Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. current report, 05 April 2019

Business Context and Reporting Period

Company: Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.
Filing Type: Form 8-K (Current Report)
Date of Report: April 5, 2019
Context: The Company entered into Amendment No. 16 to its Credit Agreement and a Letter Agreement regarding equitization transactions to address liquidity needs, specifically to fund settlement agreements for European Völund loss projects and working capital.

Key Financial Metrics and Capital Structure

  • New Debt Commitments: $150.0 million in additional Tranche A-3 last out term loans from B. Riley FBR, Inc.
  • Incremental Facility: Up to $15.0 million uncommitted facility.
  • Interest Rates (Last Out Term Loans):
    • Standard: 7.5% cash + 8% payable in kind (PIK).
    • Prepayment Period (if Rights Offering completed within 6 months): 12% cash.
    • Failure to Complete Rights Offering: 7.5% cash + 10.5% PIK.
  • Original Issue Discount: 3.2% of gross cash proceeds for Tranche A-3 loans.
  • Liquidity Covenant: Minimum liquidity requirement reduced from $40.0 million to $30.0 million.
  • Maturity Date: Extended to December 31, 2020 for all last out term loans.
  • Loss Basket: Reset to $10.0 million for certain Völund contracts.

Material Changes and Agreements

The filing details significant changes to the Company's capital structure and governance:

  • Equitization Transactions: A Letter Agreement was signed to effect:
    • Rights Offering: $50.0 million offering at $0.30 per share to prepay Tranche A-3 loans.
    • Debt Exchange: Exchange of Tranche A-1 loans for common stock at $0.30 per share.
    • Warrant Issuance: 16,667,667 warrants issued to B. Riley at $0.01 exercise price.
    • Backstop: B. Riley committed to backstop unsubscribed shares in the Rights Offering.
  • Corporate Actions: Proposed 1:10 reverse stock split and increase in authorized shares to 500.0 million, subject to shareholder approval.
  • Governance Changes: B. Riley and Vintage Capital Management LLC (significant stockholders) will negotiate rights to nominate up to three directors each and receive pre-emptive rights on future equity issuances.
  • Covenant Modifications: EBITDA definition modified to include addbacks for Völund losses and amendment fees; interest coverage and leverage ratio requirements changed.

Outlook, Risks, and Contingencies

  • Shareholder Approval: The Rights Offering, Debt Exchange, Warrant Issuance, reverse stock split, and governance changes are contingent upon shareholder approval at the 2019 Annual Meeting.
  • Going Concern: Forward-looking statements highlight risks regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and obtain sufficient financing.
  • Regulatory and Operational Risks: Risks include failure to obtain regulatory approvals, cancellations of backlog, inability to perform contracts on budget, and limitations on net operating loss carryforwards due to ownership changes.
  • Event of Default: A new event of default was created for failure to terminate the existing revolving credit facility by March 15, 2020.

Investor Verification Checklist

  • Verify the outcome of the shareholder vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting regarding the Equitization Transactions and reverse stock split.
  • Confirm the subscription levels of the $50.0 million Rights Offering and whether B. Riley exercised its backstop commitment.
  • Monitor the Company's ability to meet the new minimum liquidity requirement of $30.0 million.
  • Review the impact of the 3.2% original issue discount and high interest rates (up to 12% cash or 18.5% total with PIK) on future cash flow.
  • Assess the progress of the Völund project settlements and the utilization of the new loss basket.