SOUNDHOUND AI, INC.SOUN
SOUNDHOUND AI, INC. Debt Disclosure
NOTE PAYABLE
SNAP June 2020 Note
In June 2020, the Company issued a promissory note (the “SNAP June 2020 Note”) to a Lender in exchange for $15.0 million in cash proceeds. The note had an annual interest rate of 5% and a maturity date of June 26, 2022, if not converted earlier pursuant to conversion terms and change in control events.
The Company recognized total interest expense of $0.7 million associated with the SNAP June 2020 Note for the year ended December 31, 2022, out of which $0.4 million relates to amortization of the debt discount. The debt discount related to the SNAP June 2020 Note is amortized over the life of the instrument, beginning at note issuance and ending on April 26, 2022, the date on which the note was converted. The Company was amortizing the discounts on an effective interest basis over the period from issuance through the Early Maturity Date. The effective interest rate was 14.3% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
As a result of the Business Combination, on the Closing Date, the SNAP June 2020 Note conversion feature was triggered. As a result, on the Closing Date, all outstanding principal of $15.0 million and accrued interest of $1.4 million were converted into 2,046,827 shares of Class A Common Stock. In addition, the remaining debt discount of $0.2 million and related derivative liability with fair value of $4.1 million as of the Closing Date were extinguished.
SVB March 2021 Note
In March 2021, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with a commercial bank to borrow $30.0 million. The loan bore interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of 9.00% or 5.75% above the Prime Rate. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the interest rate was 13.75%. Payments were interest-only for the first twelve months and are now principal and interest through maturity. There was no interest expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2024. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company
recorded $16.0 thousand and $1.0 million related to the amortization of the debt discount in interest expense, respectively.
Concurrently with the Company's entry into the Credit Agreement (as defined below), the Company used a portion of the proceeds to prepay in full all outstanding obligations under, and terminated, the SVB March 2021 Note. In connection with the SVB March 2021 Note prepayment, the Company paid a total of $18.5 million on April 14, 2023, which consisted of (i) the remaining principal amount outstanding of $18.1 million, (ii) a prepayment premium of $0.3 million, (iii) accrued and unpaid interest of $0.1 million and (iv) a nominal amount for transaction expenses, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $0.4 million.
SCI June 2021 Note
In June 2021, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with a lender to obtain credit extensions to the Company. Extensions were available in $5.0 million increments up to a total commitment amount of $15.0 million. The Company drew an initial $5.0 million on June 14, 2021 and the remaining $10.0 million on December 1, 2021. The loan bore interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of 9.00% or 5.75% above the Prime Rate. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the interest rate was 13.75%. Payments were interest-only for the first twelve months and principal and interest through maturity. There was no interest expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2024. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company recorded $31 thousand and $0.8 million related to the amortization of the debt discounts in interest expense, respectively.
Concurrently with the Company’s entry into the Credit Agreement (as defined below), the Company used a portion of the proceeds to prepay in full all outstanding obligations under, and terminated, the SCI June 2021 Note. In connection with the SCI June 2021 Note prepayment on April 14, 2023, the Company paid a total of approximately $11.7 million, which consisted of (i) the remaining principal amount outstanding of approximately $11.5 million, (ii) a prepayment premium of approximately $0.2 million and (iii) a nominal amount for transaction expenses resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $0.4 million.
Term Loan
On April 14, 2023 (the “Term Loan Closing Date”), the Company entered into a Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for a term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $100.0 million (the “Term Loan”). The Credit Agreement also permits the Company to request additional commitments of up to $25.0 million in the aggregate, with funding of such commitments in the sole discretion of the lenders, under certain circumstances, which will be subject to the same terms as the Term Loan if funded. On the Term Loan closing date, the Company also entered into Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay incremental lender fees (the "Lender Fees"), beginning on the Term Loan closing date, initially at the rate of 3.50% of the principal amount of the Term Loans for the first 18 months paid semi-annually to provide a collateral protection insurance policy on behalf of the lenders. Such rate for the Lender Fees will decrease to 2.50% after the 18-month anniversary of the Term Loan Closing Date. As the lenders are the sole beneficiary of the insurance policy, the Lender Fees are deemed to be additional fees payable to the Lenders and is therefore being recognized as interest expense over the term of the Term Loan based on effective interest method.
