Rackspace Technology Announces Launch of Exchange Offer Relating to its 3.50% First-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2028
Rackspace Technology announces offers to exchange and purchase certain existing secured notes, along with funding offers for new senior secured first lien term loans. The exchange offer includes considerations for early and late participation, with details on interest payments and settlement dates.
The announcement by Rackspace Technology regarding the exchange and funding offers for its 3.50% First-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2028 represents a strategic financial maneuver aimed at optimizing the company's capital structure. By offering to exchange existing notes for new ones and to purchase some for cash, Rackspace is potentially reducing future interest payments and extending the maturity of its debt. This could improve liquidity and financial flexibility, which are essential for funding ongoing operations and investments in hybrid, multicloud and AI technology solutions.
However, the impact on the stock market will largely depend on investor perception of the company's creditworthiness and the attractiveness of the new terms being offered. If the market views this as a sign of financial strength and confidence in the company's future cash flows, it could lead to a positive reaction in Rackspace's stock price. Conversely, if the exchange is perceived as a way to manage problematic debt levels, it could be seen unfavorably. The details of the offer, such as the original issue discount on the new term loans, suggest a careful approach to incentivize participation without significantly increasing the company's cost of capital.
The timing and structure of Rackspace's debt exchange offer may reflect broader market conditions and investor appetite for corporate debt, particularly in the technology sector. The company's decision to not accept partial tenders could indicate a desire for a clean transaction process and a strong push to restructure its debt obligations in a decisive manner. The move to offer a cash purchase option alongside the exchange could appeal to a wider range of debt holders, potentially increasing the likelihood of a successful offer.
It's also worth noting the strategic use of an early participation incentive, which is a common tactic to encourage prompt decision-making among bondholders. This could expedite the process and provide Rackspace with a clearer picture of its future debt profile sooner rather than later. The company's ability to successfully navigate this exchange offer could signal to the market its competence in managing complex financial operations, which may have positive implications for its reputation among investors and analysts.
The exchange offer's reliance on exemptions from registration under the Securities Act indicates a targeted approach to engage with institutional investors and non-U.S. persons, which aligns with the common practice of private placements in corporate finance. By limiting the offer to qualified institutional buyers and those complying with Regulation S, Rackspace is adhering to the legal framework designed to facilitate transactions with sophisticated investors while mitigating regulatory risks.
The use of a confidential exchange offering memorandum and the engagement of a transaction agent further underscore the company's commitment to due diligence and regulatory compliance. The legal intricacies of such offers, including the precise timing and withdrawal rights, are crafted to provide clarity and fairness to all participants while ensuring the company's actions are within the bounds of securities laws. This careful legal structuring is crucial for minimizing the risk of disputes and ensuring a smooth transaction process.
03/14/2024 - 04:15 PM
SAN ANTONIO, March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rackspace Technology® (NASDAQ: RXT) (“Rackspace” or the “Company”), a leading end-to-end hybrid, multicloud, and AI technology solutions company, through its indirect subsidiary Rackspace Finance, LLC (the “New Issuer”), today announced offers to eligible holders in respect of any and all of the 3.50% First-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Existing Secured Notes”) issued by its indirect subsidiary Rackspace Technology Global, Inc., to (i) (A) exchange certain of those Existing Secured Notes for new 3.50% FLSO Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Exchange Notes”) issued by the New Issuer and (B) have purchased for cancellation certain of those Existing Secured Notes by the New Issuer for cash (collectively, the “Exchange Offer”), and (ii) fund (the “Funding Offer” and, together with the Exchange Offer, the “Offers”) new senior secured first lien first out term loans (the “New FLFO Term Loans”) of the New Issuer.
The following table summarizes certain terms of the Exchange Offer, including the consideration eligible holders will receive in respect of the Existing Secured Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Time (as defined herein) and after the Early Participation Time. Eligible holders must validly tender (and not validly withdraw) all of such holder’s Existing Secured Notes to participate in the Exchange Offer. Partial tenders of Existing Secured Notes will not be accepted.
CUSIP Numbers(1) Early Exchange Consideration for each $1,000 Principal Amount of Existing Secured Notes Tendered on or Prior to the Early Participation Time Late Exchange Consideration for each $1,000 Principal Amount of Existing Secured Notes Tendered After the Early Participation Time With respect to $700 Principal Amount of Existing Secured Notes With respect to $300 Principal Amount of Existing Secured Notes With respect to $670 Principal Amount of Existing Secured Notes With respect to $330 Principal Amount of Existing Secured Notes 750098 AB1 $700 of Exchange Notes(2) $0.78 75 in cash (the “Early Payment Amount”)(3) $670 of Exchange Notes(2) $0.78 75 in cash (the “Late Payment Amount”)(3)
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(2) Holders of Existing Secured Notes that are accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be entitled to receive accrued and unpaid interest in cash on the Existing Secured Notes exchanged for Exchange Notes up to, but excluding, March 12, 2024. Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from March 12, 2024, with the first interest payment occurring on August 15, 2024.
(3) No additional payment will be made for accrued and unpaid interest on Existing Secured Notes purchased and cancelled for the Early Payment Amount or the Late Payment Amount (together with the Early Payment Amount, the “Payment Amounts”), as applicable.
Eligible holders who tender (and do not validly withdraw) all of their Existing Secured Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 28, 2024 (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the “Early Participation Time”), and their Existing Secured Notes are accepted, will receive the Early Exchange Consideration described above. The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 11, 2024 (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the “Expiration Time”). Eligible holders who tender (and do not validly withdraw) all of their Existing Secured Notes after the Early Participation Time but at or prior to the Expiration Time, and their Existing Secured Notes are accepted, will receive the Late Exchange Consideration described above.
