WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 9, 2023 — Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. [NYSE: SPR] (the “Company”) announced today the pricing by Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. (“Spirit”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, of $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 9.750% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2030 (the “Second Lien Notes”) in a private offering.
Spirit plans to use the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to fund a tender offer for any and all of the $1.2 billion outstanding principal amount of its 7.500% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2025 (CUSIP No. 85205TAL4) (the “Tender Offer”) and to pay related premiums, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing. Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the redemption or repurchase of indebtedness.
The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about November 21, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Interest on the Second Lien Notes will be payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on May 15, 2024.
The Second Lien Notes will be guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the Company and Spirit AeroSystems North Carolina, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirit (together, the “Guarantors”), and secured by certain real property and personal property, including certain equity interests, owned by Spirit, as issuer, and the Guarantors. The Second Lien Notes and guarantees will be Spirit’s and the Guarantors’ senior secured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of their existing and future senior indebtedness, senior to all of their existing and future unsecured indebtedness and secured indebtedness that is not secured by a lien on the collateral securing the Second Lien Notes or that is secured by junior liens, in each case to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the Second Lien Notes, junior to all of Spirit’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future first-priority lien indebtedness (including Spirit’s senior secured term loan B credit facility, Spirit’s senior notes due 2026 and Spirit’s senior secured first lien notes due 2029) to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, effectively junior to all of Spirit’s and the Guarantors’ existing and future indebtedness that is secured by assets that do not secure the Second Lien Notes to the extent of the value of such assets, structurally junior to any debt or obligations of Spirit’s non-guarantor subsidiaries and senior in right of payment to any of their existing and future subordinated indebtedness.
Spirit is offering the Second Lien Notes pursuant to exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The initial purchasers of the Second Lien Notes will offer the Second Lien Notes only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act or outside the United States to certain persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Second Lien Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws. Therefore, the Second Lien Notes may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, any United States person unless the offer or sale would qualify for a registration exemption from the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Second Lien Notes described in this press release, nor shall there be any sale of the Second Lien Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions, the company’s core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles. Also, Spirit serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that may involve many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other similar words, or phrases, or the negative thereof, unless the context requires otherwise. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements and that should be considered in evaluating our outlook include, but are not limited to, the following: our ability to complete our concurrent offering of common stock and Spirit’s concurrent offering of exchangeable notes and this offering and the tender offer in the amounts and on the terms contemplated, or at all; the continued fragility of the global aerospace supply chain including our dependence on our suppliers, as well as the cost and availability of raw materials and purchased components, including increases in energy, freight, and other raw material costs as a result of inflation or continued global inflationary pressures; our ability and our suppliers’ ability, or willingness, to meet stringent delivery (including quality and timeliness) standards and accommodate changes in the build rates or model mix of aircraft under existing contractual commitments, including the ability or willingness to staff appropriately or expend capital for current production volumes and anticipated production volume increases; the ability to maintain continuing, uninterrupted production at our manufacturing facilities and our suppliers’ facilities; our ability, and our suppliers’ ability, to attract and retain the skilled work force necessary for production and development in an extremely competitive market; the effect of economic conditions, including increases in interest rates and inflation, on the demand for our and our customers’ products and services, on the industries and markets in which we operate in the U.S. and globally, and on the global aerospace supply chain; the general effect of geopolitical conditions, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resultant sanctions being imposed in response to the conflict, including any trade and transport restrictions; the recent outbreak of war in Israel and the Gaza Strip and the potential for expansion of the conflict in the surrounding region, which may impact certain suppliers’ ability to continue production or make timely deliveries of supplies required to produce and timely deliver our products, and may result in trade and transport restrictions being imposed in response to the conflict; our relationships with the unions representing many of our employees, including our ability to successfully negotiate new agreements, and avoid labor disputes and work stoppages with respect to our union employees; the impact of significant health events, such as pandemics, contagions, or other public health emergencies (including the COVID-19 pandemic) or fear of such events, on the demand for our and our customers’ products and services, the industries, and the markets in which we operate in the U.S. and globally; the timing and conditions surrounding the full worldwide return to service (including receiving the remaining regulatory approvals) of the B737 MAX, future demand for the aircraft, and any residual impacts of the B737 MAX grounding on production rates for the aircraft; our reliance on The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) and Airbus Group SE and its affiliates (collectively, “Airbus”) for a significant portion of our revenues; the business condition and liquidity of our customers and their ability to satisfy their contractual obligations to the Company; the certainty of our backlog, including the ability of customers to cancel or delay orders prior to shipment on short notice, and the potential impact of regulatory approvals of existing and derivative models; our ability to accurately estimate and manage performance, cost, margins, and revenue under our contracts, and the potential for additional forward losses on new and maturing programs; our accounting estimates for revenue and costs for our contracts and potential changes to those estimates; our ability to continue to grow and diversify our business, execute our growth strategy, and secure replacement programs, including our ability to enter into profitable supply arrangements with additional customers; the outcome of product warranty or defective product claims and the impact settlement of such claims may have on our accounting assumptions; competitive conditions in the markets in which we operate, including in-sourcing by commercial aerospace original equipment manufacturers; our ability to successfully negotiate, or re-negotiate, future pricing under our supply agreements with Boeing, Airbus and other customers; the possibility that our cash flows may not be adequate for our additional capital needs; any reduction in our credit ratings; our ability to access the capital or credit markets to fund our liquidity needs, and the costs and terms of any additional financing; our ability to avoid or recover from cyber or other security attacks and other operations disruptions; legislative or regulatory actions, both domestic and foreign, impacting our operations, including the effect of changes in tax laws and rates and our ability to accurately calculate and estimate the effect of such changes; spending by the U.S. and other governments on defense; pension plan assumptions and future contributions; the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; the outcome or impact of ongoing or future litigation, arbitration, claims, and regulatory actions or investigations, including our exposure to potential product liability and warranty claims; adequacy of our insurance coverage; our ability to continue selling certain receivables through supplier financing programs; our ability to effectively integrate recent acquisitions, along with other acquisitions we pursue, and generate synergies and other cost savings therefrom, while avoiding unexpected costs, charges, expenses, and adverse changes to business relationships and business disruptions; and the risks of doing business internationally, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, impositions of tariffs or embargoes, trade restrictions, compliance with foreign laws, and domestic and foreign government policies. These factors are not exhaustive and it is not possible for us to predict all factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. These factors speak only as of the date hereof, and new factors may emerge or changes to the foregoing factors may occur that could impact our business. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Spirit Aerosystems
