STOCK TITAN

HNI (HNI) lines up $1.7B credit facilities to fund Steelcase acquisition and refinance debt

Filing Impact
(Very High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

HNI Corporation entered into a new senior secured Credit Agreement providing a $425,000,000 revolving credit facility, a term loan A facility of up to $500,000,000, and a term loan B facility expected to be up to $800,000,000 on the merger closing date.

These loans may be used to fund the proposed acquisition of Steelcase Inc., refinance existing debt of both companies, and pay related fees and expenses. The revolving and term loan A facilities generally mature on the fifth anniversary of the merger closing, while the term loan B facility matures on the seventh anniversary, all with scheduled amortization and optional prepayments.

Interest on the revolving and term loan A borrowings is based on either an alternate base rate or term SOFR plus a leverage-based margin, with customary financial covenants, leverage and interest coverage tests, and standard events of default that allow lenders to accelerate obligations if triggered.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

HNI secures large, multi-tranche debt package to fund the Steelcase acquisition under covenant-heavy, leveraged terms.

HNI Corporation arranged a senior secured credit package comprising a $425,000,000 revolving facility, a term loan A facility up to $500,000,000, and a term loan B facility expected to be up to $800,000,000 on the acquisition closing date. Proceeds can fund Steelcase Inc.’s purchase price, refinance both companies’ existing indebtedness, and cover transaction costs.

The structure staggers maturities, with the revolving and term loan A facilities generally due on the fifth anniversary of the closing date and the term loan B facility on the seventh, plus scheduled quarterly amortization. Pricing for the revolving and term loan A facilities is tied to term SOFR or an alternate base rate, with margins stepping between 0.25% and 1.875% based on the net leverage ratio, and a 0% floor on term SOFR.

Covenants include maximum net leverage and minimum interest coverage ratios, along with limits on additional indebtedness, liens, asset sales, and affiliate transactions. Standard events of default, including change of control and cross-defaults, permit lenders to accelerate amounts due, so the combined company’s ability to manage leverage and maintain covenant compliance after the Steelcase acquisition will be an important operational and financial focus.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement Financial
The company incurred a new significant debt or off-balance-sheet obligation.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
false 0000048287 0000048287 2025-09-05 2025-09-05 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 5, 2025

 

HNI Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Iowa 001-14225 42-0617510
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

600 East Second Street

P. O. Box 1109

Muscatine, Iowa 52761-0071

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(563) 272-7400 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock HNI New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Credit Agreement

 

On September 5, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), HNI Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Credit Agreement, by and among the Company, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and U.S. Bank National Association as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners, U.S. Bank National Association, Truist Bank and TD Bank, N.A., as co-documentation agents for the Revolving Facility (as defined below) and the TLA Facility (as defined below) and U.S. Bank National Association, Truist Securities, Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC as co-documentation agents for the TLB Facility (as defined below) (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement establishes (i) a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $425,000,000 (the “Revolving Facility”, and the loans thereunder, the “Revolving Loans”) (which may be increased from time to time pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, the Credit Agreement), (ii) a senior secured “term loan A” credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $500,000,000 (the “TLA Facility”, and the loans thereunder, the “Term A Loans”) (which may be increased from time to time pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, the Credit Agreement) and (iii) a senior secured “term loan B” credit facility in an aggregate amount of $0 on the Effective Date and which, on the Closing Date (as defined below) is expected to be up to $800,000,000 (the “TLB Facility”, and the loans thereunder, the “Term B Loans”) (which may be increased from time to time pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, the Credit Agreement).

 

Subject to the satisfaction of certain limited conditions, the Revolving Loans, Term A Loans and Term B Loans (collectively, the “Loans”) under the Credit Agreement may be borrowed and the proceeds used by the Company for the consummation of the proposed merger (the “Acquisition”), including the payment of a portion of the consideration for the Acquisition, the repayment of existing indebtedness of the Company and Target (as defined below) and the payment of fees, costs, commissions and expenses in connection with the foregoing, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (including all schedules and exhibits thereto, the “Acquisition Agreement”), dated as of August 3, 2025, by and among the Company, Geranium Merger Sub I, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Merger Sub Inc.”), Geranium Merger Sub II, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“Merger Sub LLC”), and Steelcase Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Steelcase” or “Target”), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Merger Sub Inc. will be merged (the “First Merger”) with and into Steelcase, with Steelcase surviving the First Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Surviving Corporation”), (ii) immediately after the First Merger, the Surviving Corporation will be merged (the “Second Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”) (the date of consummation of the Mergers, the “Closing Date”) with and into Merger Sub LLC, with Merger Sub LLC surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

The commitments under the Revolving Facility terminate on the earliest to occur of: (a) the Revolving Loan Maturity Date (as defined below), (b) the date on which the Administrative Agent receives written notice of the termination or expiration of the Acquisition Agreement prior to the closing of the Acquisition, (c) the date on which the Acquisition is consummated without the making of the Term A Loans and Term B Loans and (d) 5:00 p.m., Chicago, Illinois time, on the fifth (5th) Business Day following the “Termination Date” (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement as in effect as of August 3, 2025 and determined after giving effect to extensions thereto as set forth in the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on such date) (the foregoing clauses (b) through (d), the “Acquisition Termination Date”) (such earliest date, the “RCF Commitment Termination Date”). The commitments under the TLA Facility and TLB Facility terminate on the earliest to occur of (a) the Acquisition Termination Date and (b) the Closing Date after the funding of the Term A Loans and Term B Loans (such earlier date, the “Term Loan Commitment Termination Date”).