The Company used the proceeds from the Term Loan to (i) repay outstanding amounts equal to approximately $30.0 million under the Company’s existing loan facilities, (ii) fund an escrow account on the Term Loan Closing Date in the name of the Agent for an amount equal to the first four interest payments, (iii) pay certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with entering into the Credit Agreement, and (iv) fund the Lender Fees, together with related taxes, with the remaining proceeds to be used to fund growth investments and for general corporate purposes as permitted under the Credit Agreement.
The outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan bears interest at the applicable margin plus, at the Company’s election, either (i) the Term SOFR published by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited for a one-month interest period plus 0.15% or (ii) the alternate base rate (“ABR”), which is a per annum rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), (b) the NYFRB Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 0.50% and (c) the Term SOFR plus 1.00%. The applicable margin under the Credit Agreement is 8.50% per annum
with respect to SOFR loans, and 7.50% per annum with respect to ABR loans. As of June 30, 2024, the contractual interest rate was approximately 14.0%. The Company was amortizing the discounts on an effective interest basis over the period from issuance through April 14, 2027 (the “Maturity Date”). The effective interest rate was 25.18% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company incurred $6.0 million in stated interest in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, and paid $3.5 million for the period. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded $1.5 million in interest expense related to the debt discount.
On June 7, 2024, the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Payoff Letter”) to prepay in full all indebtedness and other amounts outstanding and owing under the Credit Agreement. In connection with the Term Loan prepayment, the Company paid a total of $105.6 million on June 7, 2024, which consisted of (i) the remaining principal amount outstanding of $100.0 million, (ii) a prepayment premium of $5.0 million, (iii) transaction expenses of $0.6 million, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $15.6 million. Accordingly, the accrued and unpaid interest of $2.6 million was waived under the Payoff Letter.
Amelia Debt
In connection with the Amelia Acquisition, the Company assumed the amended senior secured term loan facility from Amelia in an aggregate principal amount of $121.5 million, which was issued pursuant to the existing Credit Agreement (the “Amelia Debt Credit Agreement”) of Amelia with Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC (“Monroe”), as administrative and collateral agent for certain affiliated funds of Monroe, as lenders. In accordance with the terms of the debt assumed, on August 7, 2024, the Company paid $70.0 million in cash to pay down a portion of the outstanding principal balance and issued 2,943,917 shares of Class A common stock to settle certain fees associated with the Amelia Debt. The remaining outstanding balance of $39.7 million has a maturity date of June 30, 2026 (the “Maturity Date”) and provides, at the Company’s election, for payment of a portion of interest in cash or in kind ("PIK"), in which case interest will be capitalized and added to the outstanding principal amount, with principal and accrued interest due at the Maturity Date. The Amelia Debt may be prepaid at any time and must be prepaid, along with the applicable prepayment premium and exit fee, upon the occurrence of certain future events. The Amelia Debt will accrue interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of (a) Adjusted Term SOFR and (b)(i) an applicable margin of 9.00% for the portion of interest paid in cash, and (ii) an additional 1.00% for the portion of interest paid in kind. Upon an event of default, the interest rate will automatically increase by an additional 2.00% per annum, and may result in the declaration that all outstanding principal and interest under the Amelia Debt be immediately due and payable in whole or in part. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded and paid $2.0 million in interest expense, of which $0.1 million was paid to settle the PIK that was capitalized and added to the outstanding principal amount.
On December 3, 2024, the Company entered into a letter agreement (the “Amelia Debt Payoff Letter”) to prepay in full all indebtedness and other amounts outstanding and owing under the Amelia Debt Credit Agreement. In connection with the Amelia Debt prepayment, the Company paid a total of $39.8 million on December 4, 2024, which consisted of the remaining principal amount outstanding of $39.8 million and transaction expenses of $42 thousand, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $42 thousand.
The following table summarizes the Company’s debt balances as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Term Loan | $ | — | $ | 100,000 | |||||||
| Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | — | (15,688) | |||||||||
| Carrying value of long-term debt | $ | — | $ | 84,312 | |||||||
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.