Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

10.     Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

Fair Value of our Long-Term Debt

The following table summarizes the carrying amount and fair value of our debt facilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	As of
	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019 (1)	$	—	$	—	$	1,317,372	$	1,343,298
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020 (2)		1,100,000		1,110,208		1,100,000		1,089,957
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021		2,000,000		2,109,420		2,000,000		1,974,940
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022		2,000,000		2,129,580		2,000,000		1,833,140
5% Senior Notes due 2023		1,500,000		1,543,770		1,500,000		1,247,445
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024		2,000,000		2,049,080		2,000,000		1,611,960
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024		1,000,000		918,720		1,000,000		801,200
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026		2,000,000		2,128,900		2,000,000		1,653,720
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026		3,000,000		2,907,870		3,000,000		2,436,690
Other notes payable		70,946		70,946		39,715		39,715
Subtotal		14,670,946	$	14,968,494		15,957,087	$	14,032,065
Unamortized debt discount on the Convertible Notes		(735,811)				(833,906)
Unamortized deferred financing costs and other debt discounts, net		(28,739)				(37,388)
Finance lease obligations (3)		233,199				66,984
Total long-term debt and finance lease obligations (including current portion)	$	14,139,595			$	15,152,777

(1) On September 3, 2019, we redeemed the principal balance of our 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2019.

(2) Our 5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020 mature on May 1, 2020 and have been reclassified to “Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019.

(3) Disclosure regarding fair value of finance leases is not required.

We estimated the fair value of our publicly traded long-term debt using market prices in less active markets (Level 2).

Our Senior Notes are:

● general unsecured senior obligations of DISH DBS Corporation (“DISH DBS”);

● ranked equally in right of payment with all of DISH DBS’ and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and

● ranked effectively junior to our and the guarantors’ current and future secured senior indebtedness up to the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

The indentures related to our Senior Notes contain restrictive covenants that, among other things, impose limitations on the ability of DISH DBS and its restricted subsidiaries to:

● incur additional debt;

● pay dividends or make distributions on DISH DBS’ capital stock or repurchase DISH DBS’ capital stock;

● make certain investments;

● create liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

● enter into transactions with affiliates;

● merge or consolidate with another company; and

● transfer or sell assets.

In the event of a change of control, as defined in the related indentures, we would be required to make an offer to repurchase all or any part of a holder’s Senior Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the date of repurchase.

5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020

On April 5, 2013, we issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of our seven-year 5 1/8% Senior Notes due May 1, 2020. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 5 1/8% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year.

The 5 1/8% Senior Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the related indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest.

6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021

On May 5, 2011, we issued $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of our ten-year 6 3/4% Senior Notes due June 1, 2021. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 6 3/4% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year.

The 6 3/4% Senior Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the related indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest.

5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022

On May 16, 2012 and July 26, 2012, we issued $1.0 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, aggregate principal amount of our ten-year 5 7/8% Senior Notes due July 15, 2022. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 5 7/8% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

The 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022 are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the related indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest.

5% Senior Notes due 2023

On December 27, 2012, we issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of our 5% Senior Notes due March 15, 2023. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 5% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year.

The 5% Senior Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the related indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest.

5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024

On November 20, 2014, we issued $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of our ten-year 5 7/8% Senior Notes due November 15, 2024. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 5 7/8% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year.

The 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024 are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the related indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest.

7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026

On June 13, 2016, we issued $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of our ten-year 7 3/4% Senior Notes due July 1, 2026. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 7 3/4% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each year.

The 7 3/4% Senior Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, as defined in the related indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest.

2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024

On March 17, 2017, we issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes due March 15, 2024 in a private placement. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 2 3/8% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year.

The Convertible Notes due 2024 are:

● our general unsecured obligations;

● ranked senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Convertible Notes due 2024;

● ranked equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness;

● ranked effectively junior to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness;

● ranked structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries; and

● not guaranteed by our subsidiaries.

We may not redeem the Convertible Notes due 2024 prior to the maturity date. If a “fundamental change” (as defined in the related indenture) occurs prior to the maturity date of the Convertible Notes due 2024, holders may require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their Convertible Notes due 2024 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Convertible Notes due 2024, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The indenture related to the Convertible Notes due 2024 does not contain any financial covenants and does not restrict us from paying dividends, issuing or repurchasing our other securities, issuing new debt (including secured debt) or repaying or repurchasing our debt.

