DEBT
Long-term debt, net of current portion, consisted of the following as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, 2024 | | December 31, 2023 |
Term Loan due 2027 at 6.19% and 7.97% at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | $ | 2,097.0 | | | $ | 2,118.1 | |
Senior Secured Notes due 2028 at 4.125% at both December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | 850.0 | | | 850.0 | |
| | | |
| Unamortized discount and issuance costs | (18.8) | | | (27.2) | |
| 2,928.2 | | | 2,940.9 | |
| Less: Current Portion | (21.0) | | | (21.8) | |
| Total long-term debt, net of current portion | $ | 2,907.2 | | | $ | 2,919.1 | |
Contractual maturities of the Company’s debt obligations as of December 31, 2024 are shown below: | | | | | |
| 2025 | $ | 21.0 | |
| 2026 | 21.0 | |
| 2027 | 2,055.0 | |
| 2028 | 850.0 | |
| 2029 | — | |
| |
| Total | $ | 2,947.0 | |
Term Loan Due 2027
Subject to certain conditions and without consent of the then-existing Term Lenders (but subject to the receipt of commitments), Vertiv Group Corporation (the "Borrower"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vertiv Holdings Co ("Holdings Co"), may incur additional loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as an increase to the Term Loan or as one or more new tranches of term loans) (“Incremental Term Loans”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to the sum of (a) the greater of $325.0 and 60.0% of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), plus (b) an amount equal to the sum of all voluntary prepayments, repurchases and redemptions of pari passu term loans borrowed under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and of certain other pari passu indebtedness incurred outside the Term Loan Credit Agreement utilizing capacity that would otherwise be available for Incremental Term Loans, in each case, to the extent not financed with the incurrence of certain additional long-term indebtedness, plus (c) an unlimited amount, so long as on a pro forma basis, (i) with respect to indebtedness secured by the Collateral (as defined below) on a pari passu basis with the Term Loan, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) would not exceed 3.75:1.00 and (ii) with respect to indebtedness incurred outside of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and secured by the Collateral on a junior basis with the Term Loan or that is unsecured, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) would not exceed either (A) 5.25:1.00 or (B) if such indebtedness is incurred in connection with a permitted acquisition or other permitted investment, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio in effect immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction (the amounts referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c), collectively, the “Incremental Amount”). Subject to certain conditions, the Borrower may incur additional indebtedness outside of the Term Loan Credit Agreement using the then-available Incremental Amount in lieu of Incremental Term Loans.
The Term Loan amortizes in equal quarterly installments in an amount equal to 1.00% per annum of the initial principal amount, which amortization payments commenced on June 30, 2020. Prior to the amendments discussed below, the interest rate applicable to the Term Loan was, at the Borrower’s option, either (a) the base rate (which is the highest of (i)
the prime rate of Citibank, N.A. on such day, (ii) the greater of the then-current (A) federal funds rate set by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (B) rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight LIBOR, in each case, plus 0.50%, (iii) LIBOR for a one month interest period, plus 1.00% and (iv) 1.00%), plus 2.00% or (b) one-, three- or six-month LIBOR or, if agreed by all Term Lenders, 12-month LIBOR or, if agreed to by the Term Agent, any shorter period (selected at the option of the Borrower), plus 3.00%. Additionally, concurrent with entering into the Term Loan Credit Agreement, Vertiv Group entered into interest rate swap agreements with a notional amount of $1,000.0. The swap transactions exchange floating rate interest payments for fixed rate interest payments on the notional amount to reduce interest rate volatility. The borrowing rate of the Term Loan as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 6.19% and 7.97%, respectively.
The Borrower may voluntarily prepay the Term Loan, in whole or in part, subject to minimum amounts, with prior notice but without premium or penalty. The Borrower is required to repay the Term Loan with 50% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), 100% of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and casualty and condemnation events and the incurrence of certain other indebtedness, in each case, subject to certain step-downs, reinvestment rights, thresholds and other exceptions. Any Term Loan prepaid or repaid may not be re-borrowed. Unless accelerated subject to the terms of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any amounts not otherwise prepaid or repaid shall mature on the seven year anniversary of entry into the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
The Borrower’s obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Holdings Co and all of the Borrower’s direct and indirect wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries (subject to certain permitted exceptions) (collectively, the “Guarantors”). Subject to certain exceptions, the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and related documents are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and the Guarantors (the “Collateral”).
