LONG-TERM DEBT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

LONG-TERM DEBT

LONG-TERM DEBT

7.LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt outstanding, presented net of unamortized discounts, consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

(In thousands)	2019		2018
Senior secured credit facility:
Term loans, net of discounts of $5,604 and $6,994 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively	$	1,779,109	$	1,796,068
Revolving loan		40,000		22,000
6.50% Senior notes due 2022, net of discount of $1,998 and $2,991 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively		443,002		497,009
		2,262,111		2,315,077
Less: current portion of long-term debt		(18,350)		(18,350)
Less: deferred debt issuance costs		(8,152)		(11,386)
Total long-term debt	$	2,235,609	$	2,285,341

Credit Agreement

In October 2016, the Company, through certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with various financial institutions (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”).  The Credit Agreement consists of a $110.0 million revolving credit facility, an initial term loan in the aggregate amount of $900.0 million (the “Initial Term Loan”) and an incremental term loan in the aggregate amount of $935.0 million (the “Incremental Term Loan”), collectively (the “Term Loans”).  The Credit Agreement also includes an incremental loan facility which provides the ability to borrow, subject to certain terms and conditions, incremental loans in an aggregate amount of up to the greater of (a) $300.0 million and (b) an amount which would cause its senior secured leverage ratio

not to exceed 3.00:1.00 (the “Incremental Facility”).  Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, with the exception of Consolidated Communications of Illinois Company and our majority-owned subsidiary, East Texas Fiber Line Incorporated.  

The Initial Term Loan was issued in an original aggregate principal amount of $900.0 million with a maturity date of October 5, 2023, but is subject to earlier maturity on March 31, 2022 if the Company’s unsecured Senior Notes due in October 2022 are not repaid in full or redeemed in full on or prior to March 31, 2022. The Initial Term Loan contains an original issuance discount of 0.25% or $2.3 million, which is being amortized over the term of the loan.  The Initial Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $2.25 million and has an interest rate of 3.00% plus the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR“) subject to a 1.00% LIBOR floor.

The Incremental Term Loan was issued on July 3, 2017 in an original aggregate principal amount of $935.0 million and included an original issue discount of 0.50%, which is being amortized over the term of the loan. The Incremental Term Loan has the same maturity date and interest rate as the Initial Term Loan and requires quarterly principal payments of $2.34 million.

Our revolving credit facility has a maturity date of October 5, 2021 and an applicable margin (at our election) of between 2.50% and 3.25% for LIBOR-based borrowings or between 1.50% and 2.25% for alternate base rate borrowings, depending on our leverage ratio.  Based on our leverage ratio at December 31, 2019, the borrowing margin for the next three month period ending March 31, 2020 will be at a weighted-average margin of 3.00% for a LIBOR-based loan or 2.00% for an alternate base rate loan.  The applicable borrowing margin for the revolving credit facility is adjusted quarterly to reflect the leverage ratio from the prior quarter-end.  As of December 31, 2019, borrowings of $40.0 million were outstanding under the revolving credit facility, which consisted of LIBOR-based borrowings of $30.0 million and alternate base rate borrowings of $10.0 million.  At December 31, 2018, borrowings of $22.0 million were outstanding under the revolving credit facility, which consisted of LIBOR-based borrowings of $10.0 million and alternate base rate borrowings of $12.0 million.  Stand-by letters of credit of $17.1 million were outstanding under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2019.  The stand-by letters of credit are renewable annually and reduce the borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility.  As of December 31, 2019, $52.9 million was available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility.

The weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under our credit facility was 4.80% and 5.54% at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  Interest is payable at least quarterly.

Credit Agreement Covenant Compliance

The Credit Agreement contains various provisions and covenants, including, among other items, restrictions on the ability to pay dividends, incur additional indebtedness, and issue certain capital stock.  We have agreed to maintain certain financial ratios, including interest coverage and total net leverage ratios, all as defined in the Credit Agreement.  Among other things, it will be an event of default if our total net leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter is greater than 5.25:1.00 and less than 2.25:1.00, respectively.  As of December 31, 2019, our total net leverage ratio under the Credit Agreement was 4.38:1.00, and our interest coverage ratio was 3.69:1.00.  As of December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with the Credit Agreement covenants.

Senior Notes

6.50% Senior Notes due 2022

In September 2014, we completed an offering of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Senior Notes due in October 2022 (the “Existing Notes”).  The Existing Notes were priced at par, which resulted in total gross proceeds of $200.0 million.  On June 8, 2015, we completed an additional offering of $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “New Notes” and together with the Existing Notes, the “Senior Notes”).  The New Notes were issued as additional notes under the same indenture pursuant to which the Existing Notes were previously issued on in September 2014.  The New Notes were priced at 98.26% of par with a yield to maturity of 6.80% and resulted in total gross proceeds of approximately $294.8 million, excluding accrued interest.  The discount is being amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the notes.  

The Senior Notes mature on October 1, 2022 and interest is payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year.  Consolidated Communications, Inc. (“CCI”) is the primary obligor under the Senior Notes, and we and the majority of our wholly-owned subsidiaries have fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Senior Notes.  The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company.  

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased $55.0 million of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes. In connection with the partial repurchase of the Senior Notes, we paid $49.8 million and recognized a gain on extinguishment of debt of $4.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Senior Notes Covenant Compliance

Subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, the indenture governing the Senior Notes contains customary covenants that, among other things, limits CCI’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ ability to: incur additional debt or issue certain preferred stock; pay dividends or make other distributions on capital stock or prepay subordinated indebtedness; purchase or redeem any equity interests; make investments; create liens; sell assets; enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other payments by restricted subsidiaries; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets; engage in transactions with its affiliates; or enter into any sale and leaseback transactions.  The indenture also contains customary events of default.  At December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all terms, conditions and covenants under the indenture governing the Senior Notes.

Future Maturities of Debt

At December 31, 2019, the aggregate maturities of our long-term debt excluding finance leases were as follows:

(In thousands)
2020	$	18,350
2021		58,350
2022		463,350
2023		1,729,663
Total maturities		2,269,713
Less: Unamortized discount		(7,602)
	$	2,262,111