S.).
Results of the private placement
In connection with the Financial Restructuring, and pursuant to the terms of the LUA, on June 27, 2017, CGG announced the opening of a placement period in accordance with the terms of a private placement agreement dated June 26, 2017 (the “PPA”), during which Eligible Holders (as defined in the PPA) of its existing Senior Notes were invited to commit to subscribe for a pro rata portion of $375 million of new six-year floating rate / 8.5% PIK second lien senior notes with warrants (collectively, the “New Instruments”) to be issued on completion of the Financial Restructuring.
CGG is today pleased to announce that as at July 7, 2017 (the end of the placement period) Eligible Holders representing 86.08% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes had committed to subscribe to the New Instruments pursuant to the terms of the PPA, and had acceded to the LUA. The issuance of the New Instruments has been backstopped by members of the ad hoc committee of the holders of the Senior Notes holding, as of the date of the PPA, 52.38% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes, who have also committed to subscribe for their pro rata shares of the New Instruments.
Convening of CGG’s lenders’ committee and bondholders’ general meeting
While the private placement described above was a sucess, and the fact that the requisite majority of creditors have now acceded to the LUA (as detailed below), CGG also announces that yesterday it has convened meetings of its Safeguard lenders’ committee and bondholders’ general meeting (including holders of Convertible Bonds (as defined in the LUA)) for July 28, 2017 to vote on its draft Safeguard plan.
As of July 12, 2017, holders of 74. 24 % of the combined aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes and the Convertible Bonds, together with holders of 77. 66 % of the aggregate principal amount of the group’s Secured Debt (as defined in the LUA), have executed or acceded to the LUA. This indicates a high level of support for the Financial Restructuring and satisfies a key milestone in the implementation process ahead of creditors meetings on July 28, 2017.
“Senior Notes” means CGG’s 6.500% Senior Notes due 2021 (CUSIP: 204384AB7 / ISIN: US204384AB76; CUSIP: F1704UAD6 / ISIN: USF1704UAD66), 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (Reg. S ISIN: XS1061175607 / Reg. S Common Code: 106117560; Rule 144A ISIN:
XS1061175862 / Rule 144A Common Code: 106117586) and 6.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (Reg. S CUSIP: F1704UAC8 / Reg. S ISIN: USF1704UAC83; Registered CUSIP: 12531TAB5 / Registered ISIN: US12531TAB52).
About CGG
CGG (www.cgg.com) is a global geoscience technology leader. Employing around 3,700 people worldwide, CGG provides a comprehensive range of data, products, services and solutions that support our clients to more efficiently and responsibly solve complex natural resource, environmental and infrastructure challenges. CGG is listed on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: 0013181864).