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Long-Term Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt

(8)   Long-Term Debt:

The activity in our long-term debt from January 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

  

 

Nine months ended

  

  

  

  

 

  

 

  

  

 

September 30, 2015

  

  

  

 

Interest

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

Rate at

  

 

January 1,

  

Payments

  

New

  

September 30,

 

September 30,

($ in millions)

 

2015

 

and Retirements

 

Borrowings

 

2015

 

2015 *

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

Senior Unsecured Debt

 

$

9,750 

 

$

(272)

 

 $

6,600 

  

 $

16,078 

 

8.98%

Secured Debt

 

 

23 

  

 

(2)

  

 

  

 

24 

 

3.64%

Rural Utilities Service Loan Contracts

 

 

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

  

 

 

6.15%

Total Long-Term Debt

 

$

9,781 

 

 $

(274)

 

 $

6,603 

  

$

16,110 

 

8.97%

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

  Less: Debt (Discount)/Premium

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

 

  Less: Current Portion

 

 

(298)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

(97)

  

 

 

 

$

9,486 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

$

16,016 

  

 

 

*  Interest rate includes amortization of debt issuance costs and debt premiums or discounts. The interest rates at September 30, 2015 represent a weighted average of multiple issuances.

Additional information regarding our senior unsecured debt and subsidiary debentures is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

September 30, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

 

Interest

 

Principal

 

Interest

 

 

Outstanding

 

Rate

 

Outstanding

 

Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Unsecured Debt Due:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/15/2015

 

 

 -

 

-

 

 

105 

 

6.625%

4/15/2015

 

 

 -

 

-

 

 

97 

 

7.875%

10/14/2016 *

 

 

359 

 

2.575% (Variable)

 

 

402 

 

3.045% (Variable)

4/15/2017

 

 

607 

 

8.250%

 

 

607 

 

8.250%

10/1/2018

 

 

583 

 

8.125%

 

 

583 

 

8.125%

3/15/2019

 

 

434 

 

7.125%

 

 

434 

 

7.125%

10/24/2019 **

 

 

323 

 

3.575% (Variable)

 

 

350 

 

3.545% (Variable)

4/15/2020

 

 

1,022 

 

8.500%

 

 

1,022 

 

8.500%

9/15/2020

 

 

1,000 

 

8.875%

 

 

 -

 

-

7/1/2021

 

 

500 

 

9.250%

 

 

500 

 

9.250%

9/15/2021

 

 

775 

 

6.250%

 

 

775 

 

6.250%

4/15/2022

 

 

500 

 

8.750%

 

 

500 

 

8.750%

9/15/2022

 

 

2,000 

 

10.500%

 

 

 -

 

-

1/15/2023

 

 

850 

 

7.125%

 

 

850 

 

7.125%

4/15/2024

 

 

750 

 

7.625%

 

 

750 

 

7.625%

1/15/2025

 

 

775 

 

6.875%

 

 

775 

 

6.875%

9/15/2025

 

 

3,600 

 

11.000%

 

 

 -

 

-

11/1/2025

 

 

138 

 

7.000%

 

 

138 

 

7.000%

8/15/2026

 

 

 

6.800%

 

 

 

6.800%

1/15/2027

 

 

346 

 

7.875%

 

 

346 

 

7.875%

8/15/2031

 

 

945 

 

9.000%

 

 

945 

 

9.000%

10/1/2034

 

 

 

7.680%

 

 

 

7.680%

7/1/2035

 

 

125 

 

7.450%

 

 

125 

 

7.450%

10/1/2046

 

 

193 

 

7.050%

 

 

193 

 

7.050%

 

 

 

15,828 

 

 

 

 

9,500 

 

 

Subsidiary Debentures Due:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  2/15/2028

 

 

200 

 

6.730%

 

 

200 

 

6.730%

  10/15/2029

 

 

50 

 

8.400%

 

 

50 

 

8.400%

Total

 

$

16,078 

 

8.72% ***

 

$

9,750 

 

7.45% ***

 

*      Represents borrowings under the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement, as defined below.

**    Represents borrowings under the 2014 CoBank Credit Agreement, as defined below.

***  Interest rate represents a weighted average of the stated interest rates of multiple issuances.

On September 25, 2015, Frontier completed a private offering of $6,600 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured Senior Notes, as follows: $1,000 million of 8.875% Senior Notes due 2020; $2,000 million of 10.500% Senior Notes due 2022; and $3,600 million of 11.000% Senior Notes due 2025. Each was issued at a price equal to 100% of its principal amount. Frontier intends to use the proceeds from the offering to finance a portion of the cash consideration payable in connection with the Verizon Transaction and to pay related fees and expenses. The net proceeds of the debt offering (after deducting underwriting fees) of $6,485 million are included in “Restricted cash” in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015.  These funds were deposited in an escrow account to partially fund the acquisition or, if the acquisition is terminated or otherwise not consummated on or before August 6, 2016, to redeem the new Senior Notes at par plus accrued interest.