 

 

 

The principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Term A Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be due and payable on the earlier of the (a) fifth anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Revolving Maturity Date” or “TLA Maturity Date”) or (b) a customary springing maturity date. Commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, the Company is required to repay the Term A Loans in quarterly installments equal to the following amounts per annum of the original principal amount of the Term A Loans: (i) during the first year following the Closing Date, 2.5%, (ii) during the second and third years following the Closing Date, 5.0%, (iii) during the fourth year following the Closing Date, 7.5% and (iv) during the fifth year following the Closing Date, 10.0%, with the remaining principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest being due and payable on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

The principal amount of the Term B Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be due and payable on the earlier of the (a) seventh anniversary of the Closing Date or (b) a customary springing maturity date. The TLB Facility will amortize on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to 0.25% per quarter, commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, with the remaining principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest being due and payable on the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

After the Closing Date, the Loans may be prepaid by the Company at any time in whole or in part, subject to certain minimum thresholds, subject to (i) a prepayment fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate principal amount of such prepayment in connection with certain prepayments or amendments that have the primary purpose of decreasing the all-in yield applicable to the Term B Loans within the first six months following the Closing Date and (ii) customary breakage costs for certain types of loans.

 

The Company is obligated to pay customary closing fees, arrangement fees and administration fees for a credit facility of this size and type. In addition, the Company is required to pay a ticking fee on undrawn commitments in respect of the Revolving Facility and TLA Facility. Ticking fees for the TLB Facility may be determined based on market conditions.

 

Borrowings under the Revolving Facility and TLA Facility will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either: (a) the alternate base rate, which is defined as a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the prime rate then in effect, (ii) the federal funds rate then in effect, plus 0.50% per annum, and (iii) the term SOFR rate determined on the basis of a one-month interest period, plus 1.00%, in each case, plus a margin of between 0.25% and 0.875%; and (b) the term SOFR rate (based on one, three or six month interest periods), plus a margin of between 1.25% and 1.875%. The term SOFR rate shall be subject to a floor of 0% and the alternate base rate shall be subject to a floor of 1.00%. The applicable margin in each case is determined based on the Company’s net leverage ratio at such time. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears with respect to borrowings bearing interest at the alternate base rate or on the last day of an interest period, but at least every three months, with respect to borrowings bearing interest at the term SOFR rate.

 

Borrowings under the TLB Facility will bear interest at a rate per annum to be determined based on market conditions.

 

The Credit Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties by the Company, which include customary materiality, material adverse effect and knowledge qualifiers. The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants including, among other requirements, limitations on indebtedness, liens, nature of business, mergers, sale of assets and indebtedness of subsidiaries, advances, investments and loans, transactions with affiliates, fiscal year, organizational documents, limitations restricted actions and negative pledges. Further, the Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require the maintenance of a maximum net leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio.

 

 

 

The Credit Agreement contains events of default that include, among others, non-payment of principal, interest or fees, breach of covenants, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, cross defaults to certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency events, material judgments, and events constituting a change of control. If any principal is not paid when due, interest on such amount will accrue at an increased rate. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the lenders may accelerate the Company's obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
10.1   Credit Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2025, among HNI Corporation, as borrower, certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

     

HNI CORPORATION

 

Date: September 5, 2025   By /s/ Vincent Paul Berger II
       

Vincent Paul Berger II

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

FAQ

What new credit facilities did HNI (HNI) obtain in this agreement?

HNI Corporation secured three senior secured facilities: a $425,000,000 revolving credit facility, a term loan A facility up to $500,000,000, and a term loan B facility expected to be up to $800,000,000. These facilities provide substantial committed financing capacity for strategic and refinancing uses.

How will HNI (HNI) use the proceeds of the new loans?

Loan proceeds may fund the proposed acquisition of Steelcase Inc., repay existing indebtedness of HNI and Steelcase, and cover related fees, costs, commissions, and expenses. The Credit Agreement links these facilities directly to consummating the two-step merger structure described.

What are the maturities of HNI’s new revolving and term loans?

The revolving loans and term loan A borrowings generally mature on the fifth anniversary of the merger closing date, while the term loan B borrowings mature on the seventh anniversary. Both term facilities also require scheduled quarterly amortization before final maturity.

How is interest determined on HNI’s new revolving and term loan A facilities?

Borrowings accrue interest at either an alternate base rate plus a 0.25%–0.875% margin or term SOFR plus a 1.25%–1.875% margin. The applicable margin depends on HNI’s net leverage ratio, with a 0% floor on term SOFR and a 1.00% floor on the alternate base rate.

What key covenants apply under HNI’s new Credit Agreement?

The agreement includes financial covenants requiring a maximum net leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio, plus customary restrictions on additional debt, liens, asset sales, mergers, investments, and affiliate transactions. Breaches or certain adverse events can constitute defaults allowing lenders to accelerate obligations.

How does the Credit Agreement relate to HNI’s acquisition of Steelcase?

The facilities are structured to support HNI’s proposed acquisition of Steelcase Inc. through two merger steps involving dedicated merger subsidiaries. Commitments under the term facilities and revolving facility terminate if the acquisition agreement ends or if the transaction closes under specified conditions.