Long-Term Debt |
8. Long-Term Debt In February 2024, NCLC and the purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Commitment Parties”) entered into a third amended and restated commitment letter (the “third amended commitment letter”), which became effective in March 2024. The third amended commitment letter amended and restated the commitment letter dated February 22, 2023 and extended the commitments thereunder through March 2025. Pursuant to the third amended commitment letter, the Commitment Parties have agreed to purchase from NCLC an aggregate principal amount of $650 million of senior unsecured notes due five years after the issue date (the “Commitment Notes”) at NCLC’s option. If issued, the Commitment Notes will be subject to an issue fee of 0.50% and will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (A) the greater of (i) the interest rate of the 7.75% senior notes due 2029 (“2029 Unsecured Notes”) and (ii) the then-current secondary trading yield applicable to the 2029 Unsecured Notes plus (B) 200 basis points. The Commitment Notes are subject to a one-time structuring fee of 0.50% and a quarterly commitment fee of 0.75% for so long as the commitments with respect to the Commitment Notes are outstanding. In connection with the execution of the third amended commitment letter, NCLC agreed to repurchase all of the outstanding $250 million aggregate principal amount of 9.75% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “2028 Secured Notes”) at a negotiated premium plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. In March 2024, in connection with the settlement of the repurchase, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the 2028 Secured Notes was cancelled while also releasing the related collateral. The loss on extinguishment was $29.0 million, recognized in interest expense, net. In November 2023, we executed an agreement for a commitment of €200 million in connection with financial support for our newbuilds, which became available in April 2024. The commitment if drawn will pay interest quarterly at a rate per annum based on an applicable margin plus Euribor 3-months. The commitment may be drawn at any time and is payable within 364 days, but no later than July 15, 2025. Any amount repaid prior to July 15, 2025 may be drawn again. In September 2024, NCLC issued $315.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2030 (the “2030 Notes”). NCLC may, at its option, redeem the 2030 Notes, in whole or in part, (i) prior to March 1, 2027 (the “First Call Date”), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed plus an applicable “make-whole” amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, and (ii) on or after the First Call Date, at the redemption prices set forth in the 2030 Notes indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to the First Call Date, NCLC may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 106.250% of the principal amount of the 2030 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, so long as at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes issued remains outstanding following such redemption. The 2030 Notes pay interest at 6.250% per annum, semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding February 15 and August 15, respectively. The 2030 Notes indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of NCLC and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) grant or assume certain liens; (ii) enter into sale leaseback transactions; and (iii) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets. The net proceeds for the 2030 Notes, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discount but before deducting estimated fees and expenses, together with cash on hand, were used to redeem $315.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 3.625% senior notes due 2024, including to pay any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Exchangeable Notes The following is a summary of NCLC’s exchangeable notes as of September 30, 2024 (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Unamortized | | | | | | | | | | | Principal | | Deferred | | Net Carrying | | Fair Value | | | Amount | | Financing Fees | | Amount | | Amount | | Leveling | 2025 Exchangeable Notes (1) | | $ | 449,990 | | $ | (2,137) | | $ | 447,853 | | $ | 551,310 | | Level 2 | 2027 1.125% Exchangeable Notes | | | 1,150,000 | | | (13,730) | | | 1,136,270 | | | 1,114,166 | | Level 2 | 2027 2.5% Exchangeable Notes | | | 473,175 | | | (6,043) | | | 467,132 | | | 469,877 | | Level 2 |
The following is a summary of NCLC’s exchangeable notes as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Unamortized | | | | | | | | | | | Principal | | Deferred | | Net Carrying | | Fair Value | | | Amount | | Financing Fees | | Amount | | Amount | | Leveling | 2024 Exchangeable Notes (2) | | $ | 146,601 | | $ | (557) | | $ | 146,044 | | $ | 217,790 | | Level 2 | 2025 Exchangeable Notes | | | 449,990 | | | (3,963) | | | 446,027 | | | 572,567 | | Level 2 | 2027 1.125% Exchangeable Notes | | | 1,150,000 | | | (17,921) | | | 1,132,079 | | | 1,068,431 | | Level 2 | 2027 2.5% Exchangeable Notes | | | 473,175 | | | (7,836) | | | 465,339 | | | 453,784 | | Level 2 |
(1) | Classified within current portion of long-term debt as of September 30, 2024. We expect that the holders of the 2025 Exchangeable Notes will exchange their 2025 Exchangeable Notes for NCLH ordinary shares. |
(2) | Classified within current portion of long-term debt as of December 31, 2023. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, substantially all the holders of 2024 Exchangeable Notes elected to exchange their 2024 Exchangeable Notes for 10,658,607 NCLH ordinary shares and the remaining unexchanged notes were repaid in cash at maturity. |
The following provides a summary of the interest expense of NCLC’s exchangeable notes (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | | | September 30, | | September 30, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2023 | Coupon interest | | $ | 12,238 | | $ | 14,438 | | $ | 39,983 | | $ | 43,313 | Amortization of deferred financing fees | | | 2,727 | | | 3,072 | | | 8,339 | | | 8,571 | Total | | $ | 14,965 | | $ | 17,510 | | $ | 48,322 | | $ | 51,884 |
As of September 30, 2024, the effective interest rate is 5.97%, 1.64% and 3.06% for the 2025 Exchangeable Notes, 2027 1.125% Exchangeable Notes and 2027 2.5% Exchangeable Notes, respectively. Debt Repayments The following are scheduled principal repayments on our long-term debt including exchangeable notes, which can be settled in NCLH ordinary shares, and finance lease obligations as of September 30, 2024 (in thousands): | | | | Year | | Amount | Remainder of 2024 | | $ | 580,337 | 2025 | | | 1,324,480 | 2026 | | | 2,243,781 | 2027 | | | 3,308,071 | 2028 | | | 1,719,541 | 2029 | | | 1,934,831 | Thereafter | | | 2,600,722 | Total | | $ | 13,711,763 |
Debt Covenants As of September 30, 2024, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. If we do not continue to remain in compliance with our covenants, we would have to seek additional amendments to or waivers of our covenants. However, no assurances can be made that such amendments or waivers would be approved by our lenders. Generally, if an event of default under any debt agreement occurs, then pursuant to cross default and/or cross acceleration clauses, substantially all of our outstanding debt and derivative contract payables could become due, and all debt and derivative contracts could be terminated, which would have a material adverse impact on our operations and liquidity.
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