ITEM 2.03. CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT.
L-3 Communications Corporation (the "Company"), a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3
Communications Holdings, Inc., has completed its offering of $1.0 billion in
aggregate principal amount of 5.20% Senior Notes due 2019 (the "Notes"). In
connection with the offering, on October 2, 2009, the Company and certain
subsidiaries of the Company entered into an indenture with The Bank of New York
Mellon, as trustee (the "Indenture").
Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Notes: (i) were issued at a price to
the public of 99.642% of their principal amount, (ii) will bear interest at a
fixed rate of 5.20% per year, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15
of each year, beginning April 15, 2010 and (iii) will mature on October 15,
2019. The initial interest payment will include accrued interest from October 2,
2009.
The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and will rank equal in
right of payment with all of the Company's existing and future senior
indebtedness. In addition, the Notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis
by each of the Company's material domestic subsidiaries that guarantee any of
its other indebtedness.
The Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to
time, as a whole or in part, at its option at the price and on the terms set
forth in the Indenture. In addition, upon the occurrence of a "Change of Control
Triggering Event," as defined in the Indenture, the Company will be required to
make an offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of their
principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the
date of repurchase.
The Indenture also contains covenants that, among other things, limit the
Company's ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to create or
assume certain liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions, and the
Company's ability to engage in mergers or consolidations and transfer or lease
all or substantially all of our assets. Finally, the Indenture contains
customary events of default.
ITEM 2.04. TRIGGERING EVENTS THAT ACCELERATE OR INCREASE A DIRECT FINANCIAL
OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT.
On October 2, 2009, in connection with the consummation of the Notes
offering described above, the Company initiated a full redemption of its
outstanding $750 million 75/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due in 2012 (the "75/8
Notes"). All 75/8 Notes will be redeemed on November 2, 2009, at a redemption
price of 101.271% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest. Interest on the 75/8 Notes will cease to accrue on and after
November 2, 2009 and the only remaining right of holders of the 75/8 Notes is to
receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the paying agent, plus
accrued and unpaid interest. In connection with the redemption of the 75/8
Notes, the Company will record a noncash debt retirement charge in the fourth
quarter of 2009 of approximately $9.2 million ($5.6 million after income tax) or
$0.05 per diluted share.
A copy of the press release announcing the redemption is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.