All Subsidiaries Continuing Normal Operations, Company Says

CHC Group and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas to facilitate the restructuring of its balance sheet and fleet, and position the Company for long-term success.

The reorganization is expected to strengthen CHC’s financial position by reducing long-term debt and enhancing financial flexibility while allowing the Company to manage and operate its fleet of aircraft.

CHC expects day-to-day operations to continue without interruption throughout the court-supervised restructuring process. The Company expects to maintain sufficient liquidity throughout the restructuring process to maintain its continuing business operations.

“CHC continues to be a strong company operationally and we remain fully committed to delivering safe and reliable service to our customers," said Karl Fessenden, president and Chief Executive Officer. "Importantly, normal business operations will continue. The step we have taken ... provides an orderly path to enhance our financial flexibility and establish a competitive capital and operating structure that will allow us to invest in and grow CHC’s business over the long-term. We remain committed to maintaining our position as a world class helicopter service provider – one that continues to set the standard for safety, customer service and value across the industry. We thank our customers and suppliers for their ongoing support as well as our employees for their continued dedication.”

Like many companies in the oil and gas industry, CHC’s operations have been significantly affected by the dramatic decline in oil prices since their peak in 2014 and general uncertainty in the energy market, which has led to decreased customer demand and an increase in idle aircraft. Despite significant efforts to reduce costs, these factors, coupled with CHC’s debt and aircraft lease obligations, resulted in the Company’s decision to engage advisors to assist in evaluating strategic alternatives to improve its capital structure. CHC and its advisors determined a court-supervised reorganization process provides the best and most efficient way to align the Company’s debt, lease and interest costs with customer demand in the current operating environment, and position CHC for long-term success.

The Company also announced that it has filed certain “first-day” motions with the court to facilitate operating in the normal course throughout the court-supervised restructuring process.

Helicopter Investor reports that in the first day filing, Michael Cox, vice chairman of Seabury, which is acting as CHC’s restructuring adviser, indicated that the company would restructure its fleet to 75 helicopters, down from 230. The company actually owns 67 aircraft.

The company has identified some 44 leases as what it calls “Excess Equipment”. Some of the companies that lease helicopters to CHC knew they would be returned in advance of the bankruptcy filing. The company has said it will return 90 aircraft to the leasing companies within the next 60 days.

(Source: CHC news release and media sources. Image from file)

FMI: www.chc.ca/restructuring