Convertible Senior Notes
On September 27, 2021, the Company issued $140,000 principal amount of its 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to, and are governed by, an indenture, dated as of September 27, 2021, among the Company, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, BAS Evansville, Inc., as guarantor (the “Guarantor”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”). Pursuant to the purchase agreement between the Company and the initial purchaser of the Notes, the Company granted the initial purchaser an option to purchase, for settlement within a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the Notes were first issued, up to an additional $15,000 principal amount of the Notes. The Notes issued on September 27, 2021 included $15,000 principal amount of the Notes issued pursuant to the full exercise by the initial purchaser of such option. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, together with borrowings under a new senior secured term loan facility, to fund the cash portion of the purchase price of the Envigo acquisition and related fees and expenses.
The Notes are the Company’s senior, unsecured obligations and are (i) equal in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness; (ii) senior in right of payment to the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes; (iii) effectively subordinated to the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness; and (iv) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, and (to the extent the Company is not a holder thereof) preferred equity, if any, of the Company’s non-guarantor subsidiaries. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a senior, unsecured basis, by the Guarantor.
The Notes accrue interest at a rate of 3.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2022. The Notes will mature on October 15, 2027, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Before April 15, 2027, noteholders have the right to convert their Notes only upon the occurrence of certain events. From and after April 15, 2027, noteholders may convert their Notes at any time at their election until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. The Company will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, its common shares or a combination of cash and its common shares, at the Company’s election. The initial conversion rate is 21.7162 common shares per $1 principal amount of Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $46.05 per common share. The conversion rate and conversion price are subject to customary adjustments upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, if certain corporate events that constitute a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change” (as defined in the Indenture) occur, then the conversion rate will, in certain circumstances, be increased for a specified period of time.
As of March 31, 2023 and September 30, 2022, there were $4,620 and $5,060, respectively, in unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Notes. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the total interest expense was $2,740, including coupon interest expense of $1,138, accretion expense of $1,383, and the amortization of debt discount and issuance costs of $219. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the total interest expense was $2,603, including coupon interest expense of $1,138, accretion expense of $1,257, and the amortization of debt discount and issuance costs of $208. For the six months ended March 31, 2023, the total interest expense was $5,504, including coupon interest expense of $2,300, accretion expense of $2,764, and the amortization of debt discount and issuance costs of $440. During the six months ended March 31, 2022, the total interest expense was $5,230, including coupon interest expense of $2,300, accretion expense of $2,512, and the amortization of debt discount and issuance costs of $418.
The Notes are redeemable, in whole and not in part, at the Company’s option at any time on or after October 15, 2024 and on or before the 40th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per common share of the Company exceeds 130% of the conversion price on (i) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date the Company sends the related redemption notice; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date the Company sends such notice. The redemption price is a cash amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, calling the Notes for redemption pursuant to the provisions described in this paragraph will constitute a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, which will result in an increase to the conversion rate in certain circumstances for a specified period of time.
If certain corporate events that constitute a “Fundamental Change” (as defined in the Indenture) occur, then noteholders may require the Company to repurchase their Notes at a cash repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change repurchase date. The definition of Fundamental Change includes certain business combination transactions involving the Company and certain de-listing events with respect to the Company’s common shares.
The Notes have customary provisions relating to the occurrence of “Events of Default” (as defined in the Indenture), which include the following: (i) certain payment defaults on the Notes (which, in the case of a default in the payment of interest on the Notes,