UPDATE: Tidewater (TDW) Reports Q1 Loss Per Share of $1.89; Offers Update on Status of Discussions with Lenders

(Updated - August 9, 2016 5:45 PM EDT)

Tidewater (NYSE: TDW) reported Q1 EPS of ($1.89), may not compare to the analyst estimate of ($0.74). Revenue for the quarter came in at $167.9 million versus the consensus estimate of $169.75 million.

Status of Discussions with Lenders and Noteholders

The decrease in oil and gas prices that began in the second half of fiscal 2015 and continued throughout fiscal 2016 has led to materially lower levels of spending for offshore exploration and development by the company's customers globally. In addition, newly constructed vessels have been delivered over the last several years, exacerbating weak vessel utilization. With reduced demand for offshore support vessels along with increased supply, the company has experienced a significant decline in the utilization of its vessels, average day rates received and vessel revenue. The company has implemented a number of significant cost reduction measures to mitigate the effects of significantly lower vessel revenue and, given the currently challenging offshore support vessel market and business outlook, has taken other steps to improve its financial position and liquidity.

At June 30, 2016, the company did not meet the 3.0x minimum interest coverage ratio covenant (the "minimum interest coverage ratio requirement") contained in its Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement ("Bank Loan Agreement"), the Troms Offshore Debt and the 2013 Senior Note Agreement (the "2013 Note Agreement"). Failure to meet the minimum interest coverage ratio requirement would have resulted in covenant noncompliance; however, as discussed in more detail below, limited waivers were received. Noncompliance with this covenant would allow the respective lenders and/or the noteholders to declare the company to be in default of the Bank Loan Agreement, the Troms Offshore Debt and/or the 2013 Note Agreement, as applicable, and accelerate the indebtedness thereunder, the effect of which would be to likewise cause the company's other Senior Notes, which were issued in 2010 and 2011, to be in default. Please refer to Note (6) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Note (5) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding the company's outstanding debt.

Given that the company expected it would not meet the minimum interest coverage ratio requirement set forth in the Bank Loan Agreement, the Troms Offshore Debt and the 2013 Note Agreement during fiscal 2017, which could result in the acceleration of the debt under these agreements and the company's other Senior Notes, the report of the company's independent registered public accounting firm that accompanied the company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 (the "audit opinion") contained an explanatory paragraph regarding the company's ability to continue as a going concern. Such going concern explanatory paragraph was required because the company's internal forecast indicated that, within fiscal 2017, the company may no longer be in compliance with the minimum interest coverage ratio requirement.

In addition, the Bank Loan Agreement and the Troms Offshore Debt require that the company receive an unqualified audit opinion from an independent certified public accountant which shall not be subject to a going concern or similar modification. The failure to receive an audit opinion without any modification, in and of itself, is an event of default under these agreements which would allow the lenders to accelerate the indebtedness thereunder, the effect of which would be to likewise cause all of the company's Senior Notes, which were issued in 2010, 2011 and 2013, to be in default. The explanatory paragraph in the audit opinion also references the audit opinion-related event of default under various borrowing arrangements as an uncertainty that raises substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern. As previously reported, the company obtained limited waivers from the necessary lenders which waived the unqualified audit opinion requirement until August 14, 2016.

Prior to the August 14, 2016 expiry of the limited waiver in regards to the audit opinion, the company obtained limited waivers from the necessary lenders and noteholders which extend the waiver of the unqualified audit opinion requirement and/or waive the minimum interest coverage ratio requirement until September 18, 2016.

As a result of the company's failure to receive an audit opinion with no modifications from the company's independent certified public accountants, and because the waivers are for a limited period that is less than one year, all of the company's indebtedness has been reclassified as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet since March 31, 2016.

The company continues to engage in discussions with its principal lenders and noteholders to amend the company's various debt arrangements in advance of the expiration of the waivers on September 18, 2016. The company believes that these discussions have been constructive and progress has been made in resolving several important issues, although other important issues remain to be resolved and no assurances can be given that they will be ultimately resolved. Any such amendments would require successful negotiations with the company's principal lenders and noteholders, and may require the company to make certain concessions under the existing agreements, such as providing collateral to secure the Bank Loan Agreement, the Troms Offshore Debt and the Senior Notes, repaying a portion of the indebtedness outstanding under the revolving portion of the Bank Loan Agreement, accepting a reduction in total borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility, paying a higher rate of interest, issuing some form of equity or equity linked compensation enhancement, paying down a portion of the Troms Offshore Debt and/or Senior Notes, or some combination of the above. In addition, such amendments will need to address the audit opinion requirement of the Bank Loan Agreement and the Troms Offshore Debt (the waiver of which has been extended until September 18, 2016). Obtaining the covenant relief will require the company to reach an agreement that satisfies potentially divergent interests of its principal lenders and noteholders.

If any of its principal lenders or noteholders accelerate the company's outstanding indebtedness, the company's multiple borrowings will become immediately payable (as a result of cross default provisions), and the company will not have sufficient liquidity to repay those accelerated amounts. If the company is unable to reach an agreement with its principal lender and noteholders to address the potential defaults, the company would likely seek reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws, which could include a restructuring of the company's various debt obligations.

The company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 were prepared assuming the company would continue as a going concern, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for the twelve month period following the date of these consolidated financial statements.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Tidewater (TDW) click here.

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