The Term Loan Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative, reporting and negative covenants, and events of default. The negative covenants include, among other things, restrictions on (subject to certain exceptions) our ability to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or other payments on capital stock; guarantee other obligations; grant liens on assets; make loans, acquisitions or other investments; transfer or dispose of assets; make optional payments of, or otherwise modify, certain debt instruments; engage in transactions with affiliates; amend organizational documents; engage in mergers or consolidations; enter into arrangements that restrict certain of our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; change the nature of the business conducted by Vertiv Group and its restricted subsidiaries; and designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. Additionally, the activities which may be carried out by Holdings Co are subject to limitations.
Term Loan Amendments
On March 10, 2021, pursuant to Amendment No. 1 a repricing amendment, the interest rate margin decreased to 2.75% in respect of Term Loans bearing interest based on the LIBOR rate and to 1.75% in respect of Term Loans bearing interest based on the base rate as described above.
On June 22, 2023, pursuant to Amendment No. 2, the interest rate under the Term Loan Credit Agreement transitioned, effective July 1, 2023, from the LIBOR available for borrowings under the credit agreement and related LIBOR-based mechanics to an interest rate based on the SOFR and related SOFR-based mechanics.
On December 13, 2023, pursuant to Amendment No. 3, among other modifications, the interest rate margin for the Borrower’s outstanding term loans under the Credit Agreement was reduced by 0.25%, to 2.50% in respect of term loans bearing interest based on the Term SOFR rate and to 1.50% in respect of term loans bearing interest based on the base rate described above. The maturity date for such term loans remains March 2, 2027, and all other material provisions of the Credit Agreement remain materially unchanged. The Company recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $0.5 related to the interest rate decrease for the year ended December 31, 2023.
On June 13, 2024, pursuant to Amendment No. 4, among other modifications, the interest rate margin for the Borrower’s outstanding term loans under the Credit Agreement was reduced by 0.50%, to 2.00% in respect of term loans bearing interest based on the Term SOFR rate and to 1.00% in respect of term loans bearing interest based on the base rate described above. Additionally, pursuant to Amendment No. 4, the Term SOFR adjustments for all interest periods were removed, reducing the interest rate on term loans bearing interest based on the Term SOFR rate (a) for an interest period of one month by 0.11448%, (b) for an interest period of three months by 0.26161%, (c) for an interest period of six months by 0.42826%, and (d) for an interest period of twelve months by 0.71513%. The maturity date for such term loans remains March 2, 2027, and all other material provisions of the Credit Agreement remain materially unchanged. The Company recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $1.1 related to the interest rate reduction for the year ended December 31, 2024.
On December 13, 2024, pursuant to Amendment No. 5, among other modifications, the interest rate margin for the Borrower’s outstanding term loans under the Credit Agreement was reduced by 0.25%, to 1.75% in respect of term loans bearing interest based on the Term SOFR rate and to 0.75% in respect of term loans bearing interest based on a base rate defined in the Credit Agreement. The maturity date for such term loans remains March 2, 2027, and all other material provisions of the Credit Agreement remain materially unchanged. The Company recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $1.3 related to the interest rate decrease for the year ended December 31, 2024.
ABL Revolving Credit Facility
On March 2, 2020, the Company entered into the Fifth Amendment to its ABL Revolving Credit Agreement, which extended the maturity of, and made certain other modifications to, the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement, by and among Holdings Co, the Borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower, as co-borrowers (the “Co-Borrowers”), various financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as lenders (the “ABL Lenders”), the ABL Agent and certain other institutions from time to time party thereto as collateral agents and letter of credit issuers. The revolving facility provided by the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement (the "ABL Revolving Credit Facility") is available to the Borrower and the Co-Borrowers and provides for, prior to the amendments discussed below, revolving loans in various currencies and under U.S. and foreign subfacilities, in an aggregate amount up to $570.0 with a letter of credit subfacility of $200.0 and a swingline subfacility of $75.0, in each case, subject to various borrowing bases. Borrowings under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility are limited by borrowing base calculations based on the sum of specified percentages of eligible accounts receivable, certain eligible inventory and certain unrestricted cash, minus the amount of any applicable reserves.
