6.   Long-Term Debt

In February 2023, NCLC issued $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.375% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “2028 Senior Secured Notes”). The 2028 Senior Secured Notes and related guarantees are secured by first-priority interests in, among other things and subject to certain agreed security principles, thirteen of our vessels that also secure the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The 2028 Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed by our subsidiaries that own the vessels that secure the 2028 Senior Secured Notes. NCLC may redeem the 2028 Senior Secured Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time prior to February 1, 2025, at a “make-whole” redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. NCLC may redeem the 2028 Senior Secured Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 2025, at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2028 Senior Secured Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. At any time and from time to time prior to February 1, 2025, NCLC may choose to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Senior Secured Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings, subject to certain restrictions, at a redemption price equal to 108.375% of the principal amount of the 2028 Senior Secured 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 Secured Notes issued remains outstanding following such redemption. The 2028 Senior Secured Notes pay interest at 8.375% 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.

The proceeds from the 2028 Senior Secured Notes were used to repay the loans outstanding under our Term Loan A Facility that otherwise would have become due in January 2024, including to pay any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, as well as related premiums, fees and expenses. As a result, all of the remaining term loans outstanding under our Term Loan A Facility will mature in January 2025, subject to, if a one-time minimum liquidity threshold is not satisfied on September 16, 2024, a springing maturity date of September 16, 2024.

The indenture governing the 2028 Senior Secured Notes includes 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 July 2022, NCLC entered into a $1 billion amended and restated commitment letter (the “commitment letter”) with the purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Commitment Parties”), which superseded a $1 billion commitment letter previously executed in November 2021. The commitment letter, among other things, extended the commitments thereunder through March 31, 2023. In February 2023, the Commitment Parties further amended the commitment letter (the “amended commitment letter”) to extend certain commitments thereunder through February 2024, with an option for NCLC to further extend such commitments through February 2025 at its election. Pursuant to the amended commitment letter, the Commitment Parties have agreed to purchase from NCLC an aggregate principal amount of up to $650 million of senior secured notes at NCLC’s option. NCLC has the option to make up to two draws, consisting of (i) $250 million of senior secured notes due 2028 that, if issued, will accrue interest at a rate of 11.00% per annum subject to a 1.00% increase or decrease based on certain market conditions at the time drawn (the “Class B Notes”) and (ii) $400 million aggregate principal amount of 8.00% senior secured notes due five years after the issue date (the “Backstop Notes”). The Class B Notes and the Backstop Notes are subject to a quarterly commitment fee of 0.75% for so long as the commitments with respect to Class B Notes or the Backstop Notes, as applicable, are outstanding, which fee will be increased to 1.00% if NCLC extends the commitments through February 2025 at its election. If drawn, the Class B Notes will be subject to an issue fee of 2.00%, and the Backstop Notes will be subject to a quarterly duration fee of 1.50%, as well as an issue fee of 3.00%.

In February 2023, in connection with the execution of the amended commitment letter, NCLC issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of 9.75% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “Class A Notes” and, collectively with the Class B Notes and the Backstop Notes, the “Notes”), subject to an issue fee of 2.00%. NCLC will use the net proceeds from the Class A Notes for general corporate purposes. NCLC may redeem the Class A Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time prior to February 22, 2025, at a “make-whole” redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. NCLC may redeem the Class A Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or after February 22, 2025, at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the Class A Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Class A Notes pay interest at 9.75% per annum, quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, to holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, respectively.

The Class A Notes are, and the Class B Notes and the Backstop Notes, if issued, will be, secured by first-priority interests in, among other things and subject to certain agreed security principles, shares of capital stock in certain guarantors, our material intellectual property and two islands that we use in the operations of our cruise business. The Class A Notes are, and the Class B Notes and the Backstop Notes, if issued, will be, guaranteed by our subsidiaries that own the property that secures the Notes as well as certain additional subsidiaries whose assets do not secure the Notes.

The indenture governing the Class A Notes includes 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 February 2023, NCLC entered into a Backstop Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS”), pursuant to which MS has agreed to provide backstop committed financing to refinance and/or repay in whole or in part amounts outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. Pursuant to the Backstop Agreement, we may, at our sole option, issue and sell to MS (subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions) five-year senior unsecured notes up to an aggregate principal amount sufficient to generate gross proceeds of $300 million at any time between October 4, 2023 and January 2, 2024.

In April 2023, $82.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loan Facility due January 2024 was assigned to a new lender, and the maturity date was extended by one year to January 2025. The terms of the assigned principal are the same as the existing lenders who extended commitments in December 2022 under Amendment No. 4 to the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

Exchangeable Notes

The following is a summary of NCLC’s exchangeable notes as of March 31, 2023 (in thousands):

The following is a summary of NCLC’s exchangeable notes as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

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The following provides a summary of the interest expense of NCLC’s exchangeable notes (in thousands):

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As of March 31, 2023, the effective interest rate is 7.04%, 5.97%, 1.64% and 3.06% for the 2024 Exchangeable Notes, 2025 Exchangeable Notes, 2027 1.125% Exchangeable Notes and 2027 2.5% Exchangeable Notes, respectively.

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Debt Repayments

The following are scheduled principal repayments on our long-term debt including exchangeable notes which can be settled in shares and finance lease obligations as of March 31, 2023 (in thousands):

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Debt Covenants

As of March 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. If we do not continue to remain in compliance with our covenants, we would have to seek additional amendments to or waivers of our covenants. However, no assurances can be made that such amendments or waivers 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.