FORM 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 23, 2016

 

 

ALLISON TRANSMISSION HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-35456   26-0414014

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

One Allison Way, Indianapolis, Indiana   46222
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (317) 242-5000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 23, 2016, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and Allison Transmission, Inc. (the “Issuer”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, the several lenders party thereto, Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents and arrangers party thereto entered into Amendment No. 13 (“Amendment No. 13”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2007, governing its senior secured credit facility.

Amendment No. 13 refinanced approximately $1.2 billion of the Company’s term loan facility and revolving credit facility and extended the maturity date of each to 2022 and 2021, respectively. Amendment No. 13 also reduced the available commitments under the revolving credit facility to $450 million and amended certain other provisions of the Company’s senior secured credit facility. The interest rate margin applicable to the refinanced term loans is, at the Issuer’s option, either (a) 2.50% above the London interbank offered rate (subject to a 0.75% floor) or (b) 1.50% above the greater of the prime lending rate as quoted by the administrative agent or the federal funds effective rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (subject to a 1.75% floor). The interest rate margin applicable to borrowings under the refinanced revolving credit facility is, at the Issuer’s option, either (a) 1.75%-2.25% (based on the Issuer’s leverage ratio) above the London Interbank Offered Rate, or (b) 0.75%-1.25% (based on the Issuer’s leverage ratio) above the greater of the prime lending rate as quoted by the administrative agent or the federal funds effective rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

This summary of Amendment No. 13 does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of Amendment No. 13 filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Certain of the information required by this item is included in Item 2.03 below and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.

On September 23, 2016, the Issuer issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated September 23, 2016, between the Issuer and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (the “Indenture”). The Notes pay interest semi-annually in arrears. The Notes were offered in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, were used to repay approximately $1.2 billion of the Issuer’s outstanding term loans and pay related transaction fees and expenses.

Optional Redemption Provisions and Change of Control Repurchase Right

At any time prior to October 1, 2019, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, the Notes will be redeemable at the Issuer’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a make-whole premium as set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date. Beginning October 1, 2019, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, subject to the payment of a redemption price together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date. The redemption price includes a call premium that varies (from 2.500% to 0%) depending on the year of redemption.

In addition, at any time prior to October 1, 2019, the Issuer may redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 105.000% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the applicable redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of sales of one or more equity offerings by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer.

The Issuer or a third party has the right to redeem the Notes at 101.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the date of redemption following the consummation of a change of control, as defined in the Indenture, if at least 90.0% of the Notes outstanding prior to such date of purchase are purchased pursuant to a change of control offer with respect to such change of control. The holders of

the Notes will also have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase their Notes upon the occurrence of a change in control, at an offer price equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the date of repurchase.

Ranking

The Notes are the Issuer’s senior unsecured obligations. The Notes will be guaranteed by each of the Issuer’s existing and future domestic subsidiaries that is a borrower under or that guarantees obligations under the Issuer’s senior secured credit facility, subject to certain exceptions, but will not be guaranteed by the Company. None of the Issuer’s domestic subsidiaries currently guarantee its obligations under the Issuer’s senior secured credit facility, and therefore none of the Issuer’s domestic subsidiaries currently guarantee the Notes. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ existing and future senior debt, including borrowings under the Issuer’s senior secured credit facility, and rank contractually senior in right of payment to the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ existing and future debt and other obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes are effectively subordinated to the Issuer’s and the guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness, including borrowings under the Issuer’s senior secured credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Notes and guarantees are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and liabilities (including trade payables) of the Issuer’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes.

Restrictive Covenants

The Indenture contains covenants that limit the Issuer’s (and its subsidiaries’) ability to, among other things: (i) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred stock; (ii) create liens on assets; (iii) transfer or sell assets; (iv) create restrictions on payment of dividends or other amounts by the Issuer’s restricted subsidiaries to the Issuer or its restricted subsidiaries; (v) engage in mergers or consolidations; (vi) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and (vii) designate the Issuer’s subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. In addition, under certain circumstances the Indenture will also limit the Issuer’s (and its subsidiaries’) ability to pay dividends, redeem stock and make other distributions, restricted payments or investments.

The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture. A copy of the Indenture is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On September 23, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing consummation of the offering of the Notes and entrance into Amendment No. 13. The information furnished with this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Securities Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

     
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of September 23, 2016, between the Issuer and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (including form of Note).
10.1    Amendment No. 13 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2016, among Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc., Allison Transmission, Inc., as Borrower, the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto as lenders, Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent and the other agents and arrangers party thereto.
99.1    Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. press release, dated September 23, 2016.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.
Date: September 23, 2016     By:  

/s/ Eric C. Scroggins

      Eric C. Scroggins
      Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

   

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of September 23, 2016, between the Issuer and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (including form of Note).
10.1    Amendment No. 13 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2016, among Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc., Allison Transmission, Inc., as Borrower, the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto as lenders, Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent and the other agents and arrangers party thereto.
99.1    Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. press release, dated September 23, 2016.