OREANDA-NEWS. June 08, 2017. Paragon Offshore plc (“Paragon” or the “company”) (OTC:PGNPQ) announced today that the United States Bankruptcy Court has approved the company’s consensual plan of reorganization (the “Consensual Plan”) under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code that the company announced on May 2, 2017.  Under the Consensual Plan, Paragon’s existing equity will be deemed worthless and the company’s secured creditors and unsecured bondholders will receive equity in a new reorganized parent company.  In confirming the plan, the Bankruptcy Court overruled all objections raised at confirmation, including those raised by an unofficial committee of equity holders.

Paragon is planning for its emergence from chapter 11 in early July; however, this timing is subject to the completion of certain conditions precedent to emergence including, among other things, Paragon’s legal entity restructuring.

Following the ruling, Mr. Dean E. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Paragon, said, “We are extremely gratified to have received this ruling.  Thanks are due to our employees, our board of directors, our creditors, and the professionals retained by Paragon and its creditors.  Without their hard work and dedication, we could not have achieved this result, which allows us to emerge from the shadow of bankruptcy and return to our core business of delivering Safe, Reliable, and Efficient services to our customers.”

Additional Information

Details of the Consensual Plan can be found in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 3, 2017.  Additional information will be available on Paragon’s website at www.paragonoffshore.com or by calling Paragon’s Restructuring Hotline at 1-888-369-8935.

Neville Barry Kahn and David Philip Soden were appointed Joint Administrators of Paragon Offshore Plc on 23 May 2017. The affairs, business and property of the Company are managed by the Joint Administrators. The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Company and contract without personal liability. In performing their work in relation to this appointment, the Joint Administrators are bound by the Insolvency Code of Ethics, a link to which has been provided on the website set up for this case at www.deloitte.com/uk/paragonoffshoreplc.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as legal counsel to Paragon and Lazard is serving as financial advisor.  Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Creditors’ Committee and Ducera Partners LCC is serving as financial advisor.  Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Revolver Agent and PJT Partners is serving as financial advisor.  Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Term Loan Agent and FTI Consulting, Inc. is serving as financial advisor. 

About Paragon Offshore

Paragon is a leading provider of standard specification offshore drilling services.  Paragon’s operated fleet includes 32 jackups, including two high specification heavy duty/harsh environment jackups, four drillships, and one semisubmersible.  Paragon’s primary business is contracting its rigs, related equipment and work crews to conduct oil and gas drilling and workover operations for its exploration and production customers on a dayrate basis around the world. Paragon’s principal executive offices are located in Houston, Texas. Paragon is a public limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 08814042 and registered office at 20-22 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4JS, England. Additional information is available at www.paragonoffshore.com.