9. Debt

Debt consists of the following amounts (in thousands):



	June 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
Current Portion of Senior Credit Facility - Bridge Loan	$	7,500	$	—
Current portion of Prior Senior Credit Facility—Working Capital Line ^{(1) (2)}	$	—	$	29,000
Current portion of Prior Senior Credit Facility—Acquisition Line⁽²⁾	—		22,287
Current portion of Note Payable—Pacific Summit Energy	—		15,501
Convertible subordinated notes to affiliate	—		6,582
Total current debt	7,500		73,370
Long-term portion of Senior Credit Facility	76,500		—
Subordinated Debt	15,000		5,000
Total long-term debt	91,500		5,000
Total debt	$	99,000	$	78,370

(1) As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $33.7 million and $29.6 million in letters of credit issued, respectively.

(2) As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate on the current portion of our Senior Credit Facility was 4.62% and 4.93%, respectively.

Deferred financing costs were $1.6 million and $0.4 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Of these amounts, $0.8 million and $0.4 million is recorded in other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and $0.8 million and zero is recorded in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, representing capitalized financing costs related to our Senior Credit Facility and Prior Senior Credit Facility.

Interest expense consists of the following components for the periods indicated (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Interest incurred on Senior Credit Facility ⁽¹⁾	$	543	$	405	$	1,237	$	723
Accretion related to Earnouts ⁽²⁾	1,433		—		2,660		—
Letters of credit fees and commitment fees	193		183		417		375
Amortization of deferred financing costs	283		117		531		234
Interest incurred on convertible subordinated notes to affiliate ⁽³⁾	—		127		1,052		253
Interest Expense	$	2,452	$	832	$	5,897	$	1,585

(1) Financial information has been recast to include results attributable to the acquisition of the Major Energy Companies by an affiliate on April 15, 2016. See Note 2 and 3 "Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Acquisitions" for further discussion.

(2) Includes accretion related to the Provider Earnout of less than $0.1 million and the Major Earnout of $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, and accretion related to the Provider Earnout of $0.1 million and the Major Earnout of $2.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

(3) Includes amortization of the discount on the convertible subordinated notes to affiliates of $0.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, and amortization of the discount on the convertible subordinated notes to affiliates of less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

Prior Senior Credit Facility

The Company, as guarantor, and Spark HoldCo (the “Borrower,” and together with Spark Energy, LLC, Spark Energy Gas, LLC, CenStar Energy Corp, CenStar Operating Company, LLC, Oasis, Oasis Power, LLC, Electricity Maine, LLC, Electricity N.H., LLC, and Provider Power Mass, LLC, each a subsidiary of Spark HoldCo, the “Co-Borrowers”) were party to a senior secured revolving credit facility (“Prior Senior Credit Facility”), which included a senior secured revolving working capital facility up to $82.5 million ("Working Capital Line") and a secured revolving line of credit of $25.0 million ("Acquisition Line") to be used specifically for the financing of up to 75% of the cost of acquisitions with the remainder to be financed by the Company either through cash on hand or the issuance of subordinated debt or equity.

The Prior Senior Credit Facility had a maturity date of July 8, 2017. The outstanding balances under the Working Capital Line and the Acquisition Line were paid in full on May 19, 2017 upon execution of the Company's new Senior Credit Facility.

Senior Credit Facility

On May 19, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company, as guarantor, and Spark HoldCo (the “Borrower” and, together with SE, SEG, CenStar, CenStar Operating Company, LLC, Oasis, Oasis Power, LLC, the Provider Companies, the Major Energy Companies and Perigee Energy, LLC, each subsidiaries of Spark HoldCo, the “Co-Borrowers”), entered into a senior secured borrowing base credit facility (the “Senior Credit Facility”) in an aggregate amount of $120.0 million. The Co-Borrowers are entitled to request an increase in the Senior Credit Facility amount up to $150.0 million provided that, among other things, (i) no event of default or default exists or would exist after giving effect thereto and (ii) evidence of the Co-Borrowers’ compliance with financial covenants on a pro forma basis before and after giving effect to such increase.

