Disc Medicine, Inc. Debt Disclosure
9. Long-Term Debt
On November 6, 2024 (the "Closing Date"), the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Hercules Loan Agreement”), with the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”) and Hercules Capital, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Agent”). The Hercules Loan Agreement provides for up to $200.0 million of senior secured term loans available to the Company in multiple tranches (the “Term Loan Facility”). Under the Hercules Loan Agreement, the Company borrowed an initial amount of $30.0 million on the Closing Date, and at the Company's sole option, can draw an additional $80.0 million on or prior to December 15, 2026, as well as additional term loan advances in an aggregate principal amount of up to $65.0 million during the term of the Term Loan Facility subject to achievement of specified performance milestones, and one additional term loan advance up to an aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million subject to certain terms and conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Term Loan Facility for working capital and general corporate purposes.
The Term Loan Facility will mature on December 1, 2029 (the “Maturity Date”). The outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan Facility bears cash interest at a floating annual rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.25% and (ii) the sum of the Prime Rate and 1.75%. Accrued interest is payable monthly following the funding of each term loan advance. Borrowings under the Hercules Loan Agreement are repayable in monthly interest-only payments through November 2028. At the end of the interest-only payment period, borrowings under the Hercules Loan Agreement are repayable in equal monthly payments of principal and accrued interest until the Maturity Date. At the Company's option, the Company may prepay all or a portion of the outstanding borrowings, subject to a prepayment fee of 3.0% of the principal amount if prepayment occurs during the 18 months following the Closing Date, 2.0% after 18 months following the Closing Date but prior to 36 months following the Closing Date, and 1.0% thereafter.
The obligations under the Hercules Loan Agreement are secured, subject to customary permitted liens and other agreed-upon exceptions, by a first-priority perfected security interest in all of the tangible and intangible assets of the Company, other than intellectual property. The Hercules Loan Agreement includes customary repayment and prepayment terms, events of default, affirmative and negative covenants and representations and warranties. Additionally, the Hercules Loan Agreement contains a minimum cash covenant that requires the Company to maintain certain levels of cash in accounts subject to a control agreement in favor of the Agent at all times beginning on the first day on or after January 1, 2027 (or January 1, 2028, if the Company achieves a certain milestone) on which the aggregate principal amount of the term loan advances is then more than $50.0 million; provided, however, the minimum cash covenant will be waived during all times that the Company's market capitalization is greater than or equal to $1.0 billion. The Hercules Loan Agreement also includes a subjective acceleration clause for circumstances which could be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The Company recorded debt discount and debt issuance costs of $1.8 million upon closing of the Hercules Loan Agreement. The Hercules Loan Agreement also provides for a final payment ("End of Term Charge"), payable upon maturity or the repayment of the obligations in full or in part (on a pro rata basis), equal to 6.75% of the aggregate principal amount of term loans advanced to the Company and repaid on such date, which is being accrued on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2024, the amount accrued for the End of Term Charge was $0.1 million.
Debt discount and unamortized debt issuance costs were recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount on the term loan and are amortized as interest expense using the effective-interest method. In addition, unamortized deferred financing costs of $0.6 million were recorded in other assets as of December 31, 2024 related to the Company's right to borrow additional amounts in the future. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $0.6 million.
As of December 31, 2024, the carrying value of the Term Loan Facility approximates its fair value.
The obligations under the Term Loan Facility as of December 31, 2024 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
Principal term loan balance |
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
Unamortized debt discount and issuance costs |
|
|
(1,746 |
) |
Accrued end of term fee |
|
|
68 |
|
Long-term debt, net |
|
$ |
28,322 |
|
The annual principal payments due under the Term Loan Facility as of December 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
2025 |
|
$ |
— |
|
2026 |
|
|
— |
|
2027 |
|
|
— |
|
2028 |
|
|
2,200 |
|
2029 |
|
|
27,800 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
The table of future principal payments excludes the End of Term Charge of $2.0 million, which is due upon the maturity of the loan.
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.