 

On August 12, 2015, Frontier entered into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, for a $1,500 million senior secured delayed-draw term loan facility (the 2015 Credit Agreement).  The term loan will be drawn at the closing of the Verizon Transaction.  The final maturity date is the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the draw date or March 31, 2021.  Repayment of the outstanding principal balance will be made in quarterly installments, initially in the amount of $19 million per installment, commencing one full fiscal quarter after the draw date.  The quarterly installments will increase to $38 million, beginning with the 13th quarterly installment.  The remaining outstanding principal balance will be repaid on the final maturity date.  Borrowings under the term loan will bear interest based on margins over the Base Rate (as defined in the 2015 Credit Agreement) or LIBOR, at the election of Frontier.  Interest rate margins under the facility (ranging from 0.75% to 1.75% for Base Rate borrowings and 1.75% to 2.75% for LIBOR borrowings) are subject to adjustment based on Frontier’s Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2015 Credit Agreement).  Borrowings under the 2015 Credit Agreement will be secured by a pledge of the stock of Frontier North Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary.

 

On February 5, 2015, we entered into a commitment for a bridge loan facility (the Verizon Bridge Facility) and recognized related interest expense of $52 million and $184 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The accrued liabilities related to the Verizon Bridge Facility of $173 million are included in “Other current liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015.  The Verizon Bridge Facility terminated, in accordance with its terms, on September 25, 2015.

 

During the first nine months of 2015, we entered into secured financings totaling $3 million with four year terms and no stated interest rate for certain equipment purchases.

 

Frontier has a credit agreement with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent, lead arranger and a lender, and the other lenders party thereto, for a $350 million senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility (the 2014 CoBank Credit Agreement). The facility was drawn upon closing of the Connecticut Acquisition with proceeds used to partially finance the acquisition. The maturity date is October 24, 2019. Repayment of the outstanding principal balance will be made in quarterly installments of $9 million, which commenced on March 31, 2015, with the remaining outstanding principal balance to be repaid on the maturity date. Borrowings under the 2014 CoBank Credit Agreement bear interest based on the margins over the Base Rate (as defined in the 2014 CoBank Credit Agreement) or LIBOR, at the election of Frontier. Interest rate margins under the facility (ranging from 0.875% to 2.875% for Base Rate borrowings and 1.875% to 3.875% for LIBOR borrowings) are subject to adjustments based on our Total Leverage Ratio, as such term is defined in the 2014 CoBank Credit Agreement. The interest rate on this facility at September 30, 2015 was LIBOR plus 3.375%.

 

Frontier has a credit agreement with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent, lead arranger and a lender, and the other lenders party thereto, for a $575 million senior unsecured term loan facility with a final maturity of October 14, 2016 (the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement). The entire facility was drawn upon execution of the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement in October 2011. Repayment of the outstanding principal balance is made in quarterly installments of $14 million, which commenced on March 31, 2012, with the remaining outstanding principal balance to be repaid on the final maturity date. Borrowings under the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement bear interest based on the margins over the Base Rate (as defined in the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement) or LIBOR, at the election of Frontier. Interest rate margins under the facility (ranging from 0.875% to 2.875% for Base Rate borrowings and 1.875% to 3.875% for LIBOR borrowings) are subject to adjustments based on our Total Leverage Ratio, as such term is defined in the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement. The interest rate on this facility at September 30, 2015 was LIBOR plus 2.375%

 

Frontier has a revolving credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the lenders party thereto and the other parties named therein (the Revolving Credit Agreement), for a $750 million revolving credit facility (the Revolving Credit Facility) with a scheduled termination date of May 31, 2018. As of September 30, 2015, the Revolving Credit Facility was fully available and no borrowings had been made thereunder. Associated commitment fees under the Revolving Credit Facility will vary from time to time depending on our debt rating (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and were 0.450% per annum as of September 30, 2015. During the term of the Revolving Credit Facility, Frontier may borrow, repay and reborrow funds, and may obtain letters of credit, subject to customary borrowing conditions. Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest based on the alternate base rate or the adjusted LIBO Rate (each as determined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), at our election, plus a margin based on our debt rating (ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% for alternate base rate borrowings and 1.50% to 2.50% for adjusted LIBO Rate borrowings). The interest rate on this facility at September 30, 2015 would have been the alternate base rate plus 1.50% or the adjusted LIBO Rate plus 2.50%, respectively. Letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility will also be subject to fees that vary depending on our debt rating. The Revolving Credit Facility is available for general corporate purposes but may not be used to fund dividend payments.

 

Upon the drawdown of the term loan under the 2015 Credit Agreement in connection with the closing of the Verizon Transaction, borrowings under the 2014 CoBank Credit Agreement, the 2011 CoBank Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Facility will become secured debt. These borrowings will be secured, equally and ratably with borrowings under the 2015 Credit Agreement, by a pledge of the stock of Frontier North Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary.

 

As of September 30, 2015, we were in compliance with all of our debt and credit facility financial covenants.

 

Our scheduled principal payments are as follows as of September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

($ in millions)

 

Payments

    

 

 

 

2015 (remaining three months)

 

$

24 

2016

 

$

384 

2017

 

$

646 

2018

 

$

620 

2019

 

$

645 

2020

 

$

2,022 

Thereafter

 

$

11,769