7.   Long-Term Debt

Credit Facilities

In January 2021, NCLC entered into an amendment agreement (the “First Amendment”), which amends the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2020 (the “Fifth ARCA” and, as amended by the First Amendment, the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”). The First Amendment provides that, among other things, (a) amortization payments due between the First Amendment effective date and prior to June 30, 2022 (the “First Amendment Deferral Period”) on the Legacy Term Loan A and Term Loan A-1 held by lenders that have consented to such deferral (the “First Amendment Deferring Lenders”) are deferred and such deferred principal amount constitutes a separate tranche of loans (the “Deferred Term Loan A-1”) and (b) the tranche of loans held by certain lenders (the “Fifth ARCA Deferring

Lenders”) on which amortization payments due within the first year after effectiveness of the Fifth ARCA were deferred (the “Deferred Term Loan A”) of First Amendment Deferring Lenders were converted into Deferred Term Loan A-1 loans. The class of loans constituting the Term Loan A Facility (other than the Deferred Term Loan A) held by the Fifth ARCA Deferring Lenders (the “Term Loan A-1”) and the class of loans constituting the portion of the Term Loan A Facility that is held by lenders other than the Fifth ARCA Deferring Lenders (the “Legacy Term Loan A”) that were held by the First Amendment Deferring Lenders (other than amounts converted into the Deferred Term Loan A-1) constitute a separate tranche of loans (the “Term Loan A-2”), with the same terms as the Legacy Term Loan A and Term Loan A-1 under the Fifth ARCA, except that amortization payments on the Term Loan A-2 shall be deferred during the First Amendment Deferral Period and thereafter such Term Loan A-2 will amortize in an aggregate principal amount equal to approximately 5.88% per annum and the interest rate for Term Loan A-2 shall be modified as described below. The Deferred Term Loan A-1 will accrue interest (x) in the case of Eurocurrency loans, at a per annum rate based on LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% or (y) in the case of base rate loans, at a per annum rate based on the base rate plus a margin of 1.50%. After the end of the First Amendment Deferral Period, the Deferred Term Loan A-1 will amortize in an aggregate principal amount equal to 25% per annum of the Deferred Term Loan A-1 outstanding immediately after the consummation of the First Amendment, in quarterly installments, and in the case of such payment due on the maturity date, an amount equal to the then unpaid principal amount of the Deferred Term Loan A-1 outstanding. The Legacy Term Loan A, Term Loan A-1 and Deferred Term Loan A that were held by lenders other than the First Amendment Deferring Lenders constitute separate classes of loans and were unchanged. The First Amendment resulted in deferred amortization payments aggregating approximately $70 million prior to June 30, 2022.

The First Amendment provides that, (a) from the First Amendment effective date to and including December 31, 2022 (the “Covenant Relief Period”) the testing of the loan to value, debt to capitalization and EBITDA to debt service covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility will be suspended and the free liquidity test will be replaced by a covenant to maintain at least $200 million in free liquidity, certified on a monthly basis. During the Covenant Relief Period the interest rate for Term Loan A-2 and revolving loans held by Lenders that consented to the First Amendment will be LIBOR plus 2.00% (or base rate plus 1.00%) with decreases subject to a leverage-based pricing grid. The First Amendment also makes certain other changes to the Senior Secured Credit Facility, including tightening certain of the baskets applicable to our ability to make certain asset dispositions, investments and restricted payments.

Additionally, in February 2021, NCLC amended all of its export-credit backed facilities to defer amortization payments aggregating approximately $680 million through March 31, 2022 and/or make certain changes in respect of covenants and undertakings contained therein.

The facilities that finance Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor, Riviera and Marina were amended to provide that, among other things, (a) amortization payments due from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 (the “Second Deferral Period”) on the loans will be deferred and (b) the principal amounts so deferred will constitute separate tranches of loans under the facilities. The separate tranches of loans will accrue interest at a floating rate per annum based on six-month LIBOR plus a margin as follows:

​

​

After the end of the Second Deferral Period, the deferred loans will amortize in an aggregate principal amount equal to 20% per annum of the deferred loans, in semiannual installments.

In addition, all of NCLC’s export-credit backed facilities were amended to provide that, from the effective date of the amendments to and including December 31, 2022, certain of the financial covenants under such facilities will be suspended and the free liquidity test will be replaced by a covenant to maintain at least $200 million in free liquidity. The amendments also made certain other changes to the facilities, including imposing further restrictions on NCLC’s ability to incur debt, create security, issue equity and make dividends and other distributions.

In April 2021, an agreement was executed to defer certain newbuild related debt amortization to July 2022. The aggregate amount of debt amortization that was deferred was €31.2 million, or $36.1 million based on the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of September 30, 2021. The interest rate on the newbuild related debt was increased to 4.5% per annum.

