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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): October 27, 2021 (October 26, 2021)

 

 

 

RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-13079   73-0664379

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

One Gaylord Drive
Nashville, Tennessee

37214
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (615316-6000

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

 

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, par value $.01   RHP   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) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2).

 

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.

 

On October 26, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into Amendment No. 4 (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2019 (the “Base Credit Agreement”), among the Company, as a guarantor, its subsidiary RHP Hotel Properties, LP, as borrower, certain other subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, as guarantors, certain subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, as pledgors, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Base Credit Agreement, effective as of April 23, 2020 (the “First Amendment”), Amendment No. 2 to the Base Credit Agreement, effective as of December 22, 2020 (the “Second Amendment”), and Amendment No. 3 to the Base Credit Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2021 (together with the First Amendment, the Second Amendment and the Base Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

The Fourth Amendment provides for certain amendments to the Credit Agreement, including the following:

 

· Permits the Company to complete an acquisition during the Restricted Period (as defined in the Credit Agreement) using borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) so long as the aggregate amount outstanding under the Revolver is equal to or less than $400,000,000;

 

· Permits the Company to assume certain non-recourse indebtedness during the Restricted Period up to $150,000,000 in connection with an acquisition so long as any such indebtedness is scheduled to mature after March 31, 2025;

 

· Modifies the requirement that all net proceeds received by the Company in connection with certain equity offerings during the Restricted Period be applied to any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and

 

· Increases the Company’s ability to make certain discretionary capital expenditures during the Restricted Period from $75,000,000 in the aggregate to $95,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

No additional revolving credit advances were made at closing. Except as described above, the Company is required to use any proceeds from borrowings drawn during the Restricted Period to fund operating expenses, debt service of the Company and its subsidiaries and permitted capital expenditures and investments.

 

The above summary of the Fourth Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Fourth Amendment, 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 above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

ITEM 8.01 Other Events.

 

On October 26, 2021, the Company announced the proposed acquisition of Block 21, a mixed-use entertainment, lodging, office and retail complex located in downtown Austin, Texas (“Block 21”). A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains statements as to the Company’s beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the pending acquisition of Block 21, and the Company’s expectations for Block 21 upon the closing of the transaction. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include the risks and uncertainties associated with the pending acquisition of Block 21, including, but not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could delay the closing of the Block 21 acquisition, or result in the termination of the agreement for the Block 21 acquisition; adverse effects on the Company’s common stock because of the failure to complete the Block 21 acquisition; and the Company’s ability to borrow funds pursuant to its credit agreement or otherwise obtain cash to fund the acquisition. Other factors that could cause results to differ are described in the filings made from time to time by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and include the risk factors and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements made by it to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

 

 

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

10.1 Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2021, among Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., as a guarantor, RHP Hotel Properties, LP, as borrower, certain other subsidiaries of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. party thereto, as guarantors, certain subsidiaries of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. party thereto, as pledgors, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.

 

99.1 Press Release of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. dated October 26, 2021.
   
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.

 

    RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES, INC.
     
Date:   October 27, 2021   By: /s/ Scott J. Lynn
    Name:   Scott J. Lynn
    Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

  

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 26, 2021, relating to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2019, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2020, as further amended by that certain Amendment No. 2 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2020, and as further amended by that certain Amendment No. 3 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2021 (together, and as otherwise amended, restated, modified, or supplemented prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), by and among RHP HOTEL PROPERTIES, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (together with any permitted successors and assigns, the “Borrower”), RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), the GUARANTORS from time to time party thereto (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (collectively, the “Guarantors”), the PLEDGORS from time to time party to the Pledge Agreement (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (collectively, the “Pledgors”), the LENDERS from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, collectively with its successors and assigns, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Parent and its Subsidiaries desire the ability to acquire certain new Investments, and, in connection therewith, to finance such new Investments with proceeds from, among other things, the proceeds of new Equity Issuances which, pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, requires the consent of the Required Lenders (defined below) during the Restricted Period.