Eligible holders that validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) all of such holder’s Existing Secured Notes in the Exchange Offer at or prior to the Early Participation Time (“Participating Eligible Holders”) will have the right to purchase New FLFO Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $102.04 481 per $1,000 principal amount of Existing Secured Notes tendered by the Eligible Holder. The purchase price to receive the New FLFO Term Loans is a cash payment equal to $101.02 436 per $1,000 principal amount of Existing Secured Notes tendered by such Participating Eligible Holder (which reflects an original issue discount of 1.0% ) (the “Funding Amount”). Participating Eligible Holders may elect to participate in the Funding Offer by properly completing and delivering to the Transaction Agent (as defined herein) certain lender documentation at or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 28, 2024 (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the “Funding Election Time”) and, promptly following the Funding Election Time, the Fronting Lender (as defined herein) will enter into a trade with each such holder validly participating in the Funding Offer for the delivery of the Funding Amount and settlement of the New FLFO Term Loans. The New FLFO Term Loans are currently held by the Fronting Lender; as a result, any holder validly participating in the Funding Offer will receive its New FLFO Term Loans from the Fronting Lender. Eligible holders may participate in the Exchange Offer without participating in the Funding Offer or delivering the lender documentation, and the New Issuer may accept validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Existing Secured Notes from an eligible holder pursuant to the Exchange Offer that fails to deliver the Funding Amount in connection with the Funding Offer.
Tenders of Existing Secured Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be validly withdrawn, together with a recission of any Funding Amounts delivered pursuant to the Funding Offer, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 28, 2024 (as the same may be extended) but not thereafter, except as required by law.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offers, for Existing Secured Notes that are validly tendered at or prior to the Early Participation Time and not subsequently validly withdrawn and that are accepted in the Exchange Offer, the settlement date is expected to occur promptly after the Early Participation Time (the “Early Settlement Date”). The Early Settlement Date is expected to occur on April 2, 2024 (the third business day after the Early Participation Time). For Existing Secured Notes that have been validly tendered after the Early Participation Time but at or prior to the Expiration Time and not subsequently validly withdrawn and that are accepted in the Exchange Offer, the settlement date is expected to occur promptly after the Expiration Time (the “Final Settlement Date”). The Final Settlement Date is expected to occur on April 15, 2024 (the second business day after the Expiration Time). The Early Settlement Date or Final Settlement Date may change without notice.
The Exchange Offer is only being made, and the Exchange Notes are only being offered and issued to holders of Existing Secured Notes who are (x) reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or (y) not “U.S. persons,” as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The holders of Existing Secured Notes who are eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer pursuant to at least one of the foregoing conditions are referred to as “eligible holders.”
The New Issuer is making the Offers only to eligible holders through, and pursuant to, the terms of a confidential exchange offering memorandum, dated March 14, 2024 (the “Offering Memorandum”). The complete terms and conditions of the Offers are set forth in the Offering Memorandum. None of Rackspace, the New Issuer, the Guarantors (as defined in the Offering Memorandum), the Transaction Agent, the Fronting Lender or any other person takes any position or makes any recommendation as to whether or not eligible holders should participate in the Offers.
Only eligible holders may receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum and participate in the Offers. We have retained Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC (the “Transaction Agent” or “Epiq”) to act as transaction agent for the Offers and Jefferies Capital Services, LLC to act as the fronting lender for the Funding Offer (the “Fronting Lender”). Holders of Existing Secured Notes wishing to certify that they are eligible holders in order to be eligible to receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum should complete the eligibility letter and return it to Epiq as directed therein. Holders of Existing Secured Notes may complete the eligibility letter on-line at https://epiqworkflow.com/cases/RackspaceEL or obtain a PDF copy of the eligibility letter by requesting a copy from tabulation@epiqglobal.com and referencing “Rackspace” in the subject line. The eligibility letter can be returned via the online portal or by emailing a scan of both pages of the fully completed letter to Epiq at Tabulation@epiqglobal.com and referencing “Rackspace” in the subject line. Once your response has been reviewed and cleared by Epiq, you will receive the Offering Memorandum from Epiq by email.
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Exchange Offer is being made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, has not been registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and relies on exemptions under state securities laws.
About Rackspace Technology
Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end hybrid, multicloud, and AI technology solutions company. We design, build, and operate our customers’ cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products, and adopt innovative technologies.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Company has made statements in this press release that are forward-looking and therefore subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are, or could be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided thereunder. These forward-looking statements include statements related to the Offers and the Company’s ability to consummate the Offers within the time period expected, or at all. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Forward-looking statements can be identified by various words such as “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “continue,” “propose,” “seeks,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “might,” “goals,” “objectives,” “targets,” “planned,” “projects,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. The Company cautions that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of its control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this press release, including among others, risk factors that are described in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the SEC, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein.
Media Contact
Natalie Silvapublicrelations@rackspace.com
Investor Relations Contact
Sagar Hebbarir@rackspace.com
What does Rackspace Technology announce in the press release?
Rackspace Technology announces offers to exchange and purchase certain existing secured notes, along with funding offers for new senior secured first lien term loans.
What are the details of the exchange offer?
The exchange offer includes considerations for early and late participation, with details on interest payments and settlement dates.
What is the eligibility criteria for participating in the exchange offer?
The exchange offer is only being made to eligible holders who are 'qualified institutional buyers' or 'non-U.S. persons' as defined in the Offering Memorandum.
Who is acting as the transaction agent for the offers?
Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC is acting as the transaction agent for the offers.
Is the exchange offer registered with the SEC?
The exchange offer is being made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and has not been registered with the SEC.
