(5) Debt

Outstanding debt at December 31, 2023 and 2022 is summarized as follows:

​

​

TripCo Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2051

On March 25, 2021, TripCo issued $300 million aggregate original principal amount of its Debentures.  Pursuant to the terms of the offering, on March 31, 2021, the initial purchasers notified the Company of their intention to exercise the option to purchase $30 million aggregate original principal amount of additional Debentures. The additional Debentures were issued on April 5, 2021. Upon an exchange of Debentures, TripCo, at its option, may deliver shares of TRIP common stock or the value thereof in cash or a combination of shares of TRIP common stock and cash. Initially, 14.3299 shares of TRIP common stock are attributable to each $1,000 original principal amount of Debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $69.78 for each share of TRIP common stock. A total of approximately 4.7 million shares of TRIP common stock are attributable to the Debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing June 30, 2021. The Debentures may be redeemed by TripCo, in whole or in part, on or after March 27, 2025. Holders of Debentures also have the right to require TripCo to purchase their Debentures on March 27, 2025. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the Debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus any final period distribution. As of December 31, 2023, a holder of the Debentures does not have the ability to exchange and, accordingly, the Debentures are classified as long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

TripCo used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures to fund the cash portion of the purchase price for the repurchase of a portion of the Series A Preferred Stock (see note 8 below).

TripCo Variable Prepaid Forward  

The VPF amendment executed in August 2022, as described in note 3, was accounted for as a modification for the debt component of the VPF. Accordingly, the proceeds of $9 million TripCo received in connection with the amendment was reflected as an incremental borrowing for the debt component of the VPF. The VPF matures in November 2025. At maturity, the accreted loan amount due will be approximately $57 million.  As of December 31, 2023, 2.4 million shares of TRIP, with a value of approximately $52 million, were pledged as collateral pursuant to the VPF contract.

Tripadvisor Credit Facility

Tripadvisor is party to a credit agreement with a group of lenders initially entered into in June 2015 and amended and restated in June 2023 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), which, among other things, provides for a $500 million secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”). As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Tripadvisor had no outstanding borrowings from the Credit Facility. In addition, the Credit Facility includes $15 million of borrowing capacity available for letters of credit and $40 million for swing-line borrowings on same-day notice. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Tripadvisor had issued $4 million of undrawn standby letters of credit under the Credit Facility. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, Tripadvisor recorded commitment fees on its Credit Facility of $1 million, $1 million and $3 million, respectively, to interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations. The Credit Agreement, among other things, requires Tripadvisor to maintain a maximum total net leverage ratio and contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, including a change of control.

Tripadvisor amended the Credit Facility during 2020 to, among other things: suspend the leverage ratio covenant for quarterly testing of compliance beginning in the second quarter of 2020, replacing it with a minimum liquidity covenant through June 30, 2021 (requiring Tripadvisor to maintain $150 million of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments less deferred merchant payables plus available revolver capacity), until the earlier of (a) the first day after June 30, 2021 through maturity on which borrowings and other revolving credit utilizations under the revolving commitments exceed $200 million, and (b) the election of Tripadvisor, at which time the leverage ratio covenant will be reinstated (the “Leverage Covenant Holiday”).

On May 8, 2023, Tripadvisor declared a “Covenant Changeover Date” (as defined in the Credit Agreement as in effect prior to the amendment and restatement), thereby declaring Tripadvisor out of the Leverage Covenant Holiday and no longer subject to certain of the restrictive covenants contained in the Credit Agreement. Following that, on June 29, 2023, Tripadvisor amended and restated the Credit Agreement (the "Restated Credit Agreement") to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date of the Credit Facility from May 12, 2024 to June 29, 2028 (unless, on any date that is 91 days prior to the final scheduled maturity date in respect of any indebtedness outstanding under certain “specified debt,” the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such specified debt is $200 million or more, then the maturity date will be such business day); (ii) maintain the aggregate amount of revolving commitments available at $500 million; (iii) increase the total net leverage ratio from 3.5 to 1.0 to 4.5 to 1.0; and (iv) replace the London Inter-bank Offered Rate interest rate benchmark with a secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR") interest rate benchmark.