 

In furtherance of the above, the Borrower, the Parent, and the other Loan Parties have requested, and the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders (as defined below) have agreed, to modify certain provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement to, among other things, authorize Borrower or any Consolidated Party to: (i) during the Restricted Period, enter into a single new Investment constituting an acquisition of real property and related assets (and/or the equity interests in one or more entities which owns all or any portion of such real property or related assets) relating to the type of businesses which are not prohibited by Section 8.07; (ii) utilize all or a portion of the proceeds of an Equity Issuance, in part, to finance such new Investment; and (iii) assume certain non-recourse Indebtedness in connection with such Investment, in each case upon the terms more particular set forth herein.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.01 of the Existing Credit Agreement, the Parent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, the Pledgors, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party hereto (representing the Required Lenders required pursuant to Section 11.01 of the Existing Credit Agreement) (collectively, the “Required Lenders”), agree to amend the Existing Credit Agreement on the terms set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.          Defined Terms. Each capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given to such term in the Existing Credit Agreement. The rules of interpretation set forth in Section 1.02 of the Existing Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein, mutatis mutandis. Each reference to “hereof”, “hereunder”, “herein” and “hereby” and each other similar reference and each reference to “this Agreement” and each other similar reference contained in the Existing Credit Agreement shall, after this Agreement becomes effective, refer to the Existing Credit Agreement as amended hereby. For clarity, unless otherwise expressly limited to the Restricted Period each amendment set forth herein shall apply for the entire term of the Facilities.

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.               Amendments to the Credit Agreement. The Existing Credit Agreement is, effective as of the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date (as defined below), hereby amended as follows (the Existing Credit Agreement, as so amended, the “Fourth Amended Credit Agreement”):

 

(a)                Section 1.01 of the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following definitions, in each case, in the appropriate alphabetical order, as follows:

 

Amendment No. 4” means that certain Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2021, by and among the Borrower, the Parent, the Guarantors, the Pledgors, the Administrative Agent, and certain Lenders party thereto.

 

Amendment No. 4 Effective Date” means October 26, 2021.

 

Special Permitted Acquisition” means, during the Restricted Period, a single Investment constituting an acquisition of real property and related assets (and/or the equity interests in one or more entities which owns all or any portion of such real property or related assets) relating to the type of businesses which are not prohibited by Section 8.07.

 

(b)                Section 2.05(b)(x) of the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“(x)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, during the Restricted Period the Borrower shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Administrative Agent one hundred present (100%) of all Net Cash Proceeds, other than Net Cash Proceeds received in connection with:

 

(i)        an Involuntary Disposition, to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds are used for restoration of the applicable Property, which in the case of a Borrowing Base Property, shall continue to be governed by the terms of the Loan Documents (including, Section 2.05(b)(iv));

 

(ii)       Dispositions (but specifically excluding Dispositions of (1) Borrowing Base Properties and (2) other hotel real property assets, including, without limitation, the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center) which result in Net Cash Proceeds, in the aggregate, of no more than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000);

 

(iii)      Indebtedness incurred under Section 8.03(a) (provided that the Borrower complies with Section 5 of Amendment No. 2), Section 8.03(b), Section 8.03(c), Section 8.03(e), and Section 8.03(g)); and

 

(iv)      any Equity Issuance made in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(xi);

 

and the Administrative Agent shall apply such Net Cash Proceeds to the outstanding principal amount of the Loans pro rata based on the then outstanding principal amount of each Facility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Net Cash Proceeds are received pursuant to an Excluded Stimulus Transaction, at the Borrower’s election, the Borrower may use such Net Cash Proceeds for any use permitted by such Excluded Stimulus Transaction, instead of delivering to the Administrative Agent as provided above.”

 

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(c)                A new Section 2.05(b)(xi) is hereby added to the Existing Credit Agreement as follows:

 

“(xi)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, during the Restricted Period if the Borrower or any Consolidated Party shall issue or cause to be issued any Equity Issuance, Borrower shall apply, or cause to be applied, one hundred percent (100%) of all Net Cash Proceeds of such Equity Issuance as follows:

 

(A)      if the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans is in excess of Four Hundred Million Dollars $400,000,000, not later than one (1) Business Day following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be used to pay down the Revolving Loans such that the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans is equal to Four Hundred Million Dollars ($400,000,000), with the remainder to be applied in accordance with clause (B) below;

