On December 1, 2017 we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement for a $255.0 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $225.0 million secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility (“the Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Agreement”). We and each of our existing domestic subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement (the “Guarantors”). The Credit Agreement is secured by a security interest in substantially all existing and after-acquired real and personal property (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) of us and the Guarantors.

On December 1, 2017 we borrowed the entire $225.0 million Term Loan Facility. The proceeds of the Term Loan Facility were used along with cash on hand and shares of CryoLife common stock to (i) fund the acquisition of JOTEC and its subsidiaries (the “JOTEC Acquisition”), (ii) pay certain fees and expenses related to the JOTEC Acquisition and the Credit Agreement, and (iii) pay the outstanding balance of our prior credit facility. The Revolving Credit Facility may be used for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions permitted under the Credit Agreement, and other general corporate purposes pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

The loan under the Term Loan Facility is repayable on a quarterly basis according to the amortization provisions set forth in the Credit Agreement. We have the right to repay the loan under the Credit Agreement in whole or in part at any time. Amounts repaid in respect of the loan under the Term Loan Facility may not be reborrowed. Amounts repaid in respect of the loan under the Revolving Credit Facility may be reborrowed. All outstanding principal and interest in respect of (i) the Term Loan Facility must be repaid on or before December 1, 2024 and (ii) the Revolving Credit Facility must be repaid on or before December 1, 2022.

In October 2018 we finalized an amendment to the Credit Agreement to reprice interest rates, resulting in a reduction in the interest rate margins over base rates on the Term Loan Facility. The loan under the Term Loan Facility bears interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of 2.25%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 3.25%. Prior to the repricing, the optional floating annual rate was equal to either the base rate plus a margin of 3.00%, or LIBOR, plus a margin of 4.00%. The loan under the Revolving Credit Facility bears interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate, plus a margin of between 3.00% and 3.25%, depending on our consolidated leverage ratio, or LIBOR, plus a margin of between 4.00% and 4.25%, depending on our consolidated leverage ratio. While a payment event of default or bankruptcy event of default exists, we are obligated to pay a per annum default rate of interest of 2.00% in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable with respect to the overdue principal amount of any loans outstanding and overdue interest payments and other overdue fees and amounts. As of March 31, 2021 the aggregate interest rate was 4.25% per annum. We are obligated to pay an unused commitment fee equal to 0.50% of the unutilized portion of the revolving loans. In addition, we are also obligated to pay other customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type.

The Credit Agreement contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, grant liens, incur debt, dispose of assets, make loans and investments, make acquisitions, make certain restricted payments (including cash dividends), merge or consolidate, change business or accounting or reporting practices, in each case subject to customary exceptions for a credit facility of this size and type. In addition, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, when the principal amount of loans outstanding thereunder is in excess of 25% of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Credit Agreement requires us to comply with a specified maximum first lien net leverage ratio.

The Credit Agreement includes certain customary events of default that include, among other things, non-payment of principal, interest, or fees; inaccuracy of representations and warranties; breach of covenants; cross-default to certain material indebtedness; bankruptcy and insolvency; and change of control. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the lenders may declare all outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and may exercise the other rights and remedies provided under the Credit Agreement and related loan documents.

In March 2020 as a precautionary measure to increase cash and maintain maximum financial flexibility during the current uncertainty in global markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we borrowed the entire amount available under our $30.0 million Revolving Credit Facility at an aggregate interest rate of 5.20%. On June 29, 2020 we used some of the net proceeds from the issuance of Convertible Senior Notes, as discussed below, to repay the $30.0 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.

On April 29, 2020 we entered into an amendment to our Credit Agreement. As part of the amendment we obtained a waiver of our maximum first lien net leverage ratio covenant through the end of 2020. In addition, the amendment to our Credit Agreement provides that EBITDA, for covenant testing purposes, in each quarter of 2020 was deemed equal to a fixed value equal to our bank covenant EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019, when our first lien net leverage was 3.4x. As a result of these changes, we became subject to a new minimum liquidity covenant. We are also subject to restrictions on certain payments, including cash dividends. The new minimum liquidity covenant required a minimum liquidity of at least $12.0 million as of the last day of any month in 2020, and as of the last day of any quarter through the third quarter of 2021 when our Revolving Credit Facility is drawn in excess of 25% (or $7.5 million) of the amount available as of the last day of any fiscal quarter during that period. Beginning in 2021, if we repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility to 25% or less, no financial maintenance covenants, including the minimum liquidity covenant and the maximum first lien net leverage ratio covenant, are applicable.

Convertible Senior Notes

On June 18, 2020 we issued $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% convertible senior notes with a maturity date of July 1, 2025 (the “Convertible Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and costs directly related to this offering, were approximately $96.5 million. On January 1, 2021 we adopted ASU 2020-06 and adjusted the carrying balance of the Convertible Senior Notes to notional. The Convertible Senior Notes balance was $100.0 million recorded in Long-term debt on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2021. The Convertible Senior Notes may be settled in cash, stock, or a combination thereof, solely at our discretion. The initial conversion rate of the Convertible Senior Notes is 42.6203 shares per $1,000 principal amount, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $23.46 per share, subject to adjustments. We use the if-converted method for assumed conversion of the Convertible Senior Notes for the diluted earnings per share calculation.

The interest expense recognized on the Convertible Senior Notes includes approximately $1.2 million for the aggregate of the contractual coupon interest, and the amortization of the debt issuance costs as of three months ended March 31, 2021. Interest on the Convertible Senior Notes began accruing upon issuance and is payable semi-annually.

Holders of the Convertible Senior Notes may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to January 1, 2025 but only under the following circumstances: (i) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar 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 calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (ii) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day 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; (iii) we give a notice of redemption with respect to any or all of the notes, at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (iv) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after January 1, 2025 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.

We cannot redeem the Convertible Senior Notes before July 5, 2023. We can redeem them on or after July 5, 2023, in whole or in part, at our option, if the last reported sale price per share 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) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption. We may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the redeemable Convertible Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No principal payments are due on the Convertible Senior Notes prior to maturity. Other than restrictions relating to certain fundamental changes and consolidations, mergers or asset sales and customary anti-dilution adjustments, the Convertible Senior Notes do not contain any financial covenants and do not restrict us from conducting significant restructuring transactions or issuing or repurchasing any of its other securities. As of March 31, 2021 we are not aware of any current events or market conditions that would allow holders to convert the Convertible Senior Notes. We used a portion of the proceeds to pay off the $30.0 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility and finance the Ascyrus transaction and anticipate using the remaining funds for general corporate purposes.

In June 2015 JOTEC obtained two loans from Sparkasse Zollernalb, which are government sponsored by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau Bank (“KFW”). Both KFW loans have a term of nine years and the interest rates are 2.45% and 1.40%, respectively.

The short-term and long-term balances of our term loan and other long-term borrowings were as follows (in thousands):


	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Term loan balance	$	217,688	$	218,250
Convertible senior notes		100,000		79,555
2.45% Sparkasse Zollernalb (KFW Loan 1)		782		886
1.40% Sparkasse Zollernalb (KFW Loan 2)		1,319		1,457
Total loan balance		319,789		300,148
Less unamortized loan origination costs		(8,557)		(8,485)
Net borrowings		311,232		291,663
Less short-term loan balance		(1,174)		(1,195)
Long-term loan balance	$	310,058	$	290,468

Interest expense was $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Interest expense includes interest on debt and uncertain tax positions in both periods.