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Newpark Resources' Credit Facility Drops to $150 Million

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Newpark Resources, Inc. has entered into a First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, amending provisions of its existing Credit Agreement. The Amendment was principally entered into as a result of the Company's anticipation of non-compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio financial covenant under its existing Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 6, 2015. The Amendment decreases the size of the facility, modifies certain financial covenants through the first quarter of 2017, and also modifies the borrowing cost and fee provisions.

Pursuant to the Amendment, the revolving facility has been reduced from $200 million to $150 million.  In addition, a temporary increase has been made to the consolidated leverage ratio covenant, increasing the ratio from the current 4.0:1.0 limitation to 5.5:1.0 through 2016, then reducing to 4.5 in the first quarter of 2017, and returning to 4.0 thereafter. During the same period, the senior secured leverage ratio covenant is being reduced from the current 3.0:1.0 limitation to 2.0:1.0 through 2016, then increasing to 2.5 in the first quarter of 2017, and returning to 3.0 thereafter. The calculation for these two ratios has also been modified to allow for up to $10 million of adjustments for severance costs, as well as foreign exchange impacts related to Brazilian intercompany financial restructuring.  Also, the Amendment increases the borrowing cost by 25-50 basis points and increases the commitment fee by 12.5 basis points, but only in the event the consolidated leverage ratio equals or exceeds 2.5:1.0. There are currently no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility.

Gregg Piontek, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Newpark, stated, "We are very pleased with the strong support of our bank group as we continue to manage through this downturn in drilling activity. While we are continuing to focus on cash preservation and have no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, this amendment preserves the facility and provides us with additional flexibility to manage through the cycle, as well as the liquidity to participate in the eventual market recovery."