(10) Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:



	As of December 31, 2016		As of December 31, 2015

	(in thousands)
9.250% senior secured notes, due 2023	$	645,000	$	—
6.50% notes, due 2021	2,240		—
Credit Agreement term loan, due 2016	—		125,000
Total long-term debt, before unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	647,240		125,000
Less:
Unamortized discount	15,220		—
Unamortized debt issuance costs	8,913		227
Total long-term debt, net of current portion	$	623,107	$	124,773

As discussed in Note 2 ("Summary of Significant Accounting Policies"), the Partnership adopted ASU 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs", which requires that all costs incurred to issue debt be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt. As a result of adoption of the standard, debt issuance costs of $0.2 million were reclassified as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt balances in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015. A nominal amount of debt issuance costs related to the revolving credit facility was presented as assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, amortization of the discount on debt and amortization of deferred financing costs reported as interest expense and other financing costs totaled approximately $1.7 million, $1.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

2023 Notes

On June 10, 2016, the Partnership and CVR Nitrogen Finance Corporation, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, (together the "2023 Notes Issuers"), certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral trustee, completed a private offering of $645.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes"). The 2023 Notes mature on June 15, 2023, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased by the issuers. Interest on the 2023 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2016. The 2023 Notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by all of the Partnership’s existing subsidiaries.

The 2023 Notes were issued at a $16.1 million discount, which is being amortized over the term of the 2023 Notes as interest expense using the effective-interest method. The Partnership received approximately $622.9 million of cash proceeds, net of the original issue discount and underwriting fees, but before deducting other third-party fees and expenses associated with the offering. The net proceeds from the sale of the 2023 Notes were used to: (i) repay all amounts outstanding under the CRLLC Facility (defined and discussed below); (ii) finance the 2021 Notes Tender Offer (defined and discussed below) and (iii) to pay related fees and expenses.

The debt issuance costs of the 2023 Notes totaled approximately $9.4 million and are being amortized over the term of the 2023 Notes as interest expense using the effective-interest amortization method.

The 2023 Notes contain customary covenants for a financing of this type that, among other things, restrict the Partnership’s ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to: (i) sell assets; (ii) pay distributions on, redeem or repurchase the Partnership’s units or redeem or repurchase its subordinated debt; (iii) make investments; (iv) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue preferred units; (v) create or incur certain liens; (vi) enter into agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from the Partnership’s restricted subsidiaries to the Partnership; (vii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets; (viii) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (ix) create unrestricted subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2016, the Partnership was in compliance with the covenants contained in the 2023 Notes.

Included in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is accrued interest payable totaling approximately $2.7 million as of December 31, 2016 related to the 2023 Notes. At December 31, 2016, the estimated fair value of the 2023 Notes was approximately $664.4 million. This estimate of fair value is Level 2 as it was determined by quotations obtained from a broker-dealer who makes a market in these and similar securities.

2021 Notes

The $320.0 million 2021 Notes were issued by CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen Finance (the "2021 Notes Issuers") prior to the East Dubuque Merger. The 2021 Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.5% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The 2021 Notes are scheduled to mature on April 15, 2021, unless repurchased or redeemed earlier in accordance with their terms.

On April 29, 2016, the 2021 Notes Issuers commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase any and all of the outstanding 2021 Notes. In connection with the Tender Offer, the 2021 Notes Issuers solicited the consents of holders of the notes to certain proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes (the "Consent Solicitation"). As a result of the Tender Offer, on June 10, 2016, the 2021 Notes Issuers repurchased $315,245,000 of 2021 Notes, representing approximately 98.5% of the total outstanding principal amount of the notes at a purchase price of $1,015 per $1,000 in principal amount. The total amount paid related to the Tender Offer was approximately $320.0 million, including an approximate $4.7 million premium. Additionally, the 2021 Notes Issuers paid $3.1 million for accrued and unpaid interest for the tendered notes up to the settlement date. The 2021 Notes Issuers received the requisite consents in respect of the 2021 Notes in connection with the Consent Solicitation to amend the indenture governing the 2021 Notes. As a result, the 2021 Notes Issuers executed a supplemental indenture, dated as of June 10, 2016, which eliminated or modified substantially all of the restrictive covenants relating to CVR Nitrogen and its subsidiaries, eliminated all events of default other than failure to pay principal, premium or interest on the 2021 Notes, eliminated all conditions to satisfaction and discharge, and released the liens on the collateral securing the 2021 Notes. The repurchase of a portion of the 2021 Notes resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, which includes the Tender Offer premium of $4.7 million and the write-off of the unamortized portion of the purchase accounting adjustment of $0.4 million.

Concurrently with, but separately from the Tender Offer, the 2021 Notes Issuers also commenced an offer to purchase all of the outstanding 2021 Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, as required as a result of the East Dubuque Merger (the "Change of Control Offer"). The offer expired on June 28, 2016. As a result of the Change of Control Offer, the 2021 Notes Issuers repurchased $560,000 of 2021 Notes at a purchase price of $1,010 per $1,000 in principal amount. The total amount paid related to the Change of Control Offer was approximately $0.6 million, including a nominal amount of premium and accrued and unpaid interest. In November 2016, the Partnership repurchased $1.9 million principal amount of 2021 Notes, resulting in a $0.2 million gain on extinguishment of debt.