The amendments of the agreements described above resulted in aggregate modification expenses of $52.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which is recognized in interest expense, net.

In May 2021, NCLC entered into a €28.8 million loan facility for newbuild related payments. The facility bears interest at a rate of 4.5% per annum. As of September 30, 2021, €19.2 million, or $22.2 million based on the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate as of September 30, 2021, was drawn under this facility, which matures on July 1, 2022.

In July 2021, we amended nine credit facilities for our newbuild agreements and increased the combined commitments under such credit facilities by approximately $770 million to cover owner’s supply (generally consists of provisions for the ship), modifications and financing premiums. Subsequently, in September 2021, excess commitments totaling approximately $230 million were cancelled under two of the credit facilities as a result of hedging euro below the rate used to determine the maximum commitments in U.S. dollars.

Unsecured Notes

In December 2020, NCLC conducted a private offering of $850.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2026 (the “2026 Senior Unsecured Notes”). In March 2021, NCLC completed an add-on offering of $575.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes. The 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes pay interest at 5.875% per annum, semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 1 and September 1, respectively. NCLC may redeem the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes, in whole or part, at any time prior to December 15, 2025, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date and a “make-whole premium.” NCLC may redeem the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes, in whole or in part, on or after December 15, 2025, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. At any time and from time to time prior to December 15, 2022, NCLC may choose to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings, subject to certain restrictions, at a redemption price equal to 105.875% of the principal amount of the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, so long as at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes issued remains outstanding following such redemption. The proceeds from the March 2021 issuance were used to repay the $230.0 million Pride of America Credit Facility and the remaining $222.6 million of the Jewel Credit Facility. The repayment of these debt agreements resulted in losses on extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which is recognized in interest expense, net.

​

In March 2021, NCL Finance, Ltd., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of NCLH and NCLC, additionally conducted a private offering of $525.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2028 (the “2028 Senior Unsecured Notes”). The 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes pay interest at 6.125% per annum, semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 1 and September 1, respectively. NCL Finance may redeem the 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes, in whole or part, at any time prior to December 15, 2027, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date and a “make-whole premium.” NCL Finance may redeem the 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes, in whole or in part, on or after December 15, 2027, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. At any time and from time to time prior to March 15, 2024, NCL Finance may choose to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity

offerings, subject to certain restrictions, at a redemption price equal to 106.125% of the principal amount of the 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, so long as at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes issued remains outstanding following such redemption.

The indentures governing the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes and 2028 Senior Unsecured Notes include requirements that, among other things and subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, restrict the ability of NCLC and its restricted subsidiaries, as applicable, to (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; (ii) pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, equity interests and make other restricted payments; (iii) make investments; (iv) consummate certain asset sales; (v) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (vi) grant or assume certain liens; and (vii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets.

In November 2021, the Company executed a $1 billion commitment through August 15, 2022 that provides additional liquidity to the Company. If drawn, this commitment will convert into an unsecured note paying interest at 8.0% per annum, semiannually, and maturing in April 2024. As of the date hereof, the Company has not drawn under this commitment.

Exchangeable Notes

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and enhances transparency in disclosures. One model which is being eliminated is the bifurcation of embedded conversion features that are not accounted for separately as derivatives. Each of the 2024 Exchangeable Notes, 2025 Exchangeable Notes, and Private Exchangeable Notes (as defined below) contain or contained conversion options that may be settled with NCLH’s ordinary shares. As the options will be both indexed to and settled in our ordinary shares, they are not accounted for separately as derivatives. The Private Exchangeable Notes contained a beneficial conversion feature, which was recognized within additional paid-in capital with an offsetting discount to the carrying amount of the debt. The discount was amortized to interest expense through December 31, 2020. On January 1, 2021, we early adopted ASU 2020-06 using a modified retrospective approach. As a result, the $131.2 million beneficial conversion feature previously recognized was reclassified from additional paid-in capital to long-term debt, and the discount amortization of $5.6 million was adjusted through retained earnings (deficit).

NCLC has outstanding $862.5 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% exchangeable senior notes due May 15, 2024 (the “2024 Exchangeable Notes”). The 2024 Exchangeable Notes are guaranteed by NCLH on a senior basis. Holders may exchange their 2024 Exchangeable Notes at their option into redeemable preference shares of NCLC. Upon exchange, the preference shares will be immediately and automatically exchanged, for each $1,000 principal amount of exchanged 2024 Exchangeable Notes, into a number of NCLH’s ordinary shares based on the exchange rate. The exchange rate will initially be 72.7273 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2024 Exchangeable Notes (equivalent to an initial exchange price of approximately $13.75 per ordinary share). The maximum exchange rate is 89.4454 and reflects potential adjustments to the initial exchange rate, which would only be made in the event of certain make-whole fundamental changes or tax redemption events. The exchange rate referred to above is also subject to adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction. The 2024 Exchangeable Notes pay interest at 6.00% per annum, semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding May 1 and November 1, respectively.

