Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Subsequent Events

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Subsequent Events
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Events

10. Subsequent Events

Issuance of 7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022

On July 2, 2012, Sonic issued $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes which mature on July 15, 2022 (the “7.0% Notes”). The 7.0% Notes were issued at a price of 99.11% of the principal amount thereof (the “Issue Price”), resulting in a yield to maturity of 7.125%. Sonic will use the net proceeds from the 7.0% Notes to repurchase some or all of its outstanding 5.0% Convertible Notes pursuant to an exchange offer (see the heading “Exchange Offer for 5.0% Convertible Notes” below for further discussion) for shares of its Class A common stock plus cash, including any associated tender premium, and to pay related fees and expenses. Any remaining amount will be used for general corporate purposes, including repurchases of shares of Sonic’s Class A common stock. The 7.0% Notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations of Sonic and are guaranteed by Sonic’s domestic operating subsidiaries. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2013.

The net proceeds from the issuance of the 7.0% Notes were deposited into an escrow account where they will remain until Sonic has accepted for exchange at least $80.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.0% Convertible Notes pursuant to the exchange offer for the 5.0% Convertible Notes or until the earlier of the termination of the exchange offer or October 23, 2012. In the event that at least $80.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.0% Convertible Notes are not accepted for exchange in the exchange offer by October 23, 2012, the 7.0% Notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption. The terms of the special mandatory redemption require that Sonic redeem the 7.0% Notes in full at 100% of the Issue Price plus accrued but unpaid interest from the issue date up to, but excluding, the date of special mandatory redemption.

Sonic may redeem the 7.0% Notes in whole or in part at any time after July 15, 2017 at the following redemption prices, which are expressed as percentages of the principal amount:

 

         
    Redemption
Price
 

Beginning on July 15, 2017

    103.500

Beginning on July 15, 2018

    102.333

Beginning on July 15, 2019

    101.167

Beginning on July 15, 2020 and thereafter

    100.000

In addition, on or before July 15, 2015, Sonic may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 7.0% Notes at 107% of the par value of the 7.0% Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest with proceeds from certain equity offerings. The indenture also provides that holders of the 7.0% Notes may require Sonic to repurchase the 7.0% Notes at 101% of the par value of the 7.0% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest if Sonic undergoes a “change of control” as defined in the indenture.

 

The indenture governing the 7.0% Notes contains certain specified restrictive covenants. Sonic has agreed not to pledge any assets to any third party lender of senior subordinated debt except under certain limited circumstances. Sonic also has agreed to certain other limitations or prohibitions concerning the incurrence of other indebtedness, guarantees, liens, certain types of investments, certain transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, issuance of preferred stock, cash dividends to stockholders, distributions, redemptions and the sale, assignment, lease, conveyance or disposal of certain assets. Specifically, the indenture governing Sonic’s 7.0% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and B common stock in excess of $0.10 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and B common stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 7.0% Notes.

Balances outstanding under Sonic’s 7.0% Notes are guaranteed by all of Sonic’s operating domestic subsidiaries. These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several. The parent company has no independent assets or operations. The non-domestic and non-operating subsidiaries that are not guarantors are considered to be minor.

Sonic’s obligations under the 7.0% Notes may be accelerated by the holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% Notes then outstanding if certain events of default occur, including: (1) defaults in the payment of principal or interest when due; (2) defaults in the performance, or breach, of Sonic’s covenants under the 7.0% Notes; and (3) certain defaults under other agreements under which Sonic or its subsidiaries have outstanding indebtedness in excess of $35.0 million.

Exchange Offer for 5.0% Convertible Notes

On June 25, 2012, Sonic commenced an offer to exchange newly issued shares of Class A common stock and cash for all of its outstanding 5.0% Convertible Notes as described in Sonic’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-182307). The offer consideration for the exchange of the 5.0% Convertible Notes will consist of a fixed cash payment of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of the 5.0% Convertible Notes accepted by Sonic for exchange in the exchange offer plus a number of shares of Sonic’s Class A common stock to be determined based on a volume weighted average pricing (“VWAP”) formula described in Sonic’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-182307). Holders of the 5.0% Convertible Notes whose notes are accepted for exchange will be entitled to a cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the settlement date. In no event will the total value of the offer consideration be less than $1,000 or more than $1,631 per $1,000 principal amount of the 5.0% Convertible Notes accepted for exchange in the exchange offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares based on the VWAP. The exchange offer expires at 12:00 midnight New York City time at the end of July 27, 2012, unless Sonic chooses to extend or terminate the exchange offer, subject to certain conditions.

Additional Stock Repurchase Authorization

Subsequent to June 30, 2012, Sonic’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $100.0 million to be used in the repurchase program to acquire shares of Sonic’s Class A common stock.