GTT Secures Commitment for New Term Loan Facility to Strengthen Liquidity Position
GTT Communications, a global cloud networking provider, announced a commitment letter from lenders for a new $275 million delayed-draw term loan facility. This funding aims to support GTT's business plan and facilitate the sale of its infrastructure division to I Squared Capital in 2021. Interim CEO Ernie Ortega acknowledged the lenders' support. Additionally, GTT disclosed that its previously issued financial statements from 2017 to early 2020 should no longer be relied upon, as ongoing accounting issues are being reviewed. Restated financials are expected soon.
- Secured a $275 million loan facility to support business operations.
- New funding aims to facilitate the planned sale of the infrastructure division.
- Previously issued financial statements for 2017 to early 2020 are unreliable, necessitating restatements.
- Potential non-compliance with NYSE listing requirements, affecting stock stability.
MCLEAN, VA, Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GTT Communications, Inc. (NYSE: GTT), a leading global cloud networking provider to multinational clients, announced today it has entered into a commitment letter through which certain of GTT’s existing lenders and noteholders have committed to providing the company with a new
GTT Interim CEO Ernie Ortega said, “We are pleased to announce this development and appreciate the support of our lenders and noteholders in providing us with their commitment for this new facility.
This term loan will ensure that we have the appropriate resources to execute on our business plan as we work towards closing the sale of our infrastructure division to I Squared Capital in 2021.
It also demonstrates our commitment to providing a stable and responsible operating environment for our key stakeholders including employees, customers, vendors and suppliers.”
GTT expects to close the financing no later than December 28, 2020, subject to certain conditions.
In addition, as previously communicated, GTT’s management and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors, with assistance from outside counsel and consultants, have been fully engaged in a review of certain accounting issues. As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed today, GTT’s board of directors has concluded that the previously issued consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, each of the quarters in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the quarter ended March 31, 2020 should no longer be relied upon. GTT intends to file restated consolidated financial statements for these periods as soon as practicable.
About GTT
GTT connects people across organizations, around the world and to every application in the cloud. Our clients benefit from an outstanding service experience built on our core values of simplicity, speed and agility. GTT owns and operates a global Tier 1 internet network and provides a comprehensive suite of cloud networking services. For more information on GTT (NYSE: GTT), please visit www.gtt.net.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of GTT’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The above statements regarding GTT’s new term loan and proposed sale of its infrastructure division constitute forward-looking statements that are based on GTT’s current expectations. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of GTT’s control, there are important factors that could cause future events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects on GTT’s business and clients of general economic and financial market conditions, as well as the following: (1) GTT recently announced that its previously issued financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, each of the quarters during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (the “Non-Reliance Periods”) and related disclosures and communications should no longer be relied upon as a result of preliminary findings of GTT’s ongoing accounting review (the “Review”); (2) the completion of the Review and the completion and filing of GTT’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, other future periodic filings and restated financial statements for the Non-Reliance Periods may take longer than expected as a result of the timing or findings of the Review or GTT’s independent registered public accounting firm’s review process; (3) GTT does not expect to be able to regain compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s continued listing requirements relating to the timely filing of its periodic filings before February 17, 2021 and may not receive a further extension to regain compliance; (4) the conditions to funding set forth in the new term loan commitment letter and related credit agreement, including certain consents from revolving lenders, term lenders and noteholders that have not currently been obtained, may not be satisfied and the funding may not be obtained, and existing cash balances and funds generated from operations may not be sufficient to finance GTT’s operations and meet its cash requirements; (5) GTT and I Squared Capital (the “Buyer”) may be unable to obtain the necessary approvals for GTT’s pending infrastructure sale transaction announced by GTT on October 16, 2020 (the “Transaction”) or the related reorganization (the “Reorganization”) from governmental authorities in a timely