SoundHound AI – a global leader in voice artificial intelligence – announced that it closed a new $125 million loan facility with $100 million fully funded at closing from Atlas Credit Partners. This strategic deal completes the company’s plans announced at the beginning of this year to refinance its current debt and further solidify its balance sheet.
This new facility will enable SoundHound AI to replace its existing $30 million debt with a more favorable structure that reduces the company’s cash outflows and extends the maturity date to 2027. Plus the funds provide substantial incremental capital to drive further innovation and support the company’s growth plans.
Through a significantly strengthened balance sheet and SoundHound AI’s track record of groundbreaking innovation, the company believes it will be able to accelerate its pace of innovation and market expansion. And recent advances in artificial intelligence, including Generative AI and Large Language Models have catalyzed a wave of breakthroughs that are transforming how humans can converse more naturally and seamlessly with technology.
SoundHound’s launches of Dynamic Interaction and SoundHound Chat AI showcase the latest chapters in its long track record of technological leadership. And the company has strengthened its unique position through its ability to efficiently combine market advances with voice AI capabilities.
The company is poised to significantly grow its subscription business with innovative customer service offerings, which also includes its suite of AI-based customer service products supporting call answering and food ordering for restaurants ranging from SMBs to larger companies along with driving the continued growth in its licensing business, which includes smart devices, TV, and automotive verticals while delivering against the $332 million bookings backlog as of December 31, 2022.
This new minimally-dilutive financing provides SoundHound AI the flexibility to deliver on its short-term objectives and long-term vision through this 4-year loan. And by adding significant capital to an already robust balance sheet, the company is now positioned with ample liquidity to effectively navigate potential market uncertainties while fueling growth.
Following closing costs, other expenses and repayment of existing debt, the company is expected to have a cash balance of over $100 million. And the Credit Agreement also enables SoundHound AI to potentially tap into additional capital of up to $25 million.
KEY QUOTES:
“The clear intersection between demand for sophisticated Conversational AI and adoption of SoundHound’s category-leading technology stack with 17+ years of maturity has created a unique opportunity. Today, this potential has been acknowledged and underscored with a significant financial commitment from Atlas Credit Partners. Having this additional capital available will play a key role in setting SoundHound up for continued, long-term success.”
– Keyvan Mohajer, CEO and Co-Founder of SoundHound
“Today’s announcement with SoundHound AI demonstrates our commitment to empowering technology leaders in their respective categories. After meeting Keyvan and the SoundHound team, the sophistication of their voice AI, robust data, and technology stack made our decision to partner natural. We believe our investment will help SoundHound AI to accelerate the pace at which they are redefining voice AI and enable them to further extend their global lead.”
– Drew Mallozzi, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at Atlas Credit Partners