NCLC also has outstanding $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% exchangeable senior notes due August 1, 2025 (the “2025 Exchangeable Notes”). The 2025 Exchangeable Notes are guaranteed by NCLH on a senior basis. Holders may exchange their 2025 Exchangeable Notes at their option into redeemable preference shares of NCLC. Upon exchange, the preference shares will be immediately and automatically exchanged, for each $1,000 principal amount of exchanged 2025 Exchangeable Notes, into a number of NCLH’s ordinary shares based on the exchange rate. The exchange rate will initially be 53.3333 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2025 Exchangeable Notes (equivalent to an initial exchange price of approximately $18.75 per ordinary share). The maximum exchange rate is 66.6666 and reflects potential adjustments to the initial exchange rate, which would only be made in the event of certain make-whole fundamental changes or tax redemption events. The exchange rate referred to above is also subject to

adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction. The 2025 Exchangeable Notes pay interest at 5.375% per annum, semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding January 15 and July 15, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, NCLC also had outstanding $414.3 million aggregate principal amount of exchangeable senior notes due June 1, 2026 (the “Private Exchangeable Notes”), which amount included interest that had accreted to the principal amount, which were held by an affiliate of L Catterton (the “Private Investor”). The Private Exchangeable Notes accrued interest at a rate of 7.0% per annum for the first year post-issuance (which accreted to the principal amount). Holders were able to exchange their Private Exchangeable Notes at their option into redeemable preference shares of NCLC. Upon exchange, the preference shares would be immediately and automatically exchanged, for each $1,000 principal amount of exchanged Private Exchangeable Notes, into a number of NCLH’s ordinary shares based on the exchange rate. The exchange rate was initially approximately 82.6446 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount of Private Exchangeable Notes (equivalent to an initial exchange price of $12.10 per ordinary share). The maximum exchange rate was 90.9090 and reflected potential adjustments to the initial exchange rate, which would only be made in the event of certain make-whole fundamental changes or tax redemption events.

In March 2021, NCLH completed an equity offering that resulted in 52,577,947 ordinary shares being issued for gross proceeds of $1.6 billion. Approximately $1.0 billion of the cash proceeds from the offering were used to repurchase the Private Exchangeable Notes and extinguish the debt. The resulting loss on extinguishment, which is recognized in interest expense, net, was $600.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

The following is a summary of NCLC’s convertible debt instruments as of September 30, 2021 (in thousands):

​

The remaining period over which the unamortized deferred financing fees will be recognized as non-cash interest expense is 2.6 years and 3.8 years for the 2024 Exchangeable Notes and 2025 Exchangeable Notes, respectively.

The following is a summary of NCLC’s convertible debt instruments as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):

​

In addition, as of December 31, 2020, we had recognized a $19.3 million premium for payment-in-kind interest as additional paid-in capital for the Private Exchangeable Notes. As a result of the extinguishment of the Private Exchangeable Notes, we derecognized the amounts recorded as additional paid-in capital.

​

​

​

​

The following provides a summary of the interest expense of NCLC’s convertible debt instruments (in thousands):

​

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06, interest expense, including amortization of debt discounts and coupon interest, recognized related to the convertible debt instruments was $29.5 million and $42.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

​

The effective interest rate is 7.07% and 5.97% for the 2024 Exchangeable Notes and 2025 Exchangeable Notes, respectively.

​

As of September 30, 2021, the if-converted value above par was $812.9 million on available shares of 62.7 million and $191.0 million on available shares of 24.0 million for the 2024 Exchangeable Notes and the 2025 Exchangeable Notes, respectively.

Debt Repayments

The following are scheduled principal repayments on our long-term debt including finance lease obligations as of September 30, 2021 for each of the following periods (in thousands):

​

​

Debt Covenants

We have received certain financial and other debt covenant waivers through December 31, 2022 and added new free liquidity requirements. At September 30, 2021, taking into account such waivers, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. If we do not continue to remain in compliance with our covenants, including following the expiration of any current waivers, we would have to seek additional amendments to our covenants. However, no assurances can be made that such amendments would be approved by our lenders. Generally, if an event of default under any debt agreement occurs, then pursuant to cross default and/or cross acceleration clauses, substantially all of our outstanding debt and derivative contract payables could become due, and all debt and derivative contracts could be terminated, which would have a material adverse impact on our operations and liquidity.