Subject to applicable sublimits and terms of the Senior Credit Facility, borrowings are available for the issuance of letters of credit (“Letters of Credit”), working capital and general purpose revolving credit loans up to $85.0 million (“Working Capital Loans”), and bridge loans up to $30.0 million (“Bridge Loans”) for the purpose of partial funding for acquisitions. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility may be used to refinance loans outstanding under the previous Senior Credit Facility, pay fees and expenses in connection with the current Senior Credit Facility, finance ongoing working capital requirements and general corporate purpose requirements of the Co-Borrowers, to provide partial funding for acquisitions, as allowed under terms of the Senior Credit Facility, and to make open market purchases of the Company’s Class A common stock.

The Senior Credit Facility will mature on May 19, 2019, and all amounts outstanding thereunder will be payable on the maturity date. Borrowings under the Bridge Loan sublimit will be repaid 25% per year, with the remainder due at maturity.

At our election, the interest rate for Working Capital Loans and Letters of Credit under the Senior Credit Facility is generally determined by reference to:


•	the Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin of up to 3.00% per annum (based on the prevailing utilization); or


•	the alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of up to 2.00% per annum (based on the prevailing utilization). The alternate base rate is equal to the highest of (i) the prime rate (as published in the Wall Street Journal), (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum, or (iii) the reference Eurodollar rate plus 1.00%.

Bridge Loan borrowings, if any, under the Senior Credit Facility are generally determined by reference to:


•	the Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin of 3.75% per annum; or


•	the alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 2.75% per annum. The alternate base rate is equal to the highest of (i) the prime rate (as published in the Wall Street Journal), (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum, or (iii) the reference Eurodollar rate plus 1.00%.

The Co-Borrowers will pay a commitment fee of 0.50% quarterly in arrears on the unused portion of the Senior Credit Facility. In addition, the Co-Borrowers will be subject to additional fees including an upfront fee, an annual agency fee, and letter of credit fees based on a percentage of the face amount of letters of credit payable to any syndicate member that issues a letter a credit.

The Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things, require the maintenance of specified ratios or conditions as follows:

•

Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Spark Energy, Inc. must maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1.00. The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is defined as the ratio of (a) Adjusted EBITDA to (b) the sum of consolidated (with respect to the Company and the Co-Borrowers) interest expense (other than interest paid-in-kind in respect of any Subordinated Debt but including interest in respect of that certain promissory note made by Censtar Energy Corp in connection with the permitted acquisition from Verde Energy USA Holdings, LLC), letter of credit fees, commitment fees, acquisition earn-out payments (excluding earnout payments funded with proceeds from newly issued preferred or common equity of the Company), distributions, the aggregate amount of repurchases of the Company’s Class A common stock or commitments for such purchases, taxes and scheduled amortization payments.


•	Maximum Total Leverage Ratio. Spark Energy, Inc. must maintain a ratio of total indebtedness (excluding eligible subordinated debt) to Adjusted EBITDA of no more than 2.00 to 1.00.

The Senior Credit Facility contains various negative covenants that limit the Company’s ability to, among other things, do any of the following:


•	incur certain additional indebtedness;


•	grant certain liens;


•	engage in certain asset dispositions;


•	merge or consolidate;


•	make certain payments, distributions, investments, acquisitions or loans;


•	materially modify certain agreements; or


•	enter into transactions with affiliates.

The Senior Credit Facility is secured by pledges of the equity of the portion of Spark HoldCo owned by the Company, the equity of Spark HoldCo’s subsidiaries, the Co-Borrowers’ present and future subsidiaries, and substantially all of the Co-Borrowers’ and their subsidiaries’ present and future property and assets, including accounts receivable, inventory and liquid investments, and control agreements relating to bank accounts.