Tripadvisor may borrow from the Credit Facility in U.S. dollars, Euros and Sterling. Borrowings under the Credit Facility generally bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the Adjusted Term SOFR rate for the interest period in effect for such borrowing in U.S.dollars, the EURIBO rate for the interest period in effect for such borrowings in Euro and the Daily Simple SONIA rate for the interest period in effect for such borrowings in Sterling; plus, in each case, an applicable margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.50% (“Term Benchmark/RFP Spread”), based on Tripadvisor’s total net leverage ratio; or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate (“ABR”), which is the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the New York Fed Bank Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1.00% per annum, and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR for an interest period of one month as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1.00% plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.50%, based on Tripadvisor’s total net leverage ratio. In addition, Tripadvisor is required to pay a quarterly commitment fee, at an applicable rate ranging from 0.25% to 0.40%, on the daily unused portion of the Credit Facility for each fiscal quarter and in connection with the issuance of letters of credit. As of December 31, 2023, Tripadvisor’s unused revolver capacity was subject to a commitment fee of 0.25%, given its total net leverage ratio.

  In connection with the Restated Credit Agreement, Tripadvisor incurred lender fees and other debt financing costs of approximately $3 million. These costs were capitalized as deferred financing costs in other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheet, while deferred financing costs incurred in previous amendments, which were immediately recognized to interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations, were not material. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Tripadvisor had $4 million and $2 million, respectively, remaining in deferred financing costs in connection with the Credit Facility. These costs will be amortized over the remaining term of the Credit Facility, using the effective interest rate method, and recorded to interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

There is no specific repayment date prior to the maturity date for any borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Tripadvisor may voluntarily repay any outstanding borrowing under the Credit Facility at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs with respect to Term Benchmark loans. Additionally, Tripadvisor believes that the likelihood of the lender exercising any subjective acceleration rights, which would permit the lenders to accelerate repayment of any outstanding borrowings, is remote. As such, Tripadvisor intends to classify any future borrowings under this facility as long-term debt. The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict Tripadvisor’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, engage in mergers or consolidations, sell or transfer assets, pay dividends and distributions, make investments, loans or advances, prepay certain subordinated indebtedness, make certain acquisitions, engage in certain transactions with affiliates, amend material agreements governing certain subordinated indebtedness, and change its fiscal year. In addition, to secure the obligations under the Credit Agreement, Tripadvisor and certain subsidiaries have granted security interests and liens in and on, substantially all of their assets, as well as pledged shares of certain of Tripadvisor’s subsidiaries. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Credit Agreement will be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of all amounts due under the Credit Facility.

Tripadvisor 2025 Senior Notes

In 2020, Tripadvisor issued $500 million of outstanding aggregate principal amount of 7.0% senior notes due 2025 (the "2025 Senior Notes"). The 2025 Senior Notes are governed by an indenture, dated July 9, 2020 (the “2025 Indenture”), among Tripadvisor, the guarantors and the trustee. The 2025 Indenture provides, among other things, that interest will be payable on the 2025 Senior Notes semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, and continues until their maturity date of July 15, 2025. The 2025 Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Tripadvisor and are unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis, by certain domestic subsidiaries.

Tripadvisor has the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2025 Senior Notes at any time on or after July 15, 2022 at the redemption prices set forth in the 2025 Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. Subject to certain limitations, in the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the 2025 Indenture), Tripadvisor will be required to make an offer to purchase the 2025 Senior Notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. These features have been evaluated as embedded derivatives under GAAP; however, Tripadvisor has concluded they do not meet the requirements to be accounted for separately.

As of both December 31, 2023 and 2022, unpaid interest on the 2025 Senior Notes was $16 million and was included in accrued liabilities and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, and $35 million was recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

The 2025 Indenture contains covenants that, among other things and subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, restrict the ability of Tripadvisor and certain of its subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue disqualified stock or certain preferred stock; pay dividends and make other distributions or repurchase stock; make

certain investments; create or incur liens; sell assets; create restrictions affecting the ability of restricted subsidiaries to make distributions, loans or advances or transfer assets to Tripadvisor or the restricted subsidiaries; enter into certain transactions with Tripadvisor’s affiliates; designate restricted subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and merge, consolidate or transfer or sell all or substantially all of Tripadvisor’s assets.

2026 Convertible Senior Notes

In 2021, Tripadvisor issued $345 million in outstanding aggregate principal amount of 0.25% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 Convertible Senior Notes”). Tripadvisor also entered into an indenture, dated March 25, 2021 (the “2026 Indenture”), among Tripadvisor, the guarantors party thereto and the trustee. The terms of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes are governed by the 2026 Indenture. The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes mature on April 1, 2026, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Tripadvisor, and are unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis, by certain of Tripadvisor’s domestic subsidiaries, with interest payable semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, unpaid interest on the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes was not material.

