04/04/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/04/2025 14:06
Item 1.01. |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
Credit Agreement
On April 1, 2025, MSA Safety Incorporated ("MSA"), MSA UK Holdings Limited ("MSA UK") and MSA Great Britain Holdings Limited ("MSA GB"), as borrowers, entered into a Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 2025 (the "Credit Agreement") with various MSA subsidiaries, as guarantors, various financial institutions, as lenders, and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent. See Item 2.03 below for a description of the Credit Agreement.
Amendment to Multi-Currency Note Purchase Agreement
On April 1, 2025, MSA entered into an amendment to its Third Amended and Restated Multi-Currency Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement dated as of July 1, 2021, as amended (the "Prudential Agreement") with PGIM, Inc. and the noteholders party thereto in order to conform the covenants in the Prudential Agreement to changes made in similar covenants in the Credit Agreement.
Amendment to Master Note Facility
On April 1, 2025, MSA entered into an amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Master Note Facility dated as of July 1, 2021, as amended (the "NYL Agreement") with NYL Investors LLC and the noteholders party thereto in order to conform the covenants in the NYL Agreement to changes made in similar covenants in the Credit Agreement.
Item 2.03. |
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-BalanceSheet Arrangement of a Registrant |
On April 1, 2025, MSA, MSA UK, and MSA GB, as borrowers, and various MSA subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement amended and restated MSA's existing Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 24, 2021.
Under the Credit Agreement, funds may be borrowed on an unsecured, revolving credit basis in a maximum outstanding amount not to exceed $1.3 billion, all of which can be borrowed by MSA and of which up to the greater of $400 million or 15% of Consolidated Total Assets (as defined in the Prudential Agreement) can be borrowed by MSA UK and MSA GB. The Credit Agreement also includes a $100 million sublimit for letters of credit issued on behalf of MSA and a $125 million sublimit for swingline loans to MSA. The Credit Agreement also allows MSA to request increases in the aggregate commitments, and therefore the aggregate amount available for borrowing, up to an additional $500 million. Any such increase is subject to the further approval of MSA's board of directors and to the existing lenders, new lenders, or some combination of both, agreeing in their sole discretion to increase the existing commitments or extend new commitments. The Credit Agreement has a term expiring on April 1, 2030.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may bear interest at a rate based upon any of a "Base Rate," a "Term SOFR Rate," a "Eurocurrency Rate" or a "Daily Simple RFR" plus an adder based upon MSA's net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement):
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The "Base Rate" is calculated on a daily basis as the highest of a prime rate, an overnight bank funding rate plus 0.5% per annum, or the reserve-adjusted daily published Daily Simple SOFR plus 1%. The Base Rate cannot be less than zero. The adder ranges from zero to 0.750%. |
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The "Term SOFR Rate," "Eurocurrency Rate" and "Daily Simple RFR" are calculated as provided in the Credit Agreement. The adder ranges from 0.875% to 1.750%. |
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Interest based upon the Base Rate or the Daily Simple RFR is payable quarterly on the first day of January, April, July and October. Interest based upon the Term SOFR Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate is payable on the last day of the selected interest period, unless that interest period exceeds three months, in which case it is also payable on the 90th day of the selected interest period.
The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and events of default substantially the same as the prior credit agreement. The Credit Agreement requires MSA to comply with specified financial covenants, including a requirement to maintain a minimum fixed charges coverage ratio of not less than 1.50 to 1.00 and a net leverage ratio not to exceed 3.50 to 1.00 (or not to exceed 4.00 to 1.00 during the three calendar quarters including, and following, certain specified acquisitions); in each case calculated on the basis of the trailing four fiscal quarters. The net leverage ratio is defined as consolidated indebtedness less unencumbered cash exceeding $20 million, divided by consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, amortization and depreciation. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains negative covenants limiting the ability of MSA and its subsidiaries to:
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incur additional indebtedness or issue guarantees; |
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create or incur liens; |
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make loans and investments; |
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make acquisitions; |
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transfer or sell assets; |
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enter into transactions with affiliated parties; |
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make changes in its or its subsidiaries' organizational documents that are materially adverse to the lenders; and |
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modify the nature of MSA's or its subsidiaries' business, |
subject to certain exceptions and limitations, including carve-outs and baskets, set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement also contains certain customary events of default, including defaults triggered by a change of control or defaults on other debt. Under the Credit Agreement, a change in control occurs if a person or group of persons acting in concert acquires beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the outstanding voting stock of MSA.