Spark Energy, Inc. is entitled to pay cash dividends to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and Class A common stock and will be entitled to repurchase up to an aggregate amount of 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock through one or more normal course open market purchases through NASDAQ so long as: (a) no default exists or would result therefrom; (b) the Co-Borrowers are in pro forma compliance with all financial covenants before and after giving effect thereto; and (c) the outstanding amount of all loans and letters of credit does not exceed the borrowing base limits.

The Senior Credit Facility contains certain customary representations and warranties and events of default. Events of default include, among other things, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults and cross-acceleration to certain indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, certain events under ERISA, material judgments in excess of $5.0 million, certain events with respect to material contracts, actual or asserted failure of any guaranty or security document supporting the Senior Credit Facility to be in full force and effect, failure of Nathan Kroeker to retain his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and failure of W. Keith Maxwell III to retain his position as chairman of the board of directors. A default will also occur if at any time W. Keith Maxwell III ceases to, directly or indirectly, own at least 13,600,000 Class A and Class B shares on a combined basis (to be adjusted by any stock split, subdivisions or other stock reclassification or recapitalization), and a controlling percentage of the voting equity interest of the Company, and certain other changes in control. If such an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the facility and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.

In addition, the Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative covenants that are customary for credit facilities of this type. The covenants include delivery of financial statements, including any filings made with the SEC, maintenance of property and insurance, payment of taxes and obligations, material compliance with laws, inspection of property, books and records and audits, use of proceeds, payments to bank blocked accounts, notice of defaults and certain other customary matters.

Convertible Subordinated Notes to Affiliate

In connection with the financing of the CenStar acquisition, the Company, together with Spark HoldCo, issued the CenStar Note to RAC for $2.1 million on July 8, 2015. The CenStar Note matures on July 8, 2020, and bears interest at an annual rate of 5%, payable semiannually. The Company has the right to pay interest in kind at its option. The CenStar Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (and a related unit of Spark HoldCo) at a conversion price of $8.285 per share. RAC may not exercise conversion rights for the first eighteen months after the CenStar Note is issued. The CenStar Note is subject to automatic conversion upon a sale of the Company. The CenStar Note is subordinated in certain respects to the Senior Credit Facility pursuant to a subordination agreement. The Company may pay interest and prepay principal so long as the Company is in compliance with its covenants; is not in default under the Senior Credit Facility and has minimum availability of $5.0 million under its borrowing base under the Senior Credit Facility. Shares of Class A common stock resulting from the conversion of the shares of Class B common stock issued as a result of the conversion right under the CenStar Note will be entitled to registration rights identical to the registration rights currently held by NuDevco Retail and Retailco on shares of Class A common stock it receives upon conversion of its existing shares of Class B common stock. On October 5, 2016, RAC issued to the Company an irrevocable commitment to convert the CenStar Note into 269,462 shares of Class B common stock. RAC assigned the CenStar Note to Retailco on January 4, 2017, and on January 8, 2017, the CenStar Note was converted into 269,462 shares of Class B common stock.

In connection with the financing of the Oasis acquisition, the Company, together with Spark HoldCo, issued the Oasis Note to RAC for $5.0 million on July 31, 2015. The Oasis Note matures on July 31, 2020, and bears interest at an annual rate of 5%, payable semiannually. The Company has the right to pay-in-kind any interest at its option. The Oasis Note is convertible into shares of the Company's Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (and a related unit of Spark HoldCo) at a conversion price of $7.00 per share. RAC may not exercise conversion rights for the first eighteen months after the Oasis Note is issued. The Oasis Note is subject to automatic conversion upon a sale of the Company. The Oasis Note is subordinated in certain respects to the Senior Credit Facility pursuant to a subordination agreement. The Company may pay interest and prepay principal so long as the Company is in compliance with its covenants; is not in default under the Senior Credit Facility and has minimum availability of $5.0 million under its borrowing base under the Senior Credit Facility. Shares of Class A common stock resulting from the conversion of the shares of Class B common stock issued as a result of the conversion right under the Oasis Note will be entitled to registration rights identical to the registration rights currently held by NuDevco Retail and Retailco on shares of Class A common stock it receives upon conversion of its existing shares of Class B common stock. On October 5, 2016, RAC issued to the Company an irrevocable commitment to convert the Oasis Note into 766,180 shares of Class B common stock. RAC assigned the Oasis Note to Retailco on January 4, 2017, and on January 31, 2017 the Oasis Note was converted into 766,180 shares of Class B common stock.