 

(B)       if the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans is equal to or less than Four Hundred Million Dollars, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied either: (1) to pay for the Special Permitted Acquisition (provided, that the Special Permitted Acquisition shall be made no later than one hundred twenty (120) days following the date of such Equity Issuance (the “Acquisition Outside Date”) or such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied in accordance with clause (C) below), with the remainder to be applied in accordance with clause (C) below, or (2) in accordance with clause (C) below;

 

(C)       all Net Cash Proceeds from such Equity Issuance not otherwise applied to the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans in accordance with clause (A) above, or to pay for the Special Permitted Acquisition prior to the Acquisition Outside Date in accordance with clause (B) above, shall be applied to the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans until the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans has been reduced to Zero Dollars ($0), with any remaining Net Cash Proceeds to be held on Borrower’s balance sheet as unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents acceptable to Administrative Agent and which may be used by Borrower solely for the purposes permitted under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement for so long as the Restricted Period is continuing.

 

For purposes of clarity, all amounts applied to the Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(xi) shall not permanently reduce the Revolving Commitment, but may be re-Borrowed in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.”

 

(d)                Section 8.22 of the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

8.22.          Restricted Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, so long as the Restricted Period is continuing:

 

(a)       Incur any additional Indebtedness, other than (i) any unsecured Indebtedness incurred in connection an Excluded Stimulus Transaction, (ii) non-recourse Indebtedness (other than non-recourse carve-outs which are customary in a non-recourse “CMBS” loan facility) assumed in connection with the Special Permitted Acquisition, not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000) in the aggregate and provided that such Indebtedness is scheduled to mature after the Closing Date Term Loan Maturity Date), and (iii) as permitted by Section 8.03(a) (provided that the Borrower complies with Section 5 of Amendment No. 2), Section 8.03(c) (but only to the extent all of the parties to any such intercompany Indebtedness and Guarantees are Consolidated Parties), and Section 8.03(g);

 

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(b)       Acquire any Properties or make new Investments, other than (i) Investments in Subsidiaries and other Loan Parties, (ii) the Special Permitted Acquisition made with (A) the proceeds of any Equity Issuance pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(xi), (B) the proceeds of any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 8.22(a)(ii) above, and/or (C) the proceeds of a Revolving Loan, so long as after giving effect to the Borrowing of such Revolving Loan, the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans shall be equal to or less than $400,000,000, (iii) Investments in existing Unconsolidated Affiliates that are required to be made pursuant to such entities’ organizational documents and are made in accordance with Section 8.02(f), and (iv) as permitted by Section 8.02(a), Section 8.02(c), and Section 8.02(e);

 

(c)       Make any Restricted Payments including, without limitation, cash dividends on its Capital Stock, provided that (i) the Borrower shall be permitted to make Restricted Payments in cash to the Parent to permit the Parent to make Restricted Payments in cash to the holders of its Capital Stock following the end of its fiscal year to the extent necessary to maintain its status as a REIT, (ii) the Parent shall be permitted to make Restricted Payments of not more than $0.01 per share in cash to the holders of its Capital Stock following the end of each fiscal quarter; (iii) Subsidiaries of the Borrower shall be permitted to make Restricted Payments in connection with the purchase of the minority interests in any existing Subsidiary not to exceed, in the aggregate, $200,000,000 (provided, however, that for purposes of clarity, as of the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date, Subsidiaries of the Borrower have previously made all Restricted Payments permitted under this clause (iii)), and (iv) the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be permitted to make other Restricted Payments as permitted by Section 8.06(a) and Section 8.06(b);

 

(d)       Make any capital expenditures at the Properties except for: (i) the currently ongoing expansion project at the Gaylord Palms approved by the Administrative Agent prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date not to exceed $80,000,000 in the aggregate; (ii) capital expenditures incurred in connection with emergency repairs,  life safety repairs or ordinary course maintenance repairs; and (iii) discretionary capital expenditures not to exceed Ninety-Five Million Dollars ($95,000,000) in the aggregate (inclusive of all discretionary capital expenditure costs incurred for the period commencing on April 23, 2020 through and including the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date) (provided, that Borrower shall be permitted to use any FF&E reserve maintained under, and to the extent permitted by, the Management Agreements for the capital expenditures described in, and subject to the limitations set forth in, the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), provided, further, that any use of an FF&E reserve in accordance with the applicable Management Agreement (and for the purposes expressly set forth in the applicable Management Agreement in effect as of the date hereof) shall not count against such $95,000,000 limitation for discretionary capital expenditures)); and