Subject to the terms of the related indenture, the Convertible Notes due 2024 may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 12.1630 shares of our Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes due 2024 (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $82.22 per share of our Class A common stock) (the “Initial Conversion Rate”), at any time on or after October 15, 2023 through the second scheduled trading day preceding the maturity date. Holders of the Convertible Notes due 2024 will also have the right to convert the Convertible Notes due 2024 at the Initial Conversion Rate prior to October 15, 2023, but only upon the occurrence of specified events described in the related indenture. The conversion rate is subject to anti-dilution adjustments if certain events occur.

In accordance with accounting guidance on embedded conversion features, we valued and bifurcated the conversion option associated with the Convertible Notes due 2024 (the “equity component”) from the host debt instrument. The $252 million initial value of the equity component on the Convertible Notes due 2024 was recorded in “Additional paid-in capital” within “Stockholders’ equity (deficit)” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets with the offset being recorded as the debt discount. The resulting debt discount on the Convertible Notes due 2024 is being amortized to interest expense at an effective interest rate of 7% over the seven-year term of the Convertible Notes due 2024. This interest expense was recorded in “Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized” within “Other Income (Expense)” on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026

On August 8, 2016, we issued $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes due August 15, 2026 in a private unregistered offering. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 3 3/8% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year.

The Convertible Notes due 2026 are:

● our general unsecured obligations;

● ranked senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Convertible Notes due 2026;

● ranked equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness;

● ranked effectively junior to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness;

● ranked structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries; and

● not guaranteed by our subsidiaries.

We may not redeem the Convertible Notes due 2026 prior to the maturity date. If a “fundamental change” (as defined in the related indenture) occurs prior to the maturity date of the Convertible Notes due 2026, holders may require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their Convertible Notes due 2026 at a specified make-whole price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Convertible Notes due 2026, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The indenture related to the Convertible Notes due 2026 does not contain any financial covenants and does not restrict us from paying dividends, issuing or repurchasing our other securities, issuing new debt (including secured debt) or repaying or repurchasing our debt.

Subject to the terms of the related indenture, the Convertible Notes due 2026 may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 15.3429 shares of our Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes due 2026 (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $65.18 per share of our Class A common stock) (the “Initial Conversion Rate”), at any time on or after March 15, 2026 through the second scheduled trading day preceding the maturity date.

Holders of the Convertible Notes due 2026 will also have the right to convert the Convertible Notes due 2026 at the Initial Conversion Rate prior to March 15, 2026, but only upon the occurrence of specified events described in the related indenture. The conversion rate is subject to anti-dilution adjustments if certain events occur.

In accordance with accounting guidance on embedded conversion features, we valued and bifurcated the conversion option associated with the Convertible Notes due 2026 (the “equity component”) from the host debt instrument. The $774 million initial value of the equity component on the Convertible Notes due 2026 was recorded in “Additional paid-in capital” within “Stockholders’ equity (deficit)” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets with the offset being recorded as the debt discount. The resulting debt discount on the Convertible Notes due 2026 is being amortized to interest expense at an effective interest rate of 7% over the ten-year term of the Convertible Notes due 2026. This interest expense was recorded in “Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized” within “Other Income (Expense)” on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Convertible Note Hedge and Warrant Transactions

In connection with the offering of the Convertible Notes due 2026, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with certain option counterparties. The convertible note hedge transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Convertible Notes due 2026, the number of shares of our Class A common stock underlying the Convertible Notes due 2026, which initially gives us the option to purchase approximately 46 million shares of our Class A common stock at a price of approximately $65.18 per share. The total cost of the convertible note hedge transactions was $635 million. Concurrently with entering into the convertible note hedge transactions, we also entered into warrant transactions with each option counterparty whereby we sold to such option counterparty warrants to purchase, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, up to the same number of shares of our Class A common stock, which initially gives the option counterparties the option to purchase approximately 46 million shares of our Class A common stock at a price of approximately $86.08 per share. We received $376 million in cash proceeds from the sale of these warrants. For us, the economic effect of these transactions is to effectively raise the initial conversion price from approximately $65.18 per share of our Class A common stock to approximately $86.08 per share of our Class A common stock (thus effectively raising the conversion premium on the Convertible Notes due 2026 from approximately 32.5% to approximately 75%).  In accordance with accounting guidance on hedge and warrant transactions, the net cost incurred in connection with the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions are recorded as a reduction in “Additional paid-in capital” within “Stockholders’ equity (deficit)” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016.

