Baker Hughes and Akastor create new offshore drilling solutions player

Oilfield services provider Baker Hughes and Akastor have announced an agreement to create a joint venture company that will bring together Baker Hughes’ Subsea Drilling Systems (SDS) business with Akastor’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MHWirth.

The company will deliver a global full-service offshore drilling equipment offering that will provide customers with a broad portfolio of products and services, Baker Hughes and Akastor said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

The transaction will result in an equipment provider with integrated delivery capabilities, financial strength, and flexibility to address a full range of customer priorities, the two companies said.

The new company will be owned 50-50 by Baker Hughes and Akastor. Following the closing of the transaction, the company’s operations will be managed from current offices in Houston, Texas, and Kristiansand, Norway.

Merrill A. “Pete” Miller will serve as chairman and chief executive officer. Miller has been in the oil and gas industry for over 40 years holding various leadership roles including chairman, president, and chief executive officer of National Oilwell Varco.

The company’s broader scope of services will also provide a more solid foundation for future growth, including the capability to participate in the oil and gas industry’s transition towards more energy-efficient solutions, as well as deploying technologies and service solutions to make the sector more competitive through increased drilling efficiency.

Karl Erik Kjelstad, CEO of Akastor, said: “I strongly believe that this Company will give a solid basis for both organizations to meet the current challenges in today’s market and to continue as a leader in developing advanced and efficient drilling solutions that support the industry’s transition towards more sustainable operations”.

“This transaction is a major step for MHWirth, and the transformation strategy announced in February 2019”, said Kristian M. Røkke, chairman of Akastor.

“The Company will offer customers a strengthened product offering and investors attractive value creation. This transaction will also allow Akastor to maximize, and ultimately realize, value to its shareholders”.

Neil Saunders, executive vice president of Oilfield Equipment at Baker Hughes, said: “This Company is the perfect fit between our respective portfolios and further transforms our core operations for long-term success, bringing complementary solutions to market and offering our customers a full offshore drilling equipment package”.

MHWirth is a global provider of advanced drilling solutions and services. It has a global span covering five continents with offices in 13 countries.

Baker Hughes’ SDS business is a division of the Oilfield Equipment segment of Baker Hughes and is headquartered in Houston.

SDS provides integrated drilling products and services worldwide, with service and manufacturing facilities in 11 countries and a portfolio, including world-class blowout preventer (BOP) systems, controls and riser equipment.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the second half of 2021.

The company will be owned 50/50 by Baker Hughes and Akastor. Akastor will contribute its shares in MHWirth to the Company in return for 50 per cent of the shares and $120 million in consideration, of which $100 million is payable in cash at closing.

Baker Hughes will contribute the SDS business to the company in return for the other 50 per cent of the shares and $200 million in consideration, of which $120 million is payable in cash at closing.

The Company will issue notes to Baker Hughes and Akastor representing the balance of the consideration owed to them. The notes will be subordinated to the Company’s external debt financing.

The Company will finance the cash consideration payable to Baker Hughes and Akastor by way of a $220 million bank facility. In addition, the Company will also be financed by an $80 million working capital facility.

The transaction agreement entered into by Akastor and Baker Hughes provides for customary terms for agreements of this nature, including representations and warranties relating to the businesses being contributed as well as an agreed form shareholders agreement customary for a 50/50 controlled company, including governance and exit provisions.

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approval. The closing of the transaction is expected to take place in 2H 2021.

The transaction will require the refinancing of Akastor’s existing corporate credit facility. Akastor has received commitments for a NOK 1,250 million revolving credit facility that will be entered into prior to closing of the transaction.

Following the completion of the transaction, it is expected that MHWirth no longer will be accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary of Akastor.

Instead, it is expected that Akastor will treat the Company as a joint venture for accounting purposes and that, following which Akastor will recognise 50 per cent of the equity of the Company and 50 per cent of the Company net profits in its accounts based on the “equity method”.