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Debt
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Debt

NOTE 9 - DEBT

As of March 31, 2017, a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, principally aircraft, route authorities, airport slots and loyalty program intangible assets, was pledged under various loan and other agreements. As of March 31, 2017, UAL and United were in compliance with their debt covenants.

2017 Credit and Guaranty Agreement. On March 29, 2017, United and UAL, as borrower and guarantor, respectively, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “2017 Credit Agreement”). The 2017 Credit Agreement consists of a $1.5 billion term loan due April 1, 2024, which (i) was used to retire the entire principal balance of the term loans under the credit and guaranty agreement, dated March 27, 2013 (as amended, the “2013 Credit Agreement”), and (ii) increased the term loan balance by approximately $440 million, and a $2.0 billion revolving credit facility available for drawing until April 1, 2022, which increased the available capacity under the revolving credit facility of the 2013 Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2017, United had its entire capacity of $2.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. The obligations of United under the 2017 Credit Agreement are secured by liens on certain international route authorities, certain take-off and landing rights and related assets of United.

Borrowings under the 2017 Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a 0% floor, plus a margin of 2.25% per annum, or another rate based on certain market interest rates, plus a margin of 1.25% per annum. The principal amount of the term loan must be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof, commencing on June 30, 2017, with any unpaid balance due on April 1, 2024. United may prepay all or a portion of the loan from time to time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. United pays a commitment fee equal to 0.75% per annum on the undrawn amount available under the revolving credit facility.

 

The 2017 Credit Agreement includes covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain at least $2.0 billion of unrestricted liquidity and a minimum ratio of appraised value of collateral to the outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement of 1.60 to 1.0. The 2017 Credit Agreement contains events of default customary for this type of financing, including a cross default and cross acceleration provision to certain other material indebtedness of the Company. Under the provisions of the 2017 Credit Agreement, UAL’s ability to make investments and to pay dividends on, or repurchase, UAL’s common stock is restricted.

EETCs. In September 2016 and June 2016, United created EETC pass-through trusts, each of which issued pass-through certificates. The proceeds of the issuance of the pass-through certificates are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United and secured by its aircraft. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The pass-through certificates represent fractional undivided interests in the respective pass-through trusts and are not obligations of United. The payment obligations under the equipment notes are those of United. Proceeds received from the sale of pass-through certificates are initially held by a depositary in escrow for the benefit of the certificate holders until United issues equipment notes to the trust, which purchases such notes with a portion of the escrowed funds. These escrowed funds are not guaranteed by United and are not reported as debt on our consolidated balance sheet because the proceeds held by the depositary are not United’s assets. Certain details of the pass-through trusts with proceeds received from issuance of debt in 2017 are as follows (in millions, except stated interest rate):

 

EETC Date

  

Class

   Principal     

Final expected
distribution date

   Stated
interest
rate
     Total  debt
recorded
as of March 31,

2017
     Proceeds
received

from
issuance of 
debt during
2017
     Remaining
proceeds from
issuance of debt
to be received  in
future periods
 

September 2016

   AA      $          637       October 2028      2.875%          $                          253          $            173          $                  384   

September 2016

   A      283       October 2028      3.10%         112         76         171   

June 2016

   AA      729       July 2028      3.10%         729         319         —   

June 2016

   A      324       July 2028      3.45%         324         142         —   
     

 

 

          

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $       1,973                $                      1,418          $            710          $                  555   
     

 

 

          

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

5% Senior Notes due 2024. In January 2017, United issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5% Senior Notes due February 1, 2024 (the “5% Senior Notes due 2024”). These notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed and recorded by United on its balance sheet as debt. The indenture for the 5% Senior Notes due 2024 requires UAL to offer to repurchase the notes for cash at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest if certain changes of control of UAL occur.

The table below presents the Company’s contractual principal payments at March 31, 2017 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):

 

Last nine months of 2017

    $ 537   

2018

     1,466   

2019

     1,054   

2020

     1,058   

2021

     1,043   

After 2021

     6,873   
  

 

 

 
    $                 12,031