On December 1, 2022, Southwest Gas Corporation (the “Company”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the “Parent”), completed a public offering of $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.800% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated November 29, 2022, with BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Notes were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form
S-3
(File
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 2020. The Company received net proceeds from the sale of the Notes of approximately $296,538,000, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay the outstanding amounts under the Company’s credit facility and the remainder for general corporate purposes.
The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”) and a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2022, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides for customary events of default and includes certain covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company’s ability to issue indebtedness for borrowed money secured by a lien and enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions.
The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate equal to 5.800% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year beginning on June 1, 2023. The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and are not guaranteed by the Parent. The Notes rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured debt of Southwest Gas Corporation and senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated debt of Southwest Gas Corporation. The Notes will mature on December 1, 2027. At any time prior to November 1, 2027 (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: (1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a
360-day
year consisting of twelve
30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption; and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date.
The foregoing descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation under an
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of Registrant.
The disclosure set forth under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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| 1.1 |
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Underwriting Agreement, dated November 29, 2022, by and among Southwest Gas Corporation and BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein. |
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| 4.1 |
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Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 1, 2022, by and between Southwest Gas Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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| 4.2 |
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Form of 5.800% Senior Note due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.1) |
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| 5.1 |
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Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP regarding the legality of the Notes |
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| 23.1 |
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Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) |
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| 104 |
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Cover Page formatted in Inline XBRL. |