Capital Markets Long Term Debt (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term Debt [Text Block]

The monthly cash dividend to common shareholders was temporarily suspended following the common share dividend paid on May 15, 2020 to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2020. On July 13, 2021, following termination of the Covenant Relief Period, the Company resumed regular monthly cash dividends to common shareholders. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company declared cash dividends totaling $0.75 per common share.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company amended the Consolidated Credit Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement to modify certain provisions and waive its obligations to comply with certain covenants under these agreements. During the Covenant Relief Period, the Company's obligation to comply with certain covenants under these agreements was waived in light of the uncertainty related to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company and its tenants and borrowers. The Company paid higher interest costs during the Covenant Relief Period and the interest rates on the revolving credit and term loan facilities both during and after the Covenant Relief Period are dependent on the Company's unsecured debt ratings.

The amendments to the Consolidated Credit Agreement and Note Purchase Agreement also imposed additional restrictions on the Company during the Covenant Relief Period, including limitations on making investments, incurring indebtedness, making capital expenditures, paying dividends or making other distributions, repurchasing the Company's shares, voluntarily prepaying certain indebtedness, encumbering certain assets and maintaining a minimum liquidity amount, in each case subject to certain exceptions. The Company had the right under certain circumstances to terminate the Covenant Relief Period earlier, which it exercised on July 12, 2021 as discussed below.

On July 12, 2021, the Company provided notice of its election to terminate the Covenant Relief Period early and was released from the additional restrictions described above. Also, as a result of this election, effective July 13, 2021, the interest rates for the revolving credit and term loan facilities, based on the Company's unsecured debt ratings, returned to LIBOR plus 1.20% and LIBOR plus 1.35%, respectively (both with a LIBOR floor of zero), and the facility fee on the revolving credit facility was reduced to 0.25%. Additionally, the interest rates for the private placement notes returned to 4.35% and 4.56% for the Series A notes and the Series B notes, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company paid off the balance of $590.0 million on its unsecured revolving credit facility. In addition, the Company paid down principal of approximately $23.8 million on its private placement notes resulting from the sale of assets in accordance with the amendments.

On September 13, 2021, the Company paid off its $400.0 million unsecured term loan facility and $1.5 million of deferred financing costs (net of accumulated amortization) were written off during the three months ended September 30, 2021. In connection with the payoff, the Company terminated the related interest rate swap agreements on its term loan facility for a cash settlement of $3.2 million. Both amounts, totaling $4.7 million, are included in costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff for the three months ended September 30, 2021. See Note 10 for further details.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company received an investment grade rating from S&P Global Ratings on its unsecured debt, adding to its current investment grade rating from Moody's Investors Services. The Company previously caused certain of its key subsidiaries to guarantee its obligations under its existing bank

credit facility, private placement notes and senior unsecured bonds due to a decrease in the Company's credit ratings resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the Company obtaining an investment grade rating on its long-term unsecured debt from both S&P and Moody's, the Company's subsidiary guarantors were released from their guarantees under these debt agreements in accordance with the terms of such agreements. Additionally, during October of 2021, Moody's revised its outlook on the Company's investment grade rating on its unsecured debt from negative to stable.

Subsequent to September 30, 2021, on October 6, 2021, the Company entered into a Third Amended, Restated and Consolidated Credit Agreement, governing a new amended and restated senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The new facility, which will mature on October 6, 2025, replaced the Company’s existing $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility and $400.0 million senior unsecured term loan facility. The new facility provides for an initial maximum principal amount of borrowing availability of $1.0 billion with an “accordion” feature under which the Company may increase the total maximum principal amount available by $1.0 billion, to a total of $2.0 billion, subject to lender consent. The new facility has the same pricing terms and financial covenants as the prior facility (with improved valuation of certain asset types), as well as customary covenants and events of default. The Company has two options to extend the maturity date of the new credit facility by an additional six months each (for a total of 12 months), subject to paying additional fees and the absence of any default.

On October 27, 2021, the Company issued $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due November 15, 2031 pursuant to an underwritten public offering. The notes bear interest at an annual rate of 3.60%. Interest is payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year beginning on May 15, 2022 until the stated maturity date. The notes were issued at 99.174% of their face value and are unsecured. The notes contain various covenants, including: (i) a limitation on incurrence of any debt which would cause the ratio of the Company’s debt to adjusted total assets to exceed 60%; (ii) a limitation on incurrence of any secured debt which would cause the ratio of the Company’s secured debt to adjusted total assets to exceed 40%; (iii) a limitation on incurrence of any debt which would cause the Company’s debt service coverage ratio to be less than 1.5 times; and (iv) the maintenance at all times of the Company's total unencumbered assets such that they are not less than 150% of the Company’s outstanding unsecured debt. Net proceeds from the note offering will be used for the redemption of the Company's senior notes due in 2023 discussed below and for general business purposes, including the acquisition of experiential properties consistent with the Company’s current strategy.

In addition, on October 13, 2021, the Company delivered notice of redemption to redeem all of the $275.0 million principal amount of its 5.25% senior notes due in 2023. The redemption date has been set for November 12, 2021 and the Company will use a portion of the proceeds from the senior note offering completed in October to fund this redemption plus the make-whole premium payment.