We will not be required to make any cash payments to each option counterparty or its affiliates upon the exercise of the options that are a part of the convertible note hedge transactions, but will be entitled to receive from them a number of shares of Class A common stock, an amount of cash or a combination thereof. This consideration is generally based on the amount by which the market price per share of Class A common stock, as measured under the terms of the convertible note hedge transactions, is greater than the strike price of the convertible note hedge transactions during the relevant valuation period under the convertible note hedge transactions. Additionally, if the market price per share of Class A common stock, as measured under the terms of the warrant transactions, exceeds the strike price of the warrants during the measurement period at the maturity of the warrants, we will owe each option counterparty a number of shares of Class A common stock in an amount based on the excess of such market price per share of Class A common stock over the strike price of the warrants. However, as specified under the terms of the warrant transactions, we may elect to settle the warrants in cash.

Interest on Long-Term Debt

		Annual
	Semi-Annual	Debt Service
	Payment Dates	Requirements
		(In thousands)
5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020 (1)	May 1 and November 1	$	56,375
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021	June 1 and December 1	$	135,000
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022	January 15 and July 15	$	117,500
5% Senior Notes due 2023	March 15 and September 15	$	75,000
5 7/8 % Senior Notes due 2024	May 15 and November 15	$	117,500
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024	March 15 and September 15	$	23,750
7 3/4 % Senior Notes due 2026	January 1 and July 1	$	155,000
3 3/8 % Convertible Notes due 2026	February 15 and August 15	$	101,250

(1) Our 5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2020 mature on May 1, 2020 and have been reclassified to “Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019.

Our ability to meet our debt service requirements will depend on, among other factors, the successful execution of our business strategy, which is subject to uncertainties and contingencies beyond our control.

Other Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

Other long-term debt and finance lease obligations consisted of the following:

	As of December 31,
	2019		2018
	(In thousands)
Satellites and other finance lease obligations	$	233,199	$	66,984
Notes payable related to satellite vendor financing and other debt payable in installments through 2032 with interest rates ranging from approximately 4.0% to 8.8%		70,946		39,715
Total		304,145		106,699
Less: current portion		(71,366)		(24,621)
Other long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of current portion	$	232,779	$	82,078

Finance Lease Obligations

Anik F3. Anik F3, an FSS satellite, was launched and commenced commercial operation in April 2007. This satellite is accounted for as a finance lease and depreciated over the term of the satellite service agreement. We have leased 100% of the Ku-band capacity on Anik F3 for a period of 15 years.

Nimiq 5. On May 19, 2019, we entered into a Master Transaction Agreement pursuant to which, on September 10, 2019, the satellite service agreement for Nimiq 5 was transferred to us. Nimiq 5 was launched in September 2009 and commenced commercial operation at the 72.7 degree west longitude orbital location during October 2009. This satellite is accounted for as a finance lease and depreciated over the term of the satellite service agreement. We lease 100% of the capacity on Nimiq 5. See Note 19 for further discussion.

QuetzSat-1. On May 19, 2019, we entered into a Master Transaction Agreement pursuant to which, on September 10, 2019, the satellite service agreement for QuetzSat-1 was transferred to us. QuetzSat-1 was launched on September 29, 2011 and in January 2013, QuetzSat-1 was moved to the 77 degree orbital location and commenced commercial operations at that location in February 2013. This satellite is accounted for as a finance lease and depreciated over the term of the satellite service agreement. We lease 100% of the capacity on QuetzSat-1. See Note 19 for further discussion.

Ciel II. Ciel II, a Canadian DBS satellite, was launched in December 2008 and commenced commercial operation in February 2009. This satellite was previously accounted for as a finance lease and depreciated over the term of the satellite service agreement, however, as a result of an amendment, which was effective during the first quarter 2019, Ciel II is now accounted for as an operating lease. We lease 100% of the capacity on Ciel II. The initial 10 year term expired in January 2019 and as a result of an amendment, we renewed this lease through January 2021.

The summary of future maturities of our outstanding long-term debt as of December 31, 2019 is included in the commitments table in Note 15.