
HOUSTON, Texas, July 2, 2003 — Boots & Coots International
Well Control, Inc. (AMEX:WEL), announced today that it has concluded
negotiations with Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”)
to restructure its obligations that will cure its past and current
loan defaults. As previously disclosed, the Company has been
in default under its subordinated note agreement with Prudential
since March 31, 2002.
As part of the agreement, Boots & Coots agreed to issue
approximately $2.4 million of new subordinated notes to Prudential
representing past due interest, with the option through December
31, 2003, to pay in kind the interest on the subordinated notes
accruing through that period. The Company further agreed to
accelerate the optional conversion date for the Company's outstanding
Series E Preferred Stock, all of which are held by Prudential,
to become immediately convertible.
In exchange, Prudential has agreed to waive the Company’s
past covenant defaults that required it to maintain certain
debt to earnings ratios and to waive compliance with all such
covenants through December 31, 2003. Prudential has also agreed
to defer the requirement that the Company pay cash dividends
on its Series E and G preferred stock until March 31, 2004.
As a result of this debt restructuring initiative, the Company
is now current in its debt obligations to Prudential and is
in full compliance with all loan covenants related to Prudential.
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer Jerry Winchester
said, "Reaching this agreement with Prudential is a key
accomplishment in Boots & Coots’ objective to restructure
its debt. We will continue our efforts toward simplifying the
Company’s financial structure. The management team at
Boots & Coots remains committed to this objective while
improving our operating performance.”
^ Back to Top
|