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Long-Term Debt, Finance Leases, and Other Borrowings
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt, Finance Leases, and Other Borrowings
8.
Long-Term Debt, Finance Leases, and Other Borrowings

Long-term debt as of December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable to secured parties, due in semi-annual installments, interest based on SOFR plus interest spread at 4.75% to 6.25% through 2028, collateralized by the underlying aircraft

 

$

85,469

 

 

$

85,469

 

Notes payable to secured parties, due in quarterly installments, interest based on SOFR plus interest at spread 2.20% to 2.32% for senior note & 4.50% for subordinated note through 2028, collateralized by the underlying aircraft

 

 

 

 

 

73,884

 

Revolving credit facility, quarterly interest based on SOFR plus interest spread at 4.50% through 2028

 

33,018

 

 

 

37,520

 

Other obligations due to financial institution, monthly and/or quarterly interest due from 2022 through 2031, collateralized by the underlying equipment

 

 

 

 

 

4,681

 

Notes payable to the UST, quarterly interest based on SOFR plus interest spread at 3.50% through 2025

 

 

112,121

 

 

 

113,656

 

Gross long-term debt, including current maturities

 

 

230,608

 

 

 

315,210

 

Less unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(1,433

)

 

 

(2,395

)

Less notes payable warrants

 

 

(2,114

)

 

 

(2,544

)

Net long-term debt, including current maturities

 

 

227,061

 

 

 

310,271

 

Less current portion, net of unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(143,275

)

 

 

(50,455

)

Net long-term debt

 

$

83,786

 

 

$

259,816

 

Principal maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2024, and for each of the next five years are as follows (in thousands):

Periods Ending September 30,

 

Total Principal

 

2025 (remainder of)

 

$

30,326

 

2026

 

 

144,055

 

2027

 

 

31,725

 

2028

 

 

11,961

 

2029

 

 

12,541

 

 

$

230,608

 

The carrying value of collateralized aircraft and equipment as of December 31, 2024 was approximately $217.4 million.

Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate ("EETC")

In December 2015, an Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate ("EETC") pass-through trust was created to issue pass-through certificates to obtain financing for new E-175 aircraft. As of December 31, 2024, we had $85.5 million of equipment notes outstanding issued under the EETC financing included in long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The structure of the EETC financing consists of a pass-through trust created by Mesa to issue pass-through certificates, which represent fractional undivided interests in the pass-through trust and are not obligations of Mesa.

The proceeds of the issuance of the pass-through certificates were used to purchase equipment notes which were issued by Mesa and secured by its aircraft. The payment obligations under the equipment notes are those of Mesa. Proceeds received from the sale of pass-through certificates were initially held by a depositary in escrow for the benefit of the certificate holders until Mesa issued equipment notes to the trust, which purchased such notes with a portion of the escrowed funds.

We evaluated whether the pass-through trust formed for the EETC financing is a Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") and required to be consolidated. We have determined we do not have a variable interest in the pass-through trust, and therefore, we have not consolidated the pass-through trust with our financial statements.

Subsequent to December 31, 2024, United assumed the EETC note as part of its purchase of the remaining 10 E-175 aircraft in the E-175 Aircraft Purchase Agreement with United.

United Revolving Credit Facility

On December 27, 2022, in connection with entering into the Amended and Restated United CPA, (i) United agreed to purchase and assume all of First Citizens’ rights and obligations as a lender under the Existing Facility pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, (ii) United and CIT Bank agreed to amend the Existing Facility pursuant to an Amendment No. 1, dated December 27, 2022 (“Amendment No. 1”), and an Amendment No. 2, dated January 27, 2023 (“Amendment No. 2”; the Existing Facility as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, the "Amended Facility"), and (iii) Wilmington Trust, National Association agreed to assume all of CIT Bank’s rights and obligations as Administrative Agent pursuant to an Agency Resignation, Appointment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2023. Amendment No. 1, among other things, extends the Maturity Date from the earlier to occur of November 30, 2028, or the date of the termination of the Amended and Restated United CPA; provides for a revolving loan of $10.5 million plus fees and expenses, which is due January 31, 2024, subject to certain mandatory prepayment requirements; provides for Revolving Commitments equal to $30.7 million plus the original principal amount of the $10.5 million revolving loan; amortization of the obligations outstanding under the existing CIT Agreement commencing quarterly until March 31, 2025; and a covenant capping Restricted Payments (as defined in the Amended Facility) at $5.0 million per fiscal year, a consolidated interest and rental coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 covenant, and a Liquidity (as defined in the Amended Facility) requirement of not less than $15.0 million at the close of any business day. Subsequent to June 30, 2024, United agreed to grant the Company a waiver on the $15.0 million minimum liquidity requirement through December 31, 2024. Interest assessed under the Amended Facility is 3.50% for Base Rate Loans and 4.50% for Term SOFR Loans (as such terms are defined in the Amended Facility). Amendment No. 2, among other things, amends the definition of Controlled Account (as defined in the Amended Facility). Amounts borrowed under this Amended Facility are secured by a collateral pool consisting of a combination of expendable parts, rotable parts and engines and a pledge of the Company’s stock in certain aviation companies. United funded $25.5 million as of the closing date of Amendment No. 1, to be used for general corporate purposes.

