NOTE 7. CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

On June 26, 2014, the Company entered into a fourth amended and restated credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") for a revolving credit facility of $350.0 million with a maturity date of June 26, 2019. The maximum availability under the Credit Agreement can be increased to $500.0 million with bank approval. The Company's obligation under its Credit Agreement is collateralized by its U.S. inventory. The Credit Agreement's capacity includes $50.0 million for the issuance of stand-by letters of credit and was reduced by outstanding stand-by letters of credit which totaled $23.5 million and $23.4 million at February 29, 2016 and August 31, 2015, respectively.

Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is required to comply with certain financial and non-financial covenants, including covenants to maintain: (i) an interest coverage ratio (consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, as each is defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 2.50 to 1.00 and (ii) a debt to capitalization ratio (consolidated funded debt to total capitalization, as each is defined in the Credit Agreement) that does not exceed 0.60 to 1.00. In addition, beginning on the date three months prior to each maturity date of the Company's 2017 Notes and 2018 Notes, as defined below, and each day thereafter that the 2017 Notes and the 2018 Notes are outstanding, the Company will be required to maintain liquidity of at least $150.0 million in excess of each of the outstanding aggregate principal amounts of the 2017 Notes and 2018 Notes. Loans under the Credit Agreement bear interest based on the Eurocurrency rate, a base rate, or the LIBOR rate.

At February 29, 2016, the Company's interest coverage ratio was 4.53 to 1.00, and the Company's debt to capitalization ratio was 0.44 to 1.00. The Company had no amounts drawn under its revolving credit facility at February 29, 2016 and August 31, 2015.

In May 2013, the Company issued $330.0 million of 4.875% Senior Notes due May 15, 2023 (the "2023 Notes"). Interest on these notes is payable semiannually.

In August 2008, the Company issued $500.0 million of 7.35% senior unsecured notes due in August 2018 (the "2018 Notes"). In anticipation of the offering, the Company entered into hedge transactions which reduced the Company's effective interest rate on these notes to 6.40% per annum. Interest on these notes is payable semiannually. In February 2016, the Company accepted for purchase approximately $100.2 million of the outstanding principal amount of its 2018 Notes through a cash tender offer. The Company recognized expenses of approximately $6.0 million related to the early extinguishment of this debt, which are included in loss on debt extinguishment in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three and six months ended February 29, 2016.

In July 2007, the Company issued $400.0 million of 6.50% senior unsecured notes due in July 2017 (the "2017 Notes"). In anticipation of the offering, the Company entered into hedge transactions which reduced the Company's effective interest rate on these notes to 5.74% per annum. Interest on these notes is payable semiannually. In February 2016, the Company accepted for purchase $100.0 million of the outstanding principal amount of its 2017 Notes though a cash tender offer. The Company recognized expenses of approximately $5.4 million related to the early extinguishment of this debt, which are included in loss on debt extinguishment in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three and six months ended February 29, 2016.

At February 29, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in its debt agreements.

During fiscal 2012, the Company terminated its existing interest rate swap transactions and received cash proceeds of approximately $52.7 million, net of customary finance charges. The resulting gain was deferred and is being amortized as a reduction to interest expense over the remaining term of the respective debt tranches. At February 29, 2016 and August 31, 2015, the unamortized amounts were $15.5 million and $19.2 million, respectively. Amortization of the deferred gain for each of the three and six months ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015 was $1.9 million and $3.8 million, respectively.

The Company has uncommitted credit facilities available from U.S. and international banks. In general, these credit facilities are used to support trade letters of credit (including accounts payable settled under bankers' acceptances), foreign exchange transactions and short-term advances which are priced at market rates.

Long-term debt, including the deferred gain from the termination of the interest rate swaps, was as follows:



(in thousands)	Weighted Average Interest Rate as of February 29, 2016	February 29, 2016		August 31, 2015
2023 Notes	4.875%	$	330,000	$	330,000
2018 Notes	6.40%	411,186		513,680
2017 Notes	5.74%	304,087		405,573
Other, including equipment notes		37,404		38,739
		1,082,677		1,287,992
Less current maturities		10,845		10,110
		$	1,071,832	$	1,277,882

Interest on these notes is payable semiannually.

At February 29, 2016 and August 31, 2015, CMC Poland Sp. z.o.o. ("CMCP") had uncommitted credit facilities with several banks of PLN 175 million ($43.8 million) and PLN 215 million ($56.9 million), respectively. The uncommitted credit facilities as of February 29, 2016 have expiration dates ranging from March 2016 to November 2016, which CMCP intends to renew upon expiration. The uncommitted credit facilities as of August 31, 2015 had expiration dates ranging from November 2015 to March 2016. At February 29, 2016 and August 31, 2015, no material amounts were outstanding under these facilities. During the six months ended February 29, 2016, CMCP had no borrowings and no repayments under its uncommitted credit facilities. During the six months ended February 28, 2015, CMCP had total borrowings of $41.5 million and total repayments of $41.5 million under its uncommitted credit facilities.

The Company had no material amounts of interest capitalized in the cost of property, plant and equipment during the three and six months ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015, respectively. Cash paid for interest during the three and six months ended February 29, 2016 was $31.9 million and $40.9 million, respectively, and $33.4 million and $42.9 million during the three and six months ended February 28, 2015, respectively.