Item 2.03 | | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
(a) Creation of a Material Direct Financial Obligation. On September 22, 2005, Vanguard Health Holding Company II, LLC (“VHS Holdco II) and Vanguard Holding Company II, Inc. (along with VHS Holdco II, the “Vanguard Borrowers”), which are two subsidiaries of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. (“Registrant” or “Vanguard”), borrowed the remaining $125.0 million under an up to $175.0 million delayed draw term loan facility which is part of Vanguard’s senior credit facilities described below. Vanguard plans to utilize the proceeds from this $125.0 million borrowing to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes. As previously reported, on September 16, 2005, the Vanguard Borrowers made an initial $50.0 million term loan borrowing under this facility which it is also using to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes. On September 23, 2004, the Vanguard Borrowers and Vanguard Health Holding Company I, LLC (another Vanguard subsidiary which is referred to herein as “VHS Holdco I”) entered into senior credit facilities provided by a syndicate of banks and other financial institutions with Banc of America Securities LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. serving as joint lead arrangers and book runners, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, Citicorp North America, Inc., as syndication agent and General Electric Capital Corporation, LaSalle Bank, National Association and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as co-documentation agents. Vanguard’s senior credit facilities consist of a revolving credit facility and term loan facilities. Vanguard’s revolving credit facility provides for revolving loans in a total principal amount of up to $250.0 million, and matures on September 23, 2010. The initial term loan facility, which matures on September 23, 2011, provides for term loans in a total principal amount of up to $800.0 million as follows: (1) $475.0 million that was borrowed on September 23, 2004 to finance a transaction whereby private equity funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group became the beneficial owner of more than 66% of Vanguard’s common stock, to refinance Vanguard’s previous indebtedness and to pay fees and expenses relating thereto; (2) $150.0 million that was borrowed on December 31, 2004 and February 18, 2005, to finance in part the acquisition in December 2004 of three hospitals in Massachusetts, to fund working capital and capital expenditures in connection with such acquisition and to fund other capital expenditures, and (3) $175.0 million that was borrowed on September 16, 2005 and September 22, 2005, to fund capital expenditures. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, the Vanguard Borrowers may request an incremental term loan facility to be added to the existing senior credit facilities in an amount not to exceed $300.0 million in the aggregate, subject to receipt of commitments by existing lenders or other financing institutions and to the satisfaction of certain -2- other conditions. The term loan borrowings under the senior credit facilities currently bear interest at a rate equal to, at Vanguard’s option, a base rate plus 2.25% per annum or LIBOR plus 3.25% per annum. The borrowings under the revolving credit facility currently bear interest at a rate equal to, at Vanguard’s option, either a base rate plus 1.00% per annum or LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum, subject to an increase of up to 0.50% per annum should Vanguard’s leverage ratio increase over certain designated levels. The applicable margin for borrowings under the initial term loan facility was and is, during the period September 24, 2004 to September 25, 2005, not subject to adjustment. However, as previously announced, on August 25, 2005 Vanguard received commitments from lenders pursuant to an amendment to these senior credit facilities to refinance on September 26, 2005 the $795,687,500 of term loans which are outstanding under such credit facilities, with new replacement term loans in the same amount bearing interest at a rate equal to, at Vanguard’s option, a base rate plus 1.25% per annum or LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum. These new interest rates reflect a savings of 1.00% per annum over the current interest rate options for term loans under the senior credit facilities. The amendment made no change to the revolving credit facility. The ability of the Vanguard Borrowers to consummate the refinancing of their outstanding term loans under the senior credit facilities is subject to certain conditions, and there can be no assurances that all of such conditions will be satisfied. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the senior credit facilities, the Vanguard Borrowers are required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the revolving credit facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum. The Vanguard Borrowers were also required to pay commitment fees to the lenders under the initial term loan facility at a rate equal to 2.25% per annum in respect of the unutilized commitments under the $175.0 million delayed draw term loan facility. The senior credit facilities contain a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, Vanguard’s ability, and the ability of its subsidiaries, to sell assets, incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock, repay other indebtedness, pay dividends and distributions or repurchase its capital stock, create liens on assets, make investments, loans or advances, make certain acquisitions, engage in mergers or consolidations, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, engage in certain transactions with affiliates, amend certain material agreements governing its indebtedness, change the business conducted by its subsidiaries and enter into hedging agreements. In addition, the senior credit facilities require Vanguard to maintain the following financial covenants: a maximum total leverage ratio, a maximum senior leverage ratio, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum capital expenditures limitation. The senior -3- credit facilities also contain certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default customary for senior credit facilities of this type, including failure to pay principal and interest when due, breach of covenants, bankruptcy or insolvency, default in payment of principal of or interest on any other indebtedness in excess of $10 million when due, the occurrence of specified ERISA events, entry of enforceable judgments not paid or stayed in excess of $10 million and the occurrence of a change of control, as defined. If an event of default occurs, all obligations of the Vanguard Borrowers under the senior credit facilities could be accelerated by the required lenders, as defined. Principal amounts outstanding under the initial term loan facility are payable each year in quarterly installments in an amount equal to ¼ of 1.0% of the then aggregate amount of all borrowings until June 30, 2011, with the remaining amount payable on September 23, 2011. Principal amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility are due and payable in full at maturity on September 23, 2010. All obligations under the senior credit facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by Vanguard, VHS Holdco I and, subject to certain exceptions, each of Vanguard’s existing and future domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries, referred to collectively as the U.S. Guarantors. The guarantee by Vanguard of the obligations under the senior credit facilities will be released automatically upon the release of Vanguard from its guarantees of the $575 million of 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 issued on September 23, 2004 by the Vanguard Borrowers and the $216 million of 11-1/4% Senior Discount Notes 2015 issued on September 23, 2004 by VHS Holdco I and Vanguard Holding Company I, Inc. Vanguard's guarantees of such Notes may be released at any time at the option of Vanguard and such subsidiaries which are the issuers of the Notes. All obligations under the senior credit facilities and the guarantees of those obligations are secured by substantially all the assets of VHS Holdco II and of each U.S. Guarantor, including, but not limited to, the following, and subject to certain exceptions: •a pledge of 100% of the membership interests of VHS Holdco II, 100%
of the capital stock of substantially all U.S. Guarantors (other than VHS
Holdco I), and 65% of the capital stock of each of VHS Holdco II's non-
U.S. subsidiaries that are directly owned by VHS Holdco II or one of the
U.S. Guarantors; and •a security interest in substantially all tangible and intangible assets of
VHS Holdco II and each U.S. Guarantor. The foregoing description of the senior credit facilities does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of (1) the -4- Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 2004, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this report; (2) the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of August 15, 2005, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.2 to this report; (3) the Security Agreement dated as of September 23, 2004, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.3 to this report; (4) the Vanguard Guaranty dated as of September 23, 2004, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.4 to this report; (5) the Subsidiaries Guaranty dated as of September 23, 2004, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.5 to this report; and (6) the Pledge Agreement dated as of September 23, 2004, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.6 to this report. |
