On July 28, 2016, Bio-Techne Corporation entered into a Credit Agreement, with the lenders party thereto, BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lendor and a Lendor, and the guarantors party thereto.
The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of $400 million, which can be increased by an additional $200 million subject to certain conditions. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and expenditures of the Company and its subsidiaries, including financing permitted acquisitions.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate. For base rate loans, the interest rate is equal to the greatest of (i) BMO's prime commercial rate, (ii) the sum of the rate determined by BMO to be the average of the rates per annum quoted to BMO on such day of calculation by two or more Federal funds brokers selected by BMO plus 0.5%, or (iii) a daily LIBOR rate plus 1.0%, in each case plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.75% based on certain conditions. For Eurodollar rate loans, the interest rate is equal to an adjusted LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.75% based on certain conditions. The Credit Agreement requires monthly payments with respect to base rate loans and at the end of each interest period with respect to Eurodollar rate loans or if such interest period is longer than three months, on each date occurring every three months after the commencement of such interest period.
The Credit Agreement matures on July 28, 2021. The Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive and financial covenants, including without limitation, (a) covenants requiring the Company to (i) pay certain fees, (ii) maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a maximum leverage ratio of no greater than 4.00 to 1.00 and (iii) maintain, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a maximum total funds debt to EBITDA ratio of no greater than 3.50 to 1.00 (or 4.00 to 1.00 in the four quarters following a Qualified Acquisition), and (b) covenants prohibiting the Company from, among other things, (i) creating, incurring or assuming additional indebtedness, (ii) creating certain liens on any of its properties or assets, (iii) selling, leasing or transferring any of its properties or assets, with certain exceptions, including sales of inventory and equipment in the ordinary course of business and (iv) entering into certain merger, consolidation or other reorganization transactions with, or acquiring all or a substantial portion of the assets or equity interests of, any person or entity, subject to certain permitted acquisitions, in each case subject to certain exceptions.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default. If an event of default under the Credit Agreement occurs and is continuing, then the lenders may declare any outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and the lenders will have the right to terminate the Credit Agreement.
At the closing on July 28, 2016, the Company drew $343.5 million on the Credit Agreement in relation to the closing of the Merger, which is described in Item 2.01 of this Current Report, and for payment of outstanding debt under the Company’s prior credit agreement.
Bio-Techne Corporation is a global life sciences company providing innovative tools and bioactive reagents for the research and clinical diagnostic communities. Bio-Techne products assist scientific investigations into biological processes and the nature and progress of specific diseases.