ProFrac Holding Corp., an energy services holding company, completed the refinancing of its existing senior secured term loan and other debt with two new financings totaling $885 million, which will both mature in 2029.
Financing Highlights
- Refinances the existing term loan due March 2025 with a term loan credit facility and senior secured notes with maturities in January 2029
- Cash neutral transaction that also positions the company to maintain liquidity to fund working capital for expected increased activity in 2024
- Provides a bifurcated capital structure to allow for future optionality designed to realize the full value potential of the proppant segment
- Eliminates any material near-term maturities and provides additional runway to de-lever
- Enables ProFrac to focus on its 2024 strategy, as it plans to increase utilization of its proppant and stimulation assets through a more diversified commercial approach
- First financial term loan and REV seller note were fully repaid as part of the transaction
- ABL credit facility was amended to lower the line’s capacity to $325 million from $400 million
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“We are pleased to announce this successful refinancing, which not only extends our near-term debt maturities into 2029, but it also provides us with the financial flexibility to opportunistically take advantage of the anticipated ramp in activity levels in the coming year,” Matt Wilks, executive chairman of ProFrac, said. “This transaction demonstrates our ability to finance the company’s capital structure and liquidity position in an improving market. This is an important and necessary step for ProFrac as we execute the improvements made to the business and demonstrate the cash generation potential in 2024. This is also the next step in the process to build a strong foundation in our proppant segment and maximize shareholder value of that segment.”
Transaction Overview
The refinancing transactions include a $365 million Alpine term loan and $520 million in services senior secured notes. These proceeds were used to pay off ProFrac’s existing senior secured term loan, first financial term loan and REV seller note as well as for certain fees and expenses. This refinancing transaction provides the company with a more stable financial platform, a strengthened balance sheet, a bifurcated capital structure and ample liquidity from which it will continue executing various growth-related and value realization opportunities. Additional details on these debt arrangements are as follows:
Alpine Term Loan
These loans were made to ProFrac’s family of wholly-owned subsidiaries that hold and run ProFrac’s proppant business, including Alpine Holding and PF Proppant Holding, among others.
- Lenders made certain term loans to PFP Proppant Holding in the aggregate principal amount of $365 million.
- According to an 8K filed with the SEC, CLMG Corp. is the agent and collateral agent.
- The loans are guaranteed by ProFrac pursuant to the unsecured ProFrac guarantee agreement and are guaranteed by Alpine Holding, PFP Proppant Holding and the subsidiary guarantors pursuant to the Alpine guarantee agreement.
- Obligations under the Alpine term loan are secured by a lien on and security interest in substantially all of the assets of Alpine Holding, PFP Proppant Holding and the subsidiary guarantors, which hold ProFrac’s Proppant business.
- The Alpine term loan bears a floating interest rate at the borrower’s option of either a base rate or SOFR plus an applicable margin. Base rate loans bear interest at a fluctuating per annum rate equal to the base rate plus a margin of 7.25% per annum subject to both a floor and maximum rate. SOFR loans bear interest at a fluctuating per annum rate equal to adjusted term SOFR for a one-month interest period plus a margin of 7.25% per annum subject to both a floor and maximum rate.
- Mandatory principal payments commence at the end of the calendar quarters ending June 30, 2024, Sept. 30, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024, in an amount equal to $5 million on each such date followed by quarterly payments of $15 million.
- The stated maturity date for the Alpine term loans is the earlier of Jan. 26, 2029, or the date it becomes due and payable.
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Seventh Amendment to the ABL Credit Facility
- The maximum revolver amount was decreased ratably among the lenders from $400 million to $325 million.
- According to an 8K filed with the SEC, JPMorgan Chase is the agent and collateral agent for the facility.
- Alpine Holding and its subsidiaries are designated as excluded subsidiaries and unrestricted subsidiaries.
- Liens held by the lenders on the assets of the Alpine Excluded Subsidiaries, and all guarantees of the obligations under ABL Credit Facility made by the Alpine Excluded Subsidiaries, are released, terminated and discharged
- The ABL Credit Facility has a maturity date of the earlier of March 4, 2027, and 91 days prior to the maturity of any material indebtedness.
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Services Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes Due 2029
- ProFrac Holdings II, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ProFrac, issued and sold $520 million aggregate principal amount of its senior secured floating rate notes due 2029 in a private placement to institutional investors.
- The Secured Notes bear interest at a fluctuating per annum rate equal to adjusted term SOFR plus the applicable margin (as defined in the indenture) payable quarterly beginning on March 31, 2024.
- Obligations under the secured notes are secured by ProFrac Holdings II, which holds ProFrac’s services business.
- Mandatory prepayments of $10 million on each of June 30, 2024, Sept. 30, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024, and $15 million at the end of each calendar quarter thereafter.
- On and after Jan. 15, 2025, ProFrac Holdings II may redeem all or a part of the secured notes at certain redemption prices outlined in the associated 8-K to this transaction.
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Piper Sandler acted as the sole financial advisor, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Brown Rudnick acted as legal counsel to ProFrac in connection with the refinancing.