Prior to the amendments discussed below and subject to certain conditions and without the consent of the then-existing ABL Lenders (but subject to the receipt of commitments), commitments under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility may be increased to up to $600.0. Prior to the amendments discussed below, the maturity date of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility was March 2, 2025.
On September 20, 2022, Holdings Co, the Borrower and certain subsidiaries entered into Amendment No. 6 (“Sixth Amendment”) and Amendment No. 7 (“Seventh Amendment”) to the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. Among other modifications, the Sixth Amendment converted the interest rate benchmark for currently outstanding and future revolving loans based on LIBOR to SOFR, with a 10 basis point credit spread adjustment for all available tenors, EURIBOR, and SONIA, as applicable. Under the Seventh Amendment, the U.S. revolving loan commitments under the U.S. tranche was increased by $115.0 to a total loan commitment of $570.0 under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. All other material provisions of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility were unchanged, including the March 2, 2025 maturity date. Prior to the Sixth Amendment, the interest rate benchmark was LIBOR.
The interest rate applicable to loans denominated in U.S. dollars under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility prior to the Sixth Amendment is, at the Borrower’s option, either (a) the base rate (which is the highest of (i) the prime rate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on such date, (ii) the greater of the then-current (A) federal funds rate set by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (B) rate comprised of both overnight federal and overnight LIBOR, in each case, plus 0.50%, (iii) LIBOR for a one month interest period, plus 1.00% and (iv) 1.00%), plus an applicable margin (the “LIBOR Base Rate Margin”) ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%, depending on average excess availability or (b) one-, three- or six-month LIBOR or, if available to all ABL Lenders, 12-month LIBOR or any shorter period (selected at the option of the Borrower), plus an applicable margin (the “LIBOR Margin”) ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%, depending on average excess availability.
The interest rate applicable to loans denominated in U.S. dollars under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility after the Sixth Amendment is, at the Borrower’s option, either (a) the base rate (which is the highest of (i) the prime rate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on such date, (ii) the greater of the then-current (A) federal funds rate set by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (B) rate comprised of both overnight federal and overnight SOFR, in each case, plus 0.50%, (iii) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (as defined in the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement) for a one month interest period, plus 1.00% and (iv) 1.00%), plus an applicable margin (the “SOFR Base Rate Margin”) ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%, depending on average excess availability or (b) one-, three- or six-month Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (selected at the option of the Borrower), plus an applicable margin (the “SOFR Margin” and collectively, with the SOFR Base Rate Margin, the LIBOR Margin, and the LIBOR Base Rate Margin, the “Applicable Margins”) ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%, depending on average excess availability.
Certain “FILO” denominated loans have margins equal to the Applicable Margins, plus an additional 1.00%. Loans denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are subject to customary interest rate conventions and indexes, but in each case, with the same Applicable Margins. In addition, the following fees are applicable under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility: (a) an unused line fee of 0.25% per annum on the unused portion of the commitments under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility, (b) letter of credit participation fees on the aggregate stated amount of each letter of credit equal to the SOFR Margin and (c) certain other customary fees and expenses of the lenders, letter of credit issuers and agents thereunder.
The Borrower and Co-Borrowers may voluntarily repay loans under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility, in whole or in part, subject to minimum amounts, with prior notice but without premium or penalty. The Borrower and Co-Borrowers are required to make prepayments under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility at any time when, and to the extent that, the aggregate amount of outstanding loans and letters of credit under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the lesser of the then-applicable aggregate commitments and the then-applicable borrowing base. Subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions and the then-applicable borrowing base, any amounts repaid may be re-borrowed.
