| Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On December 22, 2022, Chart Industries, Inc. (“Chart”) issued (i) $1,460,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Secured Notes”) at an issue price of 98.661% and (ii) $510,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.500% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Unsecured Notes” and, together with the Secured Notes, the “Notes”) at an issue price of 97.949%. The Notes were issued to finance the proposed $4.4 billion acquisition (the “Acquisition”) by Chart of the business of Granite Holdings II B.V. and its subsidiaries, a leading global provider of mission critical air and gas handling products.
The Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of December 22, 2022 (the “Secured Notes Indenture”), by and among Chart, the guarantors party thereto from time to time (the “Guarantors”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”). The Unsecured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of December 22, 2022 (the “Unsecured Notes Indenture” and together with the Secured Notes Indenture, the “Indentures”), by and among Chart, the Guarantors and the Trustee.
Chart has deposited the gross proceeds from the offering of each series of Notes into an escrow account (each, an “Escrow Account”). At such time and until certain conditions (the “Escrow Release Conditions”) set forth in an escrow agreement, dated as of December 22, 2022, by and among Chart, the Trustee and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as escrow agent (in such capacity, the “Escrow Agent”), are satisfied, each series of Notes will be secured by a first-priority security interest in the respective Escrow Account and funds held in the respective Escrow Account. If the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied on or prior to November 15, 2023, or upon Chart notifying the Escrow Agent and the Trustee in writing that Chart will not pursue the consummation of the Acquisition and that the purchase agreement relating to the Acquisition has been terminated, the Notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption (a “Special Mandatory Redemption”). The Special Mandatory Redemption price will be equal to 100% of the aggregate issue price of each series of the Notes, as applicable, plus accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from their issuance date to, but not including, the payment date of such Special Mandatory Redemption.
The Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.500% per year. The Unsecured Notes bear interest at a rate of 9.500% per year. Interest on the Notes is payable on January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing July 1, 2023. The Secured Notes mature on January 1, 2030 and the Unsecured Notes mature on January 1, 2031. Chart may redeem either series of the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after January 1, 2026 at the redemption prices set forth in the respective Indentures. Chart may also redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of each series of the Notes on or prior to January 1, 2026 in an amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at the redemption prices set forth in the respective Indentures. Prior to January 1, 2026, Chart may redeem some or all of either series of the Notes at a price which includes the applicable “make-whole” premium set forth in the respective Indentures.
The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of Chart’s wholly owned domestic restricted subsidiaries that is a borrower or a guarantor under Chart’s Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). Following the consummation of the Acquisition, each of the acquired companies that becomes a wholly owned domestic restricted subsidiary of Chart and a guarantor under the Credit Agreement will also become a Guarantor of the Notes. To the extent lenders under the Credit Agreement release any borrower (other than Chart) or any guarantor from its obligations under the Credit Agreement, such entity will also be released from its obligations under the Notes.
The Secured Notes and related guarantees will be secured by first-priority liens on all of the assets that secure Chart’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Credit Agreement (the “Collateral”) pursuant to the terms of a collateral agreement, dated as of December 22, 2022 (the “Collateral Agreement”), by and among Chart, the Guarantors and the Collateral Agent. The Secured Notes and related guarantees will also be subject to the terms of an intercreditor agreement, dated as of December 22, 2022 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), by and among Chart, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement (in such capacity, the “Credit Agreement Administrative Agent”) and collateral agent under the Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement Collateral Agent”) setting forth therein the relative rights with respect to the Collateral and covering certain other matters relating to the administration of security interests. Pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Credit Agreement Collateral Agent initially controls substantially all matters related to the Collateral, including with respect to decisions or enforcement.
