7.Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net increased $310.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 primarily due to ships under construction.
8. Long-Term Debt
In February 2024, NCLC and the purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Commitment Parties”) entered into a third amended and restated commitment letter (the “third amended commitment letter”), which became effective in March 2024. The third amended commitment letter amended and restated the commitment letter dated February 22, 2023 and extended the commitments thereunder through March 2025. Pursuant to the third amended commitment letter, the Commitment Parties have agreed to purchase from NCLC an aggregate principal amount of $650 million of senior unsecured notes due five years after the issue date (the “Commitment Notes”) at NCLC’s option. If issued, the Commitment Notes will be subject to an issue fee of 0.50% and will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (A) the greater of (i) the interest rate of the 7.75% senior notes due 2029 (“2029 Unsecured Notes”) and (ii) the then-current secondary trading yield applicable to the 2029 Unsecured Notes plus (B) 200 basis points. The Commitment Notes are subject to a one-time structuring fee of 0.50% and a quarterly commitment fee of 0.75% for so long as the commitments with respect to the Commitment Notes are outstanding.
In connection with the execution of the third amended commitment letter, NCLC agreed to repurchase all of the outstanding $250 million aggregate principal amount of 9.75% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “2028 Secured Notes”) at a negotiated premium plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. In March 2024, in connection with the settlement of the repurchase, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the 2028 Secured Notes was cancelled while also releasing the related collateral. The loss on extinguishment was $29.0 million, recognized in interest expense, net.
In November 2023, we executed an agreement for a commitment of €200 million in connection with financial support for our newbuilds, which became available in April 2024. The commitment if drawn will pay interest quarterly at a rate per annum based on an applicable margin plus Euribor 3-months. The commitment may be drawn at any time and is payable within 364 days, but no later than July 15, 2025. Any amount repaid prior to July 15, 2025 may be drawn again.
In September 2024, NCLC issued $315.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2030 (the “2030 Notes”). NCLC may, at its option, redeem the 2030 Notes, in whole or in part, (i) prior to March 1, 2027 (the “First Call Date”), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed plus an applicable “make-whole” amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, and (ii) on or after the First Call Date, at the redemption prices set forth in the 2030 Notes indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to the First Call Date, NCLC may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 106.250% of the principal amount of the 2030 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, so long as at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes issued remains outstanding following such redemption. The 2030 Notes pay interest at 6.250% per annum, semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding February 15 and August 15, respectively. The 2030 Notes indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of NCLC and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) grant or assume certain liens; (ii) enter into sale leaseback transactions; and (iii) consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their assets.
The net proceeds for the 2030 Notes, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discount but before deducting estimated fees and expenses, together with cash on hand, were used to redeem $315.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 3.625% senior notes due 2024, including to pay any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.