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Long Term Debt
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long Term Debt

Note 12. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

September 30, 2019

 

3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, net of unamortized discount of $19,400 and deferred issuance costs of $4,898 at June 30, 2020. Effective interest rate 6.29%.

 

$

150,702

 

 

$

 

Senior Credit Facilities, net of unamortized discount of $1,942 and deferred issuance costs of $337 at June 30, 2020. Effective interest rate 4.03%.

 

 

122,720

 

 

 

 

Total debt

 

$

273,422

 

 

$

 

Less: current portion

 

 

(6,250

)

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

267,172

 

 

$

 

 

The following table summarizes the maturities of our borrowing obligations as of June 30, 2020 (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year

 

Convertible

Senior Notes

 

 

Senior Facilities

 

 

Total

 

2020

 

$

 

 

$

1,562

 

 

$

1,562

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

6,250

 

 

 

6,250

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

7,813

 

 

 

7,813

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

12,500

 

2024

 

 

 

 

 

96,875

 

 

 

96,875

 

Thereafter

 

 

175,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

175,000

 

Total before unamortized discount and issuance costs and current portion

 

$

175,000

 

 

$

125,000

 

 

$

300,000

 

Less: unamortized discount and issuance costs

 

 

(24,298

)

 

 

(2,280

)

 

 

(26,578

)

Less: current portion of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

(6,250

)

 

 

(6,250

)

Total long-term debt

 

$

150,702

 

 

$

116,470

 

 

$

267,172

 

 

3.00% Senior Convertible Notes due 2025

On June 2, 2020, in an effort to refinance our debt structure, we issued $175.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”), including the initial purchasers’ exercise in full of their option to purchase an additional $25.0 million principal amount of the Notes, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes were $169.8 million after deducting transaction costs. We used net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes to repay a portion of our indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, dated October 1, 2019, by and among the Company, the lenders and issuing banks party thereto and Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent (the “Existing Facility”).

The Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and will accrue interest payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2020, at a rate of 3.00% per year. The Notes will mature on June 1, 2025, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The Notes are convertible into cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election.

A holder of Notes may convert all or any portion of its Notes at its option at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding March 1, 2025 only under the following circumstances: (1) during any fiscal quarter commencing after the fiscal quarter ending on September 30, 2020 (and only during such fiscal quarter), if the last reported sale price of our common stock for 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 fiscal quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the “trading price” per $1,000 principal amount of Notes 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 calls such Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after March 1, 2025 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, a holder may convert all or any portion of its Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing.

The conversion rate will initially be 26.7271 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $37.42 per share of our common stock). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date or if we delivers a notice of redemption, we 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 convert its Notes called for redemption in connection with such notice of redemption, as the case may be.

We may not redeem the Notes prior to June 5, 2023. We may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Notes, at our option, on a redemption date occurring on or after June 5, 2023 and on or before the 31st scheduled trading day immediately before 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 at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive), including the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provides notice of redemption, during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provides notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.

If we undergo a “fundamental change”, subject to certain conditions, holders may require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The Notes contain customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default occurring and continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare the entire principal amount of all the Notes plus accrued special interest, if any, to be immediately due and payable.

At issuance, we accounted for the Notes by allocating proceeds from the Notes into debt and equity components according to the accounting standards for convertible debt instruments that may be fully or partially settled in cash upon conversion. The initial carrying amount of the debt component, which approximates its fair value, was estimated by using an interest rate for nonconvertible debt, with terms similar to the Notes. The excess of the principal amount of the Notes over the fair value of the debt component was recorded as a debt discount and a corresponding increase in additional paid-in capital. The debt discount is accreted to the carrying value of the Notes over their expected term as interest expense using the interest method. Upon issuance of the Notes, we recorded $155.3 million as debt and $19.7 million as additional paid-in capital in stockholders’ equity.

We incurred transaction costs of $5.6 million relating to the issuance of the Notes. In accounting for these costs, we allocated the costs of the offering between debt and equity in proportion to the fair value of the debt and equity recognized. The transaction costs allocated to the debt component of approximately $5.0 million were recorded as a direct deduction from the face amount of the Notes and are being amortized as interest expense over the term of the Notes using the interest method. The transaction costs allocated to the equity component of approximately $0.6 million were recorded as a decrease in additional paid-in capital.

The interest expense recognized related to the Notes for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020 was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Three and Nine

Months Ended

June 30, 2020

 

Contractual interest expense

 

$

431

 

Amortization of debt discount

 

 

276

 

Amortization of issuance costs

 

 

70

 

Total interest expense related to the Notes

 

$

777

 

 

As of June 30, 2020, the conditions allowing holders of the Notes to convert have not been met and therefore the Notes are not yet convertible.

As of June 30, 2020, the estimated fair value of our Notes was $233.7 million. We estimated the fair value based on the quoted market prices in an inactive market on the last trading day of the reporting period (Level 2). The Notes are recorded at face value less unamortized debt discount and transaction costs on our consolidated balance sheet.