 

(e)       Take any action that would be prohibited during a Default or Event of Default (other than (x) a Credit Extension or a Request for Credit Extension, including requesting a Eurodollar Loan or converting or continuing a Eurodollar Loan of any Interest Period otherwise permitted hereunder, (y) requesting use of insurance and condemnation proceeds as provided in Section 7.07 and (z) in connection with the issuance of the New Notes), including, without limitation (i) certain mergers, liquidations and Guarantor releases which would otherwise be permitted, and (ii) certain transfers which would otherwise be permitted (including, without limitation, any Disposition).”

 

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SECTION 3.               Conditions to the Close. This Agreement shall become effective as of the first date (the “Amendment No. 4 Effective Date”) when each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI of the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 6.05 of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 7.01.

 

(b)                No Default. Neither a Default nor Event of Default shall exist, or would result from, the effectiveness of this Agreement.

 

(c)                This Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received executed counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the Borrower, the Parent, the other Loan Parties, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)                Fees and Expenses. The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel of the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

(e)                Other Deliverables. The Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have approved, all other materials, documents and submissions requested by the Administrative Agent in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.               Reaffirmation. By signing this Agreement, each Loan Party hereby confirms that this Agreement shall not effect a novation of any of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Existing Credit Agreement, which obligations continue in full force and effect as set forth in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, and each Loan Party and each Pledgor acknowledges and confirms that the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Existing Credit Agreement as modified or supplemented hereby and the Loan Parties and the Pledgors under the other Loan Documents (i) are entitled to the benefits of the guarantees, pledge of and/or grant of the security interests set forth or created in the Collateral Documents and the other Loan Documents, (ii) constitute “Obligations” and “Secured Obligations” or other similar term for purposes of the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, the Collateral Documents and all other Loan Documents, (iii) notwithstanding the effectiveness of the terms hereof, the Collateral Documents and the other Loan Documents are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Each Loan Party and each Pledgor hereby ratifies and confirms that all Liens granted, conveyed, or assigned to the Administrative Agent by such Person pursuant to any Loan Document to which it is a party remain in full force and effect, are not released or reduced, and continue to secure full payment and performance of the Obligations as increased hereby.

 

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SECTION 5.                Applicable Law; Jurisdiction; Venue.

 

(a)                GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER, EACH PLEDGOR AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE JOINT LEAD ARRANGERS MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER, ANY PLEDGOR OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER, EACH PLEDGOR AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)               WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

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SECTION 6.               Credit Agreement Governs. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle any Loan Party to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances.

 

SECTION 7.               Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of any executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

SECTION 8.               Severability. If any provision or obligation under this Agreement shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations shall remain in full force as though the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been a part of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.               Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one agreement.  The words “execution,” signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.  Each party hereto hereby waives any defenses to the enforcement of the terms of this Agreement based on the form of its signature, and hereby agrees that such electronically transmitted or signed signatures shall be conclusive proof, admissible in judicial proceedings, of such party’s execution of this Agreement. Even though the parties agree that electronic signatures are legally enforceable and intended to be effective for all purposes, the signing parties agree if requested by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion to promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent the requested original document bearing an original manual signature, to the extent required or advisable to be delivered in connection with any program made available to the Administrative Agent or any of its affiliates by the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Department or any other federal or state regulatory body.