​

The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at Tripadvisor’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after April 1, 2024 and on or before the 30th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Tripadvisor’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price on (1) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date Tripadvisor sends the related redemption notice; and (2) the trading day immediately before the date Tripadvisor sends such notice. In addition, calling any such note for redemption will constitute a make-whole fundamental change with respect to that note, in which case the conversion rate applicable to the conversion of that note will be increased in certain circumstances if it is converted after it is called for redemption.

The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis, by the guarantors on a senior, unsecured basis. The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes are Tripadvisor’s general senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of its existing and future senior indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to all of its future subordinated indebtedness. The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to any of Tripadvisor’s existing and future secured indebtedness, including borrowings under the Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.

Holders may convert their 2026 Convertible Senior Notes at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding January 1, 2026 in multiples of $1,000 principal amount, only under the following conditions and circumstances:

In addition, holders may convert their 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, in multiples of $1,000 principal amount, at their option at any time beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the stated maturity date of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, without regard to the foregoing circumstances.

The initial conversion rate for the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes is 13.5483 shares of TRIP common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $73.81 per share of TRIP common stock, or approximately 4.7 million shares of TRIP common stock, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events as set forth in the 2026 Indenture. Upon conversion, Tripadvisor may choose to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of TRIP common stock or a combination of cash and shares of TRIP common stock.

Tripadvisor accounts for the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes as a liability measured at its amortized cost, and no other features of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes are bifurcated and recognized as a derivative. The proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes were approximately $340 million, net of debt issuance costs of $5 million comprised primarily of the initial purchasers’ discount, and Tripadvisor used a portion of the proceeds from the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes to enter into capped call transactions (discussed below). Tripadvisor intends to use the remainder of the proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt, including the partial redemption and/or purchase of its 2025 Senior Notes prior to maturity. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the remaining term of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, using the effective interest rate method, and recorded to interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 the effective interest rate on the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, including debt issuance costs, was approximately 0.40%, 0.47%, and 0.53%, respectively, and $1 million was recorded as interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

The 2026 Convertible Senior Notes are unsecured and do not contain any financial covenants, restrictions on dividends, incurrence of senior debt or other indebtedness, or restrictions on the issuance or repurchase of securities by the Company.

​

Capped Call Transactions

In connection with the issuance of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, Tripadvisor entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (the “Capped Calls”) with certain of the initial purchasers of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes and/or their respective affiliates and/or other financial institutions (the “Option Counterparties”) at a cost of approximately $35 million. The Capped Calls are separate transactions entered into by Tripadvisor with each of the Option Counterparties, and are not part of the terms of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes and therefore will not affect any noteholder’s rights under the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes. Noteholders will not have any rights with respect to the Capped Calls.

The Capped Calls cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, substantially similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, the number of shares of TRIP common stock initially underlying the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, or up to approximately 4.7 million shares of TRIP common stock. The Capped Calls are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to the TRIP common stock upon any conversion of 2026 Convertible Senior Notes and/or offset any potential cash payments Tripadvisor is required to make in excess of the principal amount of such converted 2026 Convertible Senior Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. The strike price of the Capped Calls is $73.81 per share of TRIP common stock, while the cap price of the Capped Calls

will initially be $107.36 per share of TRIP common stock, which represents a premium of 100% over the close price of TRIP common stock of $53.68 per share on March 22, 2021 and is subject to certain customary adjustments under the terms of the Capped Calls.

The Capped Calls are considered indexed to Tripadvisor’s own stock and are considered equity classified under GAAP and included as a reduction to additional paid-in-capital and noncontrolling interest in equity of subsidiaries within stockholders’ equity as of both December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Capped Calls are not accounted for as derivatives and their fair value is not remeasured each reporting period. In addition, upon entering into the Capped Calls, Tripadvisor recorded an associated deferred tax asset of $9 million, as it made an income tax election allowable under Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations in order to recover the cost of the Capped Calls as interest expense for income tax purposes only over the term of the 2026 Convertible Senior Notes.

Fair Value

The estimated fair values, based on recently reported market transactions and prices for identical or similar financial instruments obtained from a third-party pricing source (Level 2) of Tripadvisor’s debt securities, not reported at fair value are as follows:

​

​

TripCo believes that the carrying amount of the debt component of the VPF approximated fair value at December 31, 2023.

Debt Covenants

As of December 31, 2023, Tripadvisor was in compliance with its debt covenants.