The conversion rate of $7.00 per share for the Oasis Note was fixed as of the date of the execution of the Oasis acquisition agreement on May 12, 2015. Due to a rise in the price of our common stock from May 12, 2015 to the closing of Oasis acquisition on July 31, 2015, the conversion rate of $7.00 per share was below the market price per share of Class A common stock of $8.11 on the issuance date of the Oasis Note on July 31, 2015. As a result, the Company assessed the Oasis Note for a beneficial conversion feature. Due to this conversion feature being "in-the-money" upon issuance, we recognized a beneficial conversion feature based on its intrinsic value of $0.8 million as a discount to the Oasis Note and as additional paid-in capital. This discount was amortized as interest expense under the effective interest method over the life of the Oasis Note through the conversion on January 31, 2017, at which time the remaining $1.0 million beneficial conversion feature was written-off and recognized as interest expense.

Subordinated Debt Facility

On December 27, 2016, we and Spark HoldCo jointly issued to Retailco, an entity owned by our Founder, a 5% subordinated note in the principal amount of up to $25.0 million. The subordinated note allows the Company and Spark HoldCo to draw advances in increments of no less than $1.0 million per advance up to the maximum principal amount of the subordinated note. The subordinated note matures approximately three and a half years following the date of issuance, and advances thereunder accrue interest at 5% per annum from the date of the advance. The Company has the right to capitalize interest payments under the subordinated note. The subordinated note is subordinated in certain respects to the Company's Senior Credit Facility pursuant to a subordination agreement. The Company may pay interest and prepay principal on the subordinated note so long as it is in compliance with its covenants under the Senior Credit Facility, is not in default under the Senior Credit Facility and has minimum availability of $5.0 million under the borrowing base under the Senior Credit Facility. Payment of principal and interest under the subordinated note is accelerated upon the occurrence of certain change of control or sale transactions. As of June 30, 2017, there was $15.0 million outstanding borrowings under the subordinated note, and at December 31, 2016, there was $5.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the subordinated note.

Pacific Summit Energy LLC

Prior to March 31, 2017, the Major Energy Companies were party to three trade credit arrangements with Pacific Summit Energy LLC (“Pacific Summit”), which consisted of purchase agreements, operating agreements relating to purchasing terms, security agreements, lockbox agreements and guarantees, and provided for the exclusive supply of gas and electricity on credit by Pacific Summit to the Major Energy Companies for resale to end users.

Under these arrangements, when the costs that Pacific Summit paid to procure and deliver the gas and electricity exceeded the payments that the Major Energy Companies made attributable to the gas and electricity purchased, the Major Energy Companies incurred interest on the difference. The operating agreements also allowed Pacific Summit to provide credit support. Each form of borrowing incurred interest at the floating 90-day LIBOR rate plus 300 basis points (except for certain credit support guaranties that did not bear interest). In connection with these arrangements, the Major Companies granted first liens to Pacific Summit on a substantial portion of the Major Companies’ assets, including present and future accounts receivable, inventory, liquid assets, and control agreements relating to bank accounts. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had aggregate outstanding amounts payable under these arrangements of approximately $15.5 million, bearing an interest rate of approximately 4.0%. The Company was also the beneficiary under various credit support guarantees issued by Pacific Summit under these arrangements as of such date. On September 27, 2016, we notified Pacific Summit of our election to trigger the expiration of these arrangements. On March 31, 2017 the agreements were terminated.