The Borrower’s and Co-Borrowers’ obligations under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility are guaranteed by the Guarantors (including certain Co-Borrowers as to the obligations of other Co-Borrowers) and, subject to certain exclusions, certain non-U.S. restricted subsidiaries of the Borrower (the “Foreign Guarantors”). No Foreign Guarantor guarantees the obligations of the Borrower or any Co-Borrower that is a U.S. subsidiary of the Borrower. Subject to certain exceptions, the obligations of the Borrower, Co-Borrowers, Guarantors and Foreign Guarantors under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility and related documents are secured by a lien on the Collateral and, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, certain assets of the Co-Borrowers that are non-U.S. subsidiaries of the Borrower and certain assets of the Foreign Guarantors (collectively, the “Foreign Collateral”). None of the Foreign Collateral secures the obligations of the Borrower or any Co-Borrower that is a U.S. subsidiary of the Borrower.
The ABL Revolving Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative, reporting (including as to borrowing base-related matters) and negative covenants, and events of default. The negative covenants include, among other things, restrictions on (subject to certain exceptions) our ability to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or other payments on capital stock; guarantee other obligations; grant liens on assets; make loans, acquisitions or other investments; transfer or dispose of assets; make optional payments of, or otherwise modify, certain debt instruments; engage in transactions with affiliates; amend organizational documents; engage in mergers or consolidations; enter into arrangements that restrict certain of our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; change the nature of the business conducted by Vertiv Group and its restricted subsidiaries; and designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. Additionally, the activities which may be carried out by Holdings Co are subject to limitations. In addition, ABL Revolving Credit Facility requires the maintenance of a minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the ABL Revolving Credit Facility) on any date when Global Availability (as defined in the ABL Revolving Credit Facility) is less than the greater of (a) 10.0% of the aggregate commitments and (b) $30.0 of at least 1.00 to 1.00, tested for the four fiscal quarter period ended on the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financials have been delivered, and at the end of each succeeding fiscal quarter thereafter until the date on which Global Availability has exceeded the greater of (a) 10.0% of the aggregate commitments and (b) $30.0 for 30 consecutive calendar days. The Global Availability of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the minimum requirements for covenant compliance at December 31, 2024.
On February 16, 2024, Holdings Co, the Borrower, and certain subsidiaries entered into Amendment No. 8 (the “Eighth Amendment”), which, among other modifications, extended the maturity date of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility to be five years from the date of the Eighth Amendment (subject to an earlier springing maturity date if certain other indebtedness for borrowed money matures earlier), increased the revolving loan commitments tranche by $30.0 to a total loan commitment of $600.0 under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility, modified certain borrowing base reporting requirements and removes the French tranche and the FILO tranches from the ABL Revolving Credit Facility.
On November 12, 2024, Holdings Co, the Borrower, and certain subsidiaries entered into Amendment No. 9 (the “Ninth Amendment”), which, among other modifications, increased the U.S. tranche of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility by $200.0 to a total loan commitment under such tranche of $737.0, and the swingline commitment from $100.0 to $125.0 under the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement (including for borrowing base reporting requirements). The Ninth Amendment also allows for an increase of the ABL revolving commitments under any subfacility in an aggregate amount of up to $200.0, subject to lender commitments and the satisfaction of certain other conditions. No changes were made to non-U.S. tranches. Additionally, the Ninth Amendment amended the inspection and credit appraisal rights of the Administrative Agent under the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement.
At December 31, 2024, there was $784.9 of availability under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility (subject to customary borrowing base and other conditions, and subject to separate sublimits for letters of credit, swingline borrowings and borrowings made to certain non-U.S. Co-Borrowers), net of letters of credit outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $15.1, and taking into account the borrowing base limitations set forth in the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. At both December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there was no outstanding balance on the ABL Revolving Credit Facility.
Senior Secured Notes due 2028
On October 22, 2021, the Borrower completed its offering of $850.0 aggregate principal amount of its Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”) in a private placement at par. The Notes bear interest at 4.125% per annum and mature on November 15, 2028. The Indenture governing the Notes contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative, reporting and negative covenants, and events of default. The negative covenants include, among other things, restrictions on the ability of the Borrower and certain subsidiaries to grant liens or security interests on assets, undertake mergers and consolidations, sell or otherwise transfer assets, pay dividends or make other distributions and restricted payments, incur indebtedness, make acquisitions, loans, advances or other investments, optionally prepay or modify terms of certain junior indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliates or change lines of business, in each case, subject to certain thresholds and exceptions.