XML 54 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Debt
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Debt

NOTE 9—DEBT

As of March 31, 2013, a substantial portion of our assets are pledged as collateral for our debt. These assets principally consist of aircraft, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets. As of March 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.

2013 Credit and Guaranty Agreement. On March 27, 2013, United and UAL entered into the Credit Agreement as the borrower and guarantor, respectively. The Credit Agreement consists of a $900 million term loan due April 1, 2019 and a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility available for drawing until April 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2013, United had its entire capacity of $1.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. The obligations of United under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on certain international route authorities between certain specified cities, certain take-off and landing rights and related assets of United.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a 1% floor, plus a margin of 3.0% per annum, or another rate based on certain market interest rates, plus a margin of 2.0% per annum. The principal amount of the term loan must be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof, commencing on June 30, 2013, with any unpaid balance due on April 1, 2019. United may prepay all or a portion of the loan from time to time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. United pays a commitment fee equal to 0.75% per-annum on the undrawn amount available under the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below).

The Credit Agreement includes covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain at least $3.0 billion of unrestricted liquidity and a minimum ratio of appraised value of collateral to the outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement of 1.67 to 1.0 and restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, issue preferred stock, make investments or pay dividends. The Credit Agreement contains events of default customary for this type of financing, including a cross default and cross acceleration provision to certain other material indebtedness of the Company.

United Amended Credit Facility. On March 27, 2013, the Company used $900 million from the Credit Agreement, together with approximately $300 million of cash to retire the entire principal balance of a $1.2 billion term loan due 2014 that was outstanding under United’s Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2007 (the “Amended Credit Facility”). The Amended Credit Facility was terminated concurrently with the