 

[Signatures Appear on Following Page]

 

Page 7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER AND PLEDGOR

 

RHP HOTEL PROPERTIES, LP,  
a Delaware limited partnership  
   
By: RHP Partner, LLC,  
  a Delaware limited liability company,  
  its general partner  

 

  By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti  
  Name: Mark Fioravanti  
  Title: Vice President  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

“GUARANTORS AND PLEDGORS”    
     
RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES, INC.,   RHP PARTNER, LLC, 
a Delaware corporation   a Delaware limited liability company 
     
By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti   By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti 
Name: Mark Fioravanti   Name: Mark Fioravanti 
Title: Executive Vice President;   Title: Vice President  
  Chief Financial Officer    

 

RHP PROPERTY GP, LP,   RHP PROPERTY GT, LP, 
a Florida limited partnership   a Delaware limited partnership 
     
By: Opryland Hospitality, LLC,   By: Opryland Hospitality, LLC, 
  a Tennessee limited liability company     a Tennessee limited liability company 
  its general partner     its general partner 
     
  By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti     By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti 
  Name: Mark Fioravanti     Name: Mark Fioravanti 
  Title: Vice President         Title: Vice President 
     
RHP HOTELS, LLC,   RHP PROPERTY GT, LLC, 
a Delaware limited liability company   a Delaware limited liability company 
     
By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti   By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti 
Name: Mark Fioravanti   Name: Mark Fioravanti 
Title: Vice President     Title: Vice President 
     
OPRYLAND HOSPITALITY, LLC   RHP PROPERTY NH, LLC 
a Tennessee limited liability company   a Maryland limited liability company 
     
By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti   By: /s/ Mark Fioravanti 
Name: Mark Fioravanti   Name: Mark Fioravanti 
Title: Vice President       Title: Vice President 
      

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

“ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDERS”  
   
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,  
in its capacity as Lender and as Administrative Agent  
   
By: /s/ Anand. J. Jobanputra  
Name: Anand. J. Jobanputra  
Title: Managing Director  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

 

 

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,  
in its capacity as Lender  
   
By: /s/ Murray Mackinnon  
Name: Murray Mackinnon  
Title: Director  
   
By: /s/ Darrell L. Gustafson  
Name: Darrell L. Gustafson  
Title: Managing Director  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,  
in its capacity as Lender  

 

By: /s/ Roger C. Davis  
Name: Roger C. Davis  
Title: Senior Vice President  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,  
in its capacity as Lender  
   
By: /s/ Cody A. Canafax  
Name: Cody A. Canafax  
Title: Vice President  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,  
in its capacity as Lender  
   
By: /s/ Lori Y. Jensen  
Name: Lori Y. Jensen  
Title: Senior Vice President  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By: /s/ Steven Jonassen  
Name: Steven Jonassen  
Title: Managing Director  
     
By: /s/ Adam Jenner  
Name: Adam Jenner  
Title: Director  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By: /s/ Ajit Goswami  
Name: Ajit Goswami  
Title: Managing Director & Industry Head  
  U.S. Real Estate, Gaming & Leisure  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL ONE, N.A.,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By: /s/ Jessica W. Phillips  
Name: Jessica W. Phillips  
Title: Authorized Signatory  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

MIDFIRST BANK,  
a federally chartered savings association,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

RAYMOND JAMES BANK, N.A.,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By: /s/ Matt Stein  
Name: Matt Stein  
Title: SVP  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

TD BANK, N.A.,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By: /s/ Jessica Trombly  
Name: Jessica Trombly  
Title: Vice President  

 

[Signatures Continue on Following Page]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,  
in its capacity as Lender  
     
By: /s/ Eugene Nirenberg  
Name: Eugene Nirenberg  
Title: Executive Director  

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 4 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Announces Plans to Acquire Block 21 in Austin, Texas, From Stratus Properties Inc. for $260 Million

 

- Premier Mixed-Use Entertainment, Lodging and Retail Complex is Home to Austin’s Iconic ACL Live at the Moody Theater -

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 26, 2021) – Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) (the Company) announced today it reached an agreement with Stratus Properties Inc. (NASDAQ: STRS) to acquire Block 21, a mixed-use entertainment, lodging, office, and retail complex located in downtown Austin, Texas, for a total purchase price of $260 million, which includes the assumption of approximately $138 million of existing mortgage debt. In addition, Ryman will receive approximately $11 million of existing cash reserves attributable to the assets. Additional information regarding this acquisition is posted to Ryman’s investor relations website. Visit http://ir.rymanhp.com and click Presentations and Transcripts.

