Freshpet, Inc.FRPT
Freshpet, Inc. Debt Disclosure
Debt:
On February 19, 2021, the Company entered into the Sixth Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement ("Credit Agreement"), which provided for a $350,000 senior secured credit facility (as amended the "Credit Facility"), encompassing a $300,000 delayed draw term loan facility (the "Delayed Draw Facility") and a $50,000 revolving loan facility (the "Revolving Loan Facility").
On March 15, 2023, the Company terminated the Credit Agreement in connection with the offering of the Convertible Notes (as defined below) and it had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility as of such date. Interest expense and fees totaled $2,785 in 2023. Interest expense in 2023 included $2,478 of debt issuance costs written off in conjunction with the termination of the Credit Facility in March 2023. There was $0 of accrued interest on the credit facilities as of December 31, 2023.
Convertible Senior Notes:In March 2023, we issued $402,500 aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due 2028 (the "Convertible Notes"). The Convertible Notes were issued in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The net proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes were approximately $391,492 after deducting offering and issuance costs related to the Convertible Notes and before the 2023 Capped Call transactions, as described below.
The Convertible Notes are our senior, unsecured obligations and accrue interest at a rate of 3.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2023. The Convertible Notes will mature on April 1, 2028 unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased by us. Before January 3, 2028, noteholders will have the right to convert their Convertible Notes only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ended on June 30, 2023 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "common stock"), for each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five consecutive business day period immediately after any 10 consecutive trading day period (the "measurement period") in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes, as determined following a request by a holder or holders of the Convertible Notes in the manner described in the indenture pursuant to which the Convertible Notes were issued and are governed (the “Indenture”), for each trading day of the measurement period, was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (3) if we call any or all of the Convertible Notes for redemption, but only with respect to the convertible notes called (or deemed called) for redemption; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events (e.g., a fundamental change or the making of certain distributions). On or after January 3, 2028, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, a holder may convert its Convertible Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.
No early conversions have occurred as of December 31, 2025 or since inception. As of December 31, 2025, noteholders do not have the right to early convert under the 130% early conversion feature.
We will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election. The initial conversion rate for the Convertible Notes is 14.3516 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $69.68 per share of common stock. The conversion rate and conversion price are subject to customary adjustments upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, in connection with a make-whole fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture), which shall include, among other things the Company's delivery of a notice of redemption, the Company will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event or redemption, as the case may be.
We may not redeem the Convertible Notes prior to April 3, 2026. We may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Convertible Notes, at our option, on or after April 3, 2026 and on or before the 40th scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we send the notice of redemption, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. However, we may not redeem less than all of the outstanding Convertible Notes unless at least $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes are outstanding and not called for redemption as of the time we send the related redemption notice.
Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture), holders may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Convertible Notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
The effective interest rate for the Convertible Notes is 3.59%. Transaction costs of $11,008 attributable to the issuance of the Convertible Notes were recorded as a direct deduction from the related debt liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes using the effective interest method.
The Company measures the fair value of its Convertible Notes for disclosure purposes. The fair value is based on observable market prices for this debt, which is traded in less active markets and is therefore classified as a Level 2 fair value measurement. The following table discloses the carrying value and fair value of the Company's Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2025:
| As of December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||
Carrying Value (1) | Fair Value | ||||||||||
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes Maturing April 1, 2028 | $ | 397,330 | $ | 477,643 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 397,330 | $ | 477,643 | |||||||
(1)The carrying amounts presented are net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $5,170 as of December 31, 2025.
Lender fees that were paid upfront to the lenders and debt issuance fees paid to third parties are recorded as a discount to the carrying amount of debt and are being amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt. The total interest expense recognized related to the Convertible Notes consists of the following:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Contractual interest expense | $ | 12,075 | $ | 12,075 | $ | 9,426 | |||||||||||
| Amortization of issuance costs | 2,167 | 2,090 | 1,582 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 14,242 | $ | 14,165 | $ | 11,008 | |||||||||||
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, there was $3,019 of accrued interest as of each period end.
As the proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes are being used to fund construction on the Company's manufacturing facility expansion, approximately $2,655, $4,165, and $1,207 of the interest expense incurred in 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, was capitalized to construction in progress. As of December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, $1,422, $3,687, and $136 of capitalized interest, respectively, was reclassified from construction in progress to assets placed in service.
About Debt Disclosures
Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.
Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.