Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS) and its subsidiaries announced today that it has entered into two seven-year GBP denominated secured equipment financings for an aggregate $200 million USD equivalent with Lombard, part of The Royal Bank of Scotland. The proceeds from the financings will be used to finance eight search and rescue (SAR) helicopters being utilized for the SAR contract with the U.K. Department for Transport.

“We would like to thank Lombard and The Royal Bank of Scotland for their support of Bristow. Nine of ten U.K. SAR bases are operational now and the final base is expected to be operational in mid-2017. These credit facilities increase our liquidity, term out debt through 2023, and demonstrate our access to capital as a leader in industrial aviation. We will continue to prudently manage our liquidity and balance sheet as we successfully manage through the current oil and gas industry downturn,” said Bristow President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan E. Baliff.

The credit facilities are expected to fund no later than the first quarter of calendar year 2017 and are subject to both U.K. and U.S. governmental approvals. Upon funding, the credit facilities will have seven-year terms with balloon payments at maturity, and Bristow’s obligations will be secured by SAR helicopters, with one credit facility secured by three Sikorsky S-92 helicopters and the other credit facility secured by five Leonardo AW189 helicopters.