 

The Company also amended its credit agreement with its lenders to allow for the acquisition and the use of borrowings under its revolving credit line to fund the acquisition, so long as after such borrowings the balance of the revolving credit line is at or below $400 million.

 

Colin Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ryman Hospitality Properties, said, “We are pleased to again have the opportunity to add this one-of-a-kind asset to our growing entertainment portfolio. Much like Nashville, Austin’s leisure and hospitality industry is recovering and is well-positioned for growth in the years ahead. This acquisition allows us to have a meaningful presence in two of the most dynamic music cities in this country and presents many opportunities to showcase the unique music cultures in each city to millions of fans through our Circle TV network.”

 

William H. Armstrong III, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Stratus, said, “We have gotten to know the Ryman Hospitality Properties team very well and continue to believe they are the ideal stewards for Block 21 and ACL Live in the future.”

 

Completed in 2010 and located on an entire city block in Austin’s 2ND Street District, Block 21 is home to the iconic ACL Live at the Moody Theater (ACL Live), a 2,750-seat, state-of-the-art entertainment venue that serves as the filming location for the famed Austin City Limits television series. The Block 21 complex also includes the 251-room W Austin hotel, the 3TEN at ACL Live club and approximately 53,000 square feet of other Class A commercial space.

 

 

 

 

Reed continued, “We are thrilled for the long-term opportunities to grow our customer base and create quality entertainment experiences for local music lovers and the millions of tourists who visit Austin each year. We love what Beau and the entire Stratus team created with Block 21 and share their vision for the enormous potential it has to become a world-renowned, music-centric hub in the heart of this great city.”

 

The acquisition is expected to close near the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, consent to the Company’s assumption of the existing mortgage loan by the loan servicer and the consent of the property manager, an affiliate of Marriott, to the Company’s assignment and assumption of the existing management agreement. The Company has capacity to finance the transaction under its revolving credit facility and may use cash on hand, including from any sales under its equity ATM program and will make a determination of funding sources prior to the transaction closing.

 

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A Note to Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Shareholders: For additional information regarding this acquisition, visit http://ir.rymanhp.com and click on Presentations and Transcripts. Please note that our website is provided as an inactive textual reference and the information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this release.

 

About Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

 

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that specializes in upscale convention center resorts and country music entertainment experiences. The Company’s core holdings, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center; and Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, are five of the top 10 largest non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. These convention center resorts operate under the Gaylord Hotels brand and are managed by Marriott International. The Company also owns two adjacent ancillary hotels and a small number of attractions managed by Marriott International for a combined total of 10,412 rooms and more than 2.7 million square feet of total indoor and outdoor meeting space in top convention and leisure destinations across the country. The Company’s Entertainment segment includes a growing collection of iconic and emerging country music brands, including the Grand Ole Opry; Ryman Auditorium, WSM 650 AM; Ole Red and Circle, a country lifestyle media network the Company owns in a joint venture with Gray Television. The Company operates its Entertainment segment as part of a taxable REIT subsidiary. Visit RymanHP.com for more information.

 

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains statements as to the Company’s beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the pending acquisition of Block 21, and the Company’s expectations for Block 21 upon the closing of the transaction. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include the risks and uncertainties associated with the pending Block 21 acquisition, including, but not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could delay the closing of the Block 21 acquisition, or result in the termination of the agreement for the Block 21 acquisition; adverse effects on the Company’s common stock because of the failure to complete the Block 21 acquisition; and the Company’s ability to borrow funds pursuant to its credit agreement or otherwise obtain cash to fund the acquisition. Other factors that could cause results to differ are described in the filings made from time to time by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and include the risk factors and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements made by it to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

Investor Relations Contacts: Media Contacts:
Mark Fioravanti, President & Chief Financial Officer Shannon Sullivan, Vice President Corporate and Brand Communications
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
(615) 316-6588 (615) 316-6725
 mfioravanti@rymanhp.com ssullivan@rymanhp.com
~or~ ~or~
Todd Siefert, Senior Vice President Corporate Finance & Treasurer Robert Winters
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Alpha IR Group
(615) 316-6344 (929) 266-6315
tsiefert@rymanhp.com robert.winters@alpha-ir.com

 

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