Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive AgreementItem 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On April 13, 2018, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation announced that Wyndham Hotels& Resorts,Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2026 in a private offering. The terms of the notes are governed by an Indenture, dated as of April13, 2018, by and among, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, as parent guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April13, 2018, by and between Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and the Trustee. Following the completion of the previously announced spin-off of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. from Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. will be an independent, publicly traded company.
The proceeds from the notes are expected to be used, together with the borrowings under the Credit Facilities (as defined below), to finance the cash consideration for the previously announced planned acquisition of La Quinta Holdings,Inc.’s franchising and management businesses (“La Quinta”), to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.
In connection with the planned La Quinta acquisition, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has also arranged for a $1,600 million senior secured term loan B credit facility and a $750 million senior secured revolving credit facility (together, the “Credit Facilities”) to be entered into as of the closing of the La Quinta acquisition. The revolving credit facility is expected to be undrawn at the closing of the La Quinta acquisition and the spin-off. Prior to the issuance of the notes and arranging for commitments for the Credit Facilities, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation obtained financing commitments for a $2.0 billion 364-day senior unsecured bridge term loan facility (the “bridge term loan facility”) related to the La Quinta acquisition. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. replaced a portion of the bridge term loan facility with the net cash proceeds of the notes, reducing the outstanding bridge term loan facility commitments to approximately $1.5 billion, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. anticipates replacing the remaining bridge term loan facility with borrowings under the Credit Facilities. The remaining commitments under the bridge term loan facility are expected to be assigned to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. if it does not obtain other long-term financing.
The notes will initially be guaranteed by Wyndham Worldwide Corporation on a senior unsecured basis and, immediately prior to the consummation of the spin-off, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation’s guarantee of the notes will be released. Substantially concurrently with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.’s entry into the Credit Facilities and thereafter, the notes will be guaranteed jointly and severally on a senior unsecured basis by certain of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.’s existing and future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries that will guarantee the Credit Facilities (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
The notes will bear interest at a rate of 5.375% per year. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on October15 and April15 of each year, commencing October15, 2018. The notes will mature on April15, 2026. The notes were offered at a price equal to 50% of the principal amount.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. may, at its option, redeem the notes, in whole or in part, prior to April15, 2021 at a redemption price equal to the greater of 50% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and the “make-whole” redemption price described in the First Supplemental Indenture, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption. Additionally, any time prior to April15, 2021, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. may, at its option, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 105.375% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date. On or after April15, 2021, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. may, at its option, redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any on the notes redeemed, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April15 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Price |
|
|
102.688 |
% |
|
101.344 |
% |
2023 and thereafter |
100.000 |
% |
The notes are subject to a special mandatory redemption at 50% of their aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but not including, the redemption date, if the La Quinta acquisition is not consummated on or prior to July17, 2018 (as such date may be extended).
If Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. experiences a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the First Supplemental Indenture), Wyndham Hotel & Resorts, Inc. is required to offer to repurchase the notes at a price of 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.