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): November 16, 2007
THE BOEING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission file number 1-442
| Delaware | 91-0425694 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 100 N. Riverside, Chicago, IL | 60606-1596 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(312) 544-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | 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)) |
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
1. 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement.
On November 16, 2007, we entered into a $1.0 billion, 364-day revolving credit agreement (the “364-Day Credit Agreement”), with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as syndication agent and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders as defined in the 364-Day Credit Agreement. This facility replaces the $1.0 billion, 364 day credit agreement entered into on November 17, 2006.
Under the 364-Day Credit Agreement, we pay a commitment fee that varies between .030% and .100%, depending on our credit rating. Borrowings under the 364-Day Credit Agreement (that are not based on Eurodollar rates) bear interest at an annual rate based on the “base rate” of interest in effect plus the applicable margin and applicable utilization fees payable quarterly in arrears as defined in the 364-Day Credit Agreement. The “base rate” of interest is the higher of (1) the base rate announced publicly by Citibank, N.A., from time to time and (2) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%. The applicable margin will vary depending upon our credit rating and whether the payment is made before or after the termination date. For payments made before the termination date, the applicable margin may vary from a low of 0.070% to a high of 0.450%. The applicable utilization fee varies between 0.050% and 0.100% depending on our credit rating and applies on any date the aggregate principal amount of outstanding advances exceeds 50% of the aggregate commitments.
The 364-Day Credit Agreement contains customary terms and conditions, including certain financial covenants that are substantially similar to those contained in the previous facility, including, without limitation, covenants restricting our ability to incur liens, merge or consolidate with another entity. Further, the 364-Day Credit Agreement contains a covenant restricting our ability to permit consolidated debt (as defined in the 364-Day Credit Agreement) to exceed 60% of our total capital (as defined in the 364-Day Credit Agreement) until the Credit Agreement terminates and all amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement are paid in full. The events of default under the 364-Day Credit Agreement, include but are not limited to, the following: (1) failure to pay outstanding principal or interest, (2) failure of representations or warranties to be correct, in any material respects, (3) failure to perform any other term, covenant or agreement and such failure is not remedied within 30 days of notice of such failure, (4) a cross-default with other debt in certain circumstances, (5) certain defaults upon obligations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or (6) bankruptcy. Such events of default would require the repayment of any outstanding borrowings and the termination of the right to borrow additional funds under the 364-Day Credit Agreement.
Some of the lenders under the 364-Day Credit Agreement and their affiliates have various relationships with us and our subsidiaries involving the provision of financial service, including cash management, investment banking, trust and leasing services. In addition, we and some of our subsidiaries have entered into foreign exchange and other derivative arrangements with certain of the lenders and their affiliates.
2. Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement.
On November 16, 2007, we entered into a $2.0 billion, five-year revolving credit agreement (the “Five-Year Credit Agreement”), with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as syndication agent and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement. This facility replaces the $2.0 billion, five-year credit agreement entered into on November 17, 2006.
Under the Five-Year Credit Agreement, we pay a commitment fee that varies between .040% and .125%, depending on our credit rating. Borrowings under the Five-Year Credit Agreement (that are not based on Eurodollar rates) bear interest at an annual rate based on the “base rate” of interest in effect plus the applicable margin and applicable utilization fees payable quarterly in arrears as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement. The “base rate” of interest is the higher of (1) the base rate announced publicly by Citibank, N.A., from time to time and (2) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%. The applicable margin will vary depending upon our credit rating and may vary from a low of 0.060% to a high of 0.425%. The applicable utilization fee varies between 0.050% and 0.100% depending on our credit rating and applies on any date the aggregate principal amount of outstanding advances exceeds 50% of the aggregate commitments.
The Five-Year Credit Agreement contains customary terms and conditions, including certain financial covenants that are substantially similar to those contained in the previous facility, including, without limitation, covenants restricting our ability to incur liens, merge or consolidate with another entity. Further, the Five-Year Credit Agreement contains a covenant restricting our ability to permit consolidated debt (as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement) to exceed 60% of our total capital (as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement) until the Credit Agreement terminates and all amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement are paid in full. The events of default under the Five-Year Credit Agreement, include but are not limited to, the following: (1) failure to pay outstanding principal or interest, (2) failure of representations or warranties to be correct, in any material respects, (3) failure to perform any other term, covenant or agreement and such failure is not remedied within 30 days of notice of such failure, (4) a cross-default with other debt in certain circumstances, (5) certain defaults upon obligations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or (6) bankruptcy. Such events of default would require the repayment of any outstanding borrowings and the termination of the right to borrow additional funds under the Five-Year Credit Agreement.
Some of the lenders under the Five-Year Credit Agreement and their affiliates have various relationships with us and our subsidiaries involving the provision of financial service, including cash management, investment banking, trust and leasing services. In addition, we and some of our subsidiaries have entered into foreign exchange and other derivative arrangements with certain of the lenders and their affiliates.
| Item 2.03. | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant |
The information described above under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” with respect to the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Five-Year Credit Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference.
SIGNATURE
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.
| THE BOEING COMPANY |
| (Registrant) |
| /s/ James C. Johnson |
| James C. Johnson |
| Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel |
Date: November 21, 2007