manner, on terms acceptable to the sellers and the buyer, or at all; (6) GTT may be unable to obtain from its lenders or noteholders further forbearances, waivers, consents, releases or other agreements that may be necessary to prevent a default under GTT’s credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) or the indenture for GTT’s outstanding notes (the “Indenture”) that may be necessary to satisfy the conditions to the closing of the Transaction, either on terms acceptable to GTT or at all, in which case the sale and purchase agreement for the Transaction would terminate unless the Buyer provides a waiver; (7) GTT may not be able to obtain the consent of certain parties to contracts with GTT and its subsidiaries that will be necessary to fully implement the Transaction or the Reorganization, on terms acceptable to GTT or at all; (8) GTT may be unable to obtain financing sufficient to enable it to consummate the Transaction as required at the closing under the sale and purchase agreement for the Transaction; (9) the potential failure to satisfy other closing conditions under the sale and purchase agreement for the Transaction which may result in the Transaction not being consummated; (10) the potential failure of GTT to realize anticipated benefits of the Transaction; (11) risks from relying on the Buyer for various critical transaction services and network services for an extended period under the transition services agreement and the master services agreement contemplated by the sale and purchase agreement for the Transaction; (12) the potential impact of announcement or consummation of the Reorganization and the Transaction on relationships with third parties, including customers, employees and competitors; (13) the ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers in the manner anticipated; (14) GTT’s internal control over financial reporting may be inadequate or have weaknesses of which GTT is not currently aware or which have not been detected, and which, among other things, could impact GTT’s ability to appropriately provide for the purchase price adjustment mechanisms in the sale and purchase agreement for the Transaction; (15) GTT may fail to satisfy certain covenants relating to financial statement delivery obligations and representations regarding GTT’s financial statements contained in its financing agreements without obtaining an amendment and/or waiver thereof, which may result in (A) events of default under the Indenture and the Credit Agreement, (B) if the Company is unable to obtain further agreements from creditors with respect to forbearing from exercising remedies, the acceleration of the notes outstanding under the Indenture and GTT’s obligations under the Credit Agreement, and (C) GTT being unable to satisfy its obligations thereunder; (16) GTT is subject to risks associated with the actions of network providers and a concentrated number of vendors and clients; (17) GTT could be subject to cyber-attacks and other security breaches; (18) GTT’s network could suffer serious disruption if certain locations experience damage or as GTT adds features and updates its network; (19) GTT is subject to risks associated with purchase commitments to vendors for longer terms or in excess of the volumes committed by GTT’s underlying clients, or sales commitments to clients that extend beyond GTT’s commitments from its underlying suppliers; (20) GTT may be unable to establish and maintain peering relationships with other providers or agreements with carrier neutral data center operators; (21) GTT’s business, results of operation and financial condition are subject to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related market and economic conditions; (22) GTT may be affected by information systems that do not perform as expected or by consolidation, competition, regulation, or a downturn in GTT’s industry; (23) GTT may be liable for the material that content providers distribute over its network; (24) GTT has generated net losses historically and may continue to do so; (25) GTT may fail to successfully integrate any future acquisitions or to efficiently manage its growth; (26) GTT may be unable to retain or hire key employees; (27) GTT recently announced management changes; (28) GTT is subject to risks relating to the international operations of its business; (29) GTT may be affected by future increased levels of taxation; and (30) GTT has substantial indebtedness, which could prevent it from fulfilling its obligations under its debt agreements or subject GTT to interest rate risk. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. GTT does not undertake to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that may arise after the date of the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of a variety of risk factors affecting GTT’s business and prospects, see “Risk Factors” in GTT’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on GTT’s website (www.gtt.net) and on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).
GTT Media Inquiries:
Rachel Hawkins, LEWIS
+44-207-802-2602
GTTUK@teamlewis.com
GTT Investor Relations:
Carolyn Capaccio/Jody Burfening, LHA
+1-212-838-3777
ccapaccio@lhai.com
FAQ
What does GTT Communications' new loan facility entail?
Why are GTT's financial statements no longer reliable?
What is the timeline for GTT's new financing?
What are the implications of GTT's accounting review?