As of December 31, 2016, $2,240,000 of principal amount of the 2021 Notes remained outstanding and accrued interest was nominal.

Asset Based (ABL) Credit Facility

On September 30, 2016, the Partnership entered into a senior secured asset based revolving credit facility (the "ABL Credit Facility") with a group of lenders and UBS AG, Stamford Branch ("UBS"), as administrative agent and collateral agent. The ABL Credit Facility has an aggregate principal amount of availability of up to $50.0 million with an incremental facility, which permits an increase in borrowings of up to $25.0 million in the aggregate subject to additional lender commitments and certain other conditions. The proceeds of the loans may be used for capital expenditures and working capital and general corporate purposes of the Partnership and its subsidiaries. The ABL Credit Facility provides for loans and standby letters of credit in an amount up to the aggregate availability under the facility, subject to meeting certain borrowing base conditions, with sub-limits of the lesser of 10% of the total facility commitment and $5.0 million for swingline loans and $10.0 million for letters of credit. The ABL Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 30, 2021.

At the option of the borrowers, loans under the ABL Credit Facility initially bear interest at an annual rate equal to (i) 2.00% plus LIBOR or (ii) 1.00% plus a base rate, subject to a 0.50% step-down based on the previous quarter’s excess availability. The borrowers must also pay a commitment fee on the unutilized commitments and also pay customary letter of credit fees.

The ABL Credit Facility also contains customary covenants for a financing of this type that limit the ability of the Partnership and its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur liens, engage in a consolidation, merger, purchase or sale of assets, pay dividends, incur indebtedness, make advances, investments and loans, enter into affiliate transactions, issue equity interests or create subsidiaries and unrestricted subsidiaries. The ABL Credit Facility also contains a fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenant, as defined therein. The Partnership was in compliance with the covenants of the ABL Credit Facility as of December 31, 2016

In connection with the ABL Credit Facility, the Partnership incurred lender and other third-party costs of approximately $1.2 million, which are being deferred and amortized to interest expense and other financing costs using the straight-line method over the term of the facility.

As of December 31, 2016, the Partnership and its subsidiaries had availability under the ABL Credit Facility of $49.3 million. There were no borrowings outstanding under the ABL Credit Facility as of December 31, 2016.

CRLLC Facility

On April 1, 2016, in connection with the closing of the East Dubuque Merger, the Partnership entered into a $300.0 million senior term loan credit facility (the "CRLLC Facility") with CRLLC, as the lender, the proceeds of which were used by the Partnership (i) to fund the repayment of amounts outstanding under the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement discussed in Note 4 ("East Dubuque Merger") (ii) to pay the cash consideration and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the East Dubuque Merger and related transactions and (iii) to repay all of the loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement discussed below. The CRLLC Facility had a term of two years and an interest rate of 12.0% per annum. Interest was calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year and payable quarterly. In April 2016, the Partnership borrowed $300.0 million under the CRLLC Facility. On June 10, 2016, the Partnership paid off the $300.0 million outstanding under the CRLLC Facility, paid $7.0 million in interest, and terminated the CRLLC Facility.

Credit Agreement

The Partnership's credit facility includes a term loan facility of $125.0 million and a revolving credit facility of $25.0 million with an uncommitted incremental facility of up to $50.0 million. No amounts were drawn under the revolving credit facility. There was no scheduled amortization. The principal portion of the term loan is presented as long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 as the Partnership had the intent and ability to refinance the obligation on a long-term basis.

The credit facility was scheduled to mature on April 13, 2016. On April 1, 2016, in connection with the completion of the East Dubuque Merger, the Partnership repaid all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement and paid $0.3 million for accrued and unpaid interest. Effective upon such repayment, the Credit Agreement and all related loan documents and security interests were terminated and released. The repayment was funded from amounts drawn on the CRLLC Facility, as discussed above. The Partnership recognized a nominal amount of loss on debt extinguishment in connection with the termination of the Credit Agreement.

Previous borrowings under the credit facility bore interest at either a Eurodollar rate or a base rate plus a margin based on a pricing grid determined by the trailing four quarter leverage ratio. The margin for borrowings under the credit facility ranges from 3.50% to 4.25% for Eurodollar loans and 2.50% to 3.25% for base rate loans. During the periods presented, the interest rate was either the Eurodollar rate plus a margin of 3.50% or, for base rate loans, the prime rate plus 2.50%. Under its terms, the lenders under the credit facility were granted a first priority security interest (subject to certain customary exceptions) in substantially all of the assets of CVR Partners and CRNF. At December 31, 2015, the effective rate was approximately 4.60%, inclusive of the impact of the interest rate swaps discussed in Note 11 ("Interest Rate Swap Agreements").

The carrying value approximated fair value as of December 31, 2015.