Vitesse Energy, Inc.VTS
Vitesse Energy, Inc. Debt Disclosure
Credit Facility
In connection with the Spin-Off in January 2023, the Company entered into a secured revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of banks, as lenders (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility amends and restates the revolving credit facility of the Predecessor (the “Prior Revolving Credit Facility”). The Predecessor, as predecessor borrower under the Prior Revolving Credit Facility, assigned the liens and existing rights, liabilities and obligations under the Prior Revolving Credit Facility to the Company pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility permits borrowing on a revolving credit basis with availability equal to the least of (1) the aggregate elected commitments, (2) the then-effective borrowing base and (3) the maximum credit amount of $500.0 million. The borrowing base under the Revolving Credit Facility is subject to regular, semi-annual redeterminations on or about April 1 and October 1 of each year based on, among other things, the value of the Company’s proved oil and natural gas reserves, as determined by the lenders in their discretion. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s borrowing base was $245.0 million and $245.0 million with an aggregate elected commitment of $235.0 million and $180.0 million of which $117.0 million and $81.0 million was outstanding, respectively.
At the Company’s option, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate, which is either an adjusted forward-looking term rate based on SOFR (“Term SOFR”) or an adjusted base rate (“Base Rate”) (the highest of the administrative agent’s prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50% or the 30-day Term SOFR rate plus 1.0%), plus an applicable margin expected to range from 1.50% to 2.50% with respect to Base Rate borrowings and 2.50% to 3.50% with respect to Term SOFR borrowings, in each case based on the current commitment utilization percentage. Interest is calculated and paid monthly in arrears. Additionally, the Company incurs an unused credit facility fee, paid quarterly, of 0.50% of the unutilized commitment regardless of the borrowing base utilization percentage. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the interest rate on the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility was 7.21% and 8.46%, respectively.
The Revolving Credit Facility is guaranteed by all of the Company’s subsidiaries and is collateralized by a first priority lien on substantially all assets of Vitesse and its subsidiaries, including a first priority lien on properties representing a minimum of 85% of the total present value of the Company’s proved oil and natural gas properties.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains various affirmative, negative and financial maintenance covenants. These covenants limit the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur or guarantee additional debt, make distributions to equity holders, make certain investments and acquisitions, incur certain liens or permit them to exist, enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate with another company and transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of assets.
Under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company is permitted to make cash distributions without limit to our equity holders if (i) no event of default or borrowing base deficiency (i.e., outstanding debt (including loans and letters of credit) exceeds the borrowing base) then exists or would result from such distribution and (ii) after giving effect to such distribution, (a) total outstanding credit usage does not exceed 80% of the least of (the following collectively referred to as “Commitments”): (1) $500.0 million (2) then-effective borrowing base, and (3) the then-effective aggregate elected commitments and (b) as of the date of such distribution, the EBITDAX Ratio does not exceed 1.50 to 1.00. If the EBITDAX Ratio exceeds 1.50 to 1.00, but does not exceed 2.25 to 1.00, and if total outstanding credit usage does not exceed 80% of the Commitments, the Company may make distributions if free cash flow (as defined under the Revolving Credit Facility) is greater than $0 and the Company has delivered a certificate to lenders attesting to the foregoing.
The Revolving Credit Facility contains covenants requiring us to maintain the following financial ratios tested on a quarterly basis (terms below are as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility): (1) a consolidated Total Funded Debt to consolidated EBITDAX ratio of not greater than 3.0 to 1.0; and (2) a ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities of not less than 1.0 to 1.0. These financial covenants are consistent with the Predecessor Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility also contains covenants that require that the Company enter into swap agreements covering not less than 40% of reasonably anticipated PDP production for the following four quarters when the Utilization Percentage, as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility, is less than 50% and covering at least 50% of reasonably anticipated PDP production for the following eight quarters if the Utilization Percentage is 50% or greater. The Revolving Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including non-payment, breach of covenants, materially incorrect representations, cross default, bankruptcy and change in control. If an event of default exists under the Revolving Credit Facility, the lenders will be able to terminate the lending commitments, accelerate the maturity of the Revolving Credit Facility and exercise other rights and remedies with respect to the collateral. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants of the Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2024.
Amendments and redeterminations:
■On May 2, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Facility in conjunction with the regular semi-annual borrowing base redetermination that reduced the borrowing base to $245 million (primarily related to lower commodity prices), reaffirmed elected commitments at $170 million and reduced hedging requirements in certain circumstances, among other items;
■On November 3, 2023, in conjunction with the regular semi-annual borrowing base redetermination, the Company’s borrowing based was reaffirmed and the elected commitments were increased to $180 million;
■On January 17, 2024, the Company elected to increase the elected commitments to $210 million and add a fifth lender to the syndicate of banks in accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility;
■On May 20, 2024, in conjunction with the regular semi-annual borrowing base redetermination, the Company entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Facility that increased the elected commitments to $245 million and added a sixth lender to the syndicate of banks;
■On October 22, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Facility. Among other things, the amendment extended the maturity date to October 22, 2028, the borrowing base was reaffirmed at $245 million, the elected commitment amount was decreased from $245 million to $235 million and the definition of the term “Applicable Margin” was amended to reduce the rates in the Utilization Grid for SOFR Loans and ABR Loans by 0.25%;
■In conjunction with the closing of the Lucero acquisition on March 7, 2025, the borrowing base was redetermined at $315 million and elected commitments increased to $250 million. The next borrowing base redetermination is scheduled for the fall of 2025.
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.