EAT WELL GROUP CLOSES $24.5 MILLION DEBT REFINANCING LED BY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA
The Company has reduced its interest charges by over
"We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our debt refinancing, thanks to the world-class support of the Business Development Bank of
The refinancing transaction includes:
- A
secured loan from BDC at a fixed rate of$22.5 million 5.65% per annum, payable monthly and amortizing over a 20-year period (including a three-month payment holiday), which was used to repay a portion of the Company's existing credit facilities. - A
secured loan from BDC at a fixed rate of$2 million 8.8% per annum, payable monthly and amortizing over a seven-year period (including a 12-month payment holiday), which was used to repay a portion of the Company's existing credit facilities. - The private lender has converted
of the existing credit facilities into a secured term facility (the "Term Facility") that accrues interest at a rate of prime +$8 million 7.55% per annum, payable monthly, and is repayable 12 months after closing of the refinancing. - The private lender has converted the remaining
of the existing credit facilities into a secured revolving facility (the "Revolving Facility") not to exceed$7.5 million , that accrues interest at a rate of prime plus$8.5 million 7.55% per annum, payable monthly, and is repayable 12 months after closing of the refinancing. - The Private Lender will earn a commitment fee (the "Commitment Fee"), which will be waived if the Term Loan is repaid by August 31st, 2023, a fee of
payable by September 30th, 2023, and issue 2,500,000 Common Shares to the Private Lender (the "Bonus Shares"). The Bonus Shares are subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. Management has agreed to forfeit 2.5 million profit interest shares, to avoid added shareholder dilution in exchange for issuing common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares").$523,000 - For additional clarity, the revised terms of the Debt Refinancing do not include any convertible loan or the issuance of any additional warrants, as previously contemplated in the December 23, 2022, news release.
The refinancing transaction results in several benefits for the Company, including:
- Reducing Eat Well's interest charges by over
per year.$2.1 million - Reducing interest rates from
14.25% to a blended rate of9.55% . - Reducing monthly payments by approximately
, a savings of$185,000 38% for the first twelve months and then following the interest deferment will be , a savings of$170,000 35% . - Extending the maturity of the Company's outstanding credit facilities by up to 20 years.
- Initiating a long-term relationship with a supportive lender that can scale with future growth plans.
The savings of over
"By successfully restructuring our debt, Eat Well Group has solidified its dedication to sustainable growth and financial stability. The Company has reduced its interest charges by over
Eat Well is a publicly-traded company primarily focused on the agribusiness, food tech, plant-based and ESG (environmental, social and governance) sectors. Eat Well's management team has an extensive record of sourcing, financing and building successful companies across a broad range of industries and maintains a current focus on the health/wellness industry. The team has financed and invested in early-stage venture companies for greater than 25 years, resulting in unparalleled access to deal flow and the ability to construct a portfolio of opportunistic investments intended to generate superior risk-adjusted returns.
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Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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SOURCE Eat Well Investment Group Inc.