Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Obligations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

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 September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

	As of
	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021 (1)	$	—	$	—	$	2,000,000	$	2,047,260
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022 (2)		2,000,000		2,063,900		2,000,000		2,095,820
5% Senior Notes due 2023		1,500,000		1,558,860		1,500,000		1,566,300
5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2024		2,000,000		2,157,200		2,000,000		2,099,580
2 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2024		1,000,000		979,520		1,000,000		949,350
0% Convertible Notes due 2025		2,000,000		2,393,560		2,000,000		2,010,000
7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2026		2,000,000		2,264,720		2,000,000		2,236,520
3 3/8% Convertible Notes due 2026		3,000,000		3,131,940		3,000,000		2,886,330
7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2028		1,000,000		1,067,980		1,000,000		1,070,130
5 1/8 % Senior Notes due 2029		1,500,000		1,472,880		—		—
Other notes payable		139,902		139,902		137,809		137,809
Subtotal		16,139,902	$	17,230,462		16,637,809	$	17,099,099
Unamortized debt discount on the Convertible Notes (3)		—				(1,061,203)
Unamortized deferred financing costs and other debt discounts, net		(48,014)				(36,752)
Finance lease obligations (4)		112,301				162,174
Total long-term debt and finance lease obligations (including current portion)	$	16,204,189			$	15,702,028

(1) As of June 1, 2021, we had repurchased or redeemed the principal balance of our 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2021.

(2) Our 5 7/8% Senior Notes due 2022 mature on July 15, 2022 and have been reclassified to “Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2021.

(3) See Note 2 for further information.

(4) 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).

5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2029

On May 24, 2021, we issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of our 5 1/8% Senior Notes due June 1, 2029. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 5 1/8% and is payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing on December 1, 2021.

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.  Prior to June 1, 2024, we may also redeem up to 35% of the 5 1/8% Senior Notes at a specified premium with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings or capital contributions.

Our 5 1/8% 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 indenture related to our 5 1/8% Senior Notes contains 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 indenture, we would be required to make an offer to repurchase all or any part of a holder’s 5 1/8% 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.

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. Upon any conversion, we will settle our conversion obligation in cash, shares of our Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our Class A common stock, at our election.

0% Convertible Notes due 2025

On December 21, 2020, we issued $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes due December 15, 2025 in a private placement. These notes will not bear interest, and the principal amount of the Notes will not accrete.

The Convertible Notes due 2025 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 2025;

● 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 2025 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 2025, holders may require us to repurchase for cash all or part of their Convertible Notes due 2025 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Convertible Notes due 2025, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The indenture related to the Convertible Notes due 2025 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 2025 may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 24.4123 shares of our Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes due 2025 (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $40.96 per share of our Class A common stock) (the “Initial Conversion Rate”), at any time on or after July 15, 2025 through the second scheduled trading day preceding the maturity date. Holders of the Convertible Notes due 2025 will also have the right to convert the Convertible Notes due 2025 at the Initial Conversion Rate prior to July 15, 2025, 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. Upon any conversion, we will settle our conversion obligation in cash, shares of our Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our Class A common stock, at our election.

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. Upon any conversion, we will settle our conversion obligation in cash, shares of our Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our Class A common stock, at our election.

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.