Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

8.DEBT

Principal balances outstanding under our long-term debt obligations as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	2023		2022
Term loans	$	99,063	$	124,688
Revolving credit loans		—		73,500
Convertible notes		747,500		—
Less unamortized debt issuance costs		(23,550)		(179)
Total long-term debt		823,013		198,009
Less current portion		—		11,250
Long-term portion	$	823,013	$	186,759

Future minimum principal payments on our long-term debt as of December 31, 2023, are as follows (in thousands):

Years Ending	Future Minimum
December 31,	Principal Payments
2024	$	—
2025		—
2026		—
2027		—
2028		99,063
Thereafter		747,500
Total future minimum principal payments	$	846,563

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

On June 6, 2023, we entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Fourth Amended Credit Agreement"). The Fourth Amended Credit Agreement is a syndicated loan agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other parties. The Fourth Amended Credit Agreement amended and restated in its entirety our previously outstanding Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and all amendments thereto. The Fourth Amended Credit Agreement provides for a term loan of $150 million and a revolving credit commitment of up to an aggregate amount of $700 million, inclusive of sub-facilities for multicurrency borrowings, standby letters of credit and swingline loans. On June 6, 2028, all principal, interest and other amounts outstanding under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement are payable in full. At any time prior to the maturity date, we may repay any amounts owing under all term loans and revolving credit loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty.

On December 5, 2023, we executed an amendment to the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement (the "Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended") to facilitate the issuance of our Convertible Notes described below. Among other things, the amendment also updated the definition of the Applicable Margin used in determining the interest rates and amended the financial covenants, all as described below.

Term loans made under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended bear interest, at our election, at either (i) the Base Rate  plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement) or, (ii) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended). Revolving credit loans bear interest, at our election, at either (a) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, (b) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin, (c) Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended), or (d) Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended). Swingline loans bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Interest on each loan featuring the Base Rate and each Daily Simple SONIA Loan is due and payable on the last business day of each calendar month; interest on each loan featuring the Eurocurrency Rate and each Term SOFR Loan is due and payable on the last day of each interest period applicable thereto, and if such interest period extends over three months, at the end of each three-month interval during such interest period.

The Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended is collateralized by substantially all of our assets. The Fourth Amended Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants, representations and warranties, events of default and other terms customary for loans of this nature. In particular, the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement requires that we maintain certain financial covenants, as follows:

	Covenant Requirement
Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (1)		5.0 to 1.0
Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio (2)		3.0 to 1.0
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (3)		3.0 to 1.0

(1) Maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended) as of any fiscal quarter end.

(2) Maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio  (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended) as of any fiscal quarter end.

(3) Minimum ratio of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement and adjusted for certain expenditures) to Consolidated Interest Expense (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended) for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.

As of December 31, 2023, we believe we were in compliance with all covenants set forth in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended.

As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings of $99.1 million and issued letter of credit guarantees of $2.7 million under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended, with additional available borrowings of approximately $626 million, based on the leverage ratio required pursuant to the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, as amended. Our interest rate as of December 31, 2023 was a fixed rate of 3.39% with respect to $75 million of the principal amount, as a result of an interest rate swap (see Note 9) and a variable floating rate of 7.21% on $24.1 million. Our interest rate as of December 31, 2022 was a fixed rate of 2.71% on $75 million as a result of an interest rate swap and a variable floating rate of 5.38% on $123.2 million. The foregoing fixed rates are exclusive of potential future changes in the applicable margin.

Convertible Notes

In December 2023, we issued Convertible Notes which bear interest at 3.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2024. The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations (as defined in the Note Indenture) of the Company and will mature on February 1, 2029, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The net proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes were approximately $724.8 million after deducting offering and issuance costs and before the costs of the Capped Call transaction, as described below.

The initial conversion rate of the notes will be 11.5171 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $86.83 per share of common stock, subject to adjustments as provided in the Indenture upon the occurrence of certain specified events. In addition, Holders of the Convertible Notes (“Holders”) will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a part of their notes upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes) in cash at a fundamental change repurchase price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

Conversion can occur at the option of the Holders at any time on or after October 1, 2028. Prior to October 1, 2028, Holders may only elect to convert the Convertible Notes under the following circumstances: (1) During the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which, for each day of that period, the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes for such trading day was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the applicable conversion rate on such trading day; (2) The Company issues to common stockholders any rights, options, or warrants, entitling them, for a period of not more than 60 days, to purchase shares of common stock at a price per share less than the average closing sale price of 10 consecutive trading days, or the Company’s election to make a distribution to common stockholders exceeding 10% of the previous day’s closing sale price; (3) Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, as set forth in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes; (4) During any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) beginning after March 31, 2024, if, the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in the period of the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; or (5) Prior to the related redemption date if the Company calls any Convertible Notes for redemption. As of December 31, 2023, none of the conditions permitting the holders of the Convertible Notes to convert their notes early had been met, therefore, they are classified as long-term.

On or after February 7, 2027, we may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Notes, at our option, if the last reported sales price of 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 provide notice of redemption, during any 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date we send the related notice of the redemption.

Upon conversion, the Company will (1) pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be converted and (2) pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at the Company’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of its conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted.

Capped Call Transaction

In December 2023, in connection with the pricing of the Convertible Notes, Merit entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (“Capped Call Transactions”) with certain of the initial purchasers and/or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions. The Capped Call Transactions cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of Merit’s common stock initially underlying the Convertible Notes and are generally expected to reduce potential dilution to Merit’s common stock upon any conversion of Convertible Notes and/or offset any cash payments Merit is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Convertible Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap, based on a cap price initially equal to approximately $114.68 per share of Merit’s common stock, subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Capped Call Transactions. The cost of the Capped Call Transactions was approximately $66.5 million. The Capped Call Transactions do not meet the criteria for separate accounting as a derivative as they are indexed to the Company's stock. The premiums paid for the Capped Call Transactions have been included as a net reduction to common stock within stockholders' equity.