Senior Credit Facilities

On June 12, 2020 (the “Financing Closing Date”), in connection with our effort to refinance our existing indebtedness, we entered into a Credit Agreement, by and among the Borrower, the lenders and issuing banks party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”), consisting of a four-year senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $125.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility”). The net proceeds from the issuance of the Term Loan Facility were $123.0 million, which together with proceeds from the Convertible Senior Notes was intended to pay in full all indebtedness under the Existing Facility, and paid fees and expenses in connection with the Senior Credit Facilities. We also entered into a senior secured first-lien revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million (the “Revolving Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Senior Credit Facilities”), which shall be drawn on in the event that our working capital and other cash needs are not supported by our operating cash flow. As of June 30, 2020, there were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility.

Our obligations under the Credit Agreement are jointly and severally guaranteed by certain of our existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions customary for financings of this type. All obligations are secured by substantially all of our tangible and intangible personal property and material real property, including a perfected first-priority pledge of all (or, in the case of foreign subsidiaries or subsidiaries (“FSHCO”) that own no material assets other than equity interests in foreign subsidiaries that are “controlled foreign corporations” or other FSHCOs, 65%) of the equity securities of our subsidiaries held by any loan party, subject to certain customary exceptions and limitations.

We are obligated to make quarterly principal payments on the last day of each quarter in an aggregate annual amount equal to 5.0% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan Facility during the first two years of the Term Loan Facility, and 10% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan Facility thereafter, with the balance payable at the maturity date. Quarterly principal payments will commence on September 30, 2020.

Interest accrues on outstanding borrowings under the Senior Facilities at a rate, at the option of the Borrower, of either (a) base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” in the United States, (2) the federal funds effective rate, plus 0.5% and (3) the one month adjusted LIBOR rate, plus 1% per annum (“ABR”) or (b) an adjusted LIBOR rate (“LIBOR”) (which shall not be less than 0.50% per annum), in each case, plus an applicable margin.  Initially, the applicable margin is LIBOR plus 3.00% or ABR plus 2.00%.  Following delivery of a compliance certificate for the first full fiscal quarter after the Financing Closing Date, the applicable margins for the Senior Credit Facilities is subject to a pricing grid based upon the net total leverage ratio as follows (i) if the net total leverage ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.00, the applicable margin is LIBOR plus 3.50% or ABR plus 2.50%; (ii) if the net total leverage ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but greater than 2.50 to 1.00, the applicable margin is LIBOR plus 3.25% or ABR plus 2.25%; (iii) if the net total leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but greater than 2.00 to 1.00, the applicable margin is LIBOR plus 3.00% or ABR plus 2.00%; (iv) if the net total leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 but greater than 1.50 to 1.00, the applicable margin is LIBOR plus 2.75% or ABR plus 1.75%; and (v) if the net total leverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, the applicable margin is LIBOR plus 2.50% or ABR plus 1.50%. Total interest expense relating to the Senior Credit Facilities for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020 was $0.3 million, reflecting the coupon and accretion of the discount.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are prepayable at our option without premium or penalty. We may request, and each lender may agree in its sole discretion, to extend the maturity date of all or a portion of the Senior Credit Facilities subject to certain conditions customary for financings of this type. The Credit Agreement also contains certain mandatory prepayment provisions in the event that we incur certain types of indebtedness or receives net cash proceeds from certain non-ordinary course asset sales or other dispositions of property, in each case subject to terms and conditions customary for financings of this type.

The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants customary for financings of this type that, among other things, limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness or liens, to dispose of assets, to make certain fundamental changes, to designate subsidiaries as unrestricted, to make certain investments, to prepay certain indebtedness and to pay dividends, or to make other distributions or redemptions/repurchases, in respect of our and our subsidiaries’ equity interests. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains financial covenants, each tested quarterly commencing with the quarter ended September 30, 2020, (1) a net secured leveraged ratio of not greater than 3.25 to 1.00; (2) a net total leverage ratio of not greater than 4.25 to 1.00; and (3) minimum liquidity of at least $75 million. The Credit Agreement also contains events of default customary for financings of this type, including certain customary change of control events.

Existing Facilities

On October 1, 2019, in connection with the Spin-Off, we entered into an Existing Facility consisting of a five-year senior secured term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $270.0 million. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Existing Facility were $249.7 million, which was primarily intended to finance a cash distribution of approximately $153.0 million to Nuance and provide approximately $110.0 million initial support for the cash flow needs of the Cerence business. We also entered into a 54-month senior secured first-lien revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million, which shall be drawn on in the event that our working capital and other cash needs are not supported by our operating cash flow (the “Existing Revolving Facility” and collectively with the Existing Facility, the “Existing Facilities”).

During June 2020, in connection with the issuance of the Notes and Senior Credit Facilities, we initiated prepayments towards our Existing Facilities in the amount of $267.6 million in cash. As a result, we recorded $267.6 million extinguishment of debt and $19.3 million loss on the extinguishment of debt. As of June 30, 2020, our obligations related to the Existing Facilities have been settled. Total interest expense relating to the Existing Facilities for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020 was $4.4 million and $18.0 million, respectively, reflecting the coupon and accretion of the discount.