The United line of credit contains an additional deemed prepayment of $15 million with potential forgiveness upon the achievement of a certain number of block hours as well as maintaining a CCF of at least 99.3% over any rolling four-month period from April 2023 through December 2025. In order to earn forgiveness on the deemed prepayment, we must also have repaid the bridge loan in full. During fiscal year 2024, the bridge loan was repaid in full, and $10.5 million of the potential $15 million achieved was recognized as a deemed prepayment. The remaining $4.5 million was recognized as a deemed prepayment during the three months ended December 31, 2024.

On September 6, 2023, the Company amended the existing United Credit Facility to (i) permit the Company to re-draw approximately $7.9 million of the Effective Date Bridge Loan (as defined in the United Credit Facility) previously repaid; (ii) increased the amount of Revolving Commitments (as defined in the United Credit Facility) from $30.7 million to $50.7 million, in each case, plus the original principal amount of the Effective Date Bridge Loan and subject to the Borrowing Base (as defined in the United Credit Facility); and (iii) amended the calculation of the Borrowing Base. Amounts borrowed under this facility bear interest at 3.50% for Base Rate Loans and 4.50% per annum for Term SOFR Loans. Amounts borrowed under the Amended Credit Facility are secured by a collateral pool consisting of a combination of expendable parts, rotable parts and engines, a pledge of certain of the Company’s bank accounts and a pledge of the Company’s stock in certain aviation companies.

Loan Agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury

On October 30, 2020, we entered into a loan and guarantee agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) for a secured loan facility of up to $200.0 million that matures in October 2025 (“the Treasury Loan”). During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we borrowed an aggregate of $195.0 million. No further borrowings are available under the Treasury Loan.

The Treasury Loan bears interest at a variable rate equal to (a)(i) the SOFR rate divided by (ii) one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage plus (b) 3.50%. Accrued interest on the loans is payable in arrears, or paid-in-kind by increasing the principal balance of the loan by such interest payment, on the first business day following the 14th day of each March, June, September, and December. As of December 31, 2024, the all-in rate was 8.12%.

All principal amounts outstanding under the Treasury Loan are due and payable in a single installment on October 30, 2025. Commencing in June 2022, we initiated the payment of interest in lieu of increasing the principal amount of the loan. Our obligations under the Treasury Loan are secured by certain aircraft, aircraft engines, accounts receivable, ground service equipment, flight simulators, and tooling (collectively, the “Collateral”). The obligations under the Treasury Loan are guaranteed by the Company and Mesa Air Group Inventory Management. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes and operating expenses, to the extent permitted by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Voluntary prepayments of the Treasury Loan may be made, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, at any time and from time to time. Amounts prepaid may not be reborrowed. Mandatory prepayments of the Treasury Loan are required, without premium or penalty, to the extent necessary to comply with the covenants discussed below, certain dispositions of the Collateral, certain debt issuances secured by liens on the Collateral, and certain insurance payments related to the Collateral. In addition, if a “change of control” (as defined in the Treasury Loan) occurs with respect to Mesa Airlines, we will be required to repay the loans outstanding under the Treasury Loan.

The Treasury Loan requires us, under certain circumstances, including within 10 business days prior to the last business day of March and September of each year beginning March 2021, to appraise the value of the Collateral and recalculate the collateral coverage ratio. If the calculated collateral coverage ratio is less than 1.55 to 1.0, we are required either to provide additional Collateral (which may include cash collateral) to secure the obligations under the Treasury Loan or repay the term loans under the Treasury Loan, in such amounts that the recalculated collateral coverage ratio, after giving effect to any such additional Collateral or repayment, is at least 1.55 to 1.0. On December 23, 2024, we entered into an agreement with the UST to lower the minimum collateral coverage ratio ("CCR") covenant to .99 to 1.0 effective as of November 22, 2024 through February 28, 2025. After such date, the CCR will revert to 1.55 to 1.0. The agreement also requires the Company to use its reasonable best efforts to cause counterparties to all Receivables (as defined in the Treasury Loan) (whether or not constituting “Eligible Receivables” (as defined in the Treasury Loan)) of the Company to be paid to the Eligible Receivables Account (as defined in the Treasury Loan). Receivables generated from the sale of assets that are not Collateral (as defined in the Treasury Loan) are excluded from the scope of the foregoing requirement. We are in compliance with this covenant as of December 31, 2024.

 

The Treasury Loan contains two (2) financial covenants, a minimum collateral coverage ratio and a minimum liquidity level. The Treasury Loan also contains customary negative and affirmative covenants for credit facilities of this type, including, among others: (a) limitations on dividends and distributions; (b) limitations on the creation of certain liens; (c) restrictions on certain dispositions, investments, and acquisitions; (d) limitations on transactions with affiliates; (e) restrictions on fundamental changes to the business, and (f) restrictions on lobbying activities. Additionally, we are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the CARES Act, including limits on employment level reductions after September 30, 2020, restrictions on dividends and stock buybacks, limitations on executive compensation, and requirements to maintain certain levels of scheduled service.

In connection with the Treasury Loan and as partial compensation to the U.S. Treasury for the provision of financial assistance under the Treasury Loan, we issued to the U.S. Treasury warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,899,497 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $3.98 per share, which was the closing price of the common stock on April 9, 2020. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable under the warrants are subject to adjustment as a result of anti-dilution provisions contained in the warrants for certain stock issuances, dividends, and other corporate actions. The warrants expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance and are exercisable either through net share settlement or net cash settlement, at our option. The fair value of the warrants was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and recorded in stockholders' equity with an offsetting debt discount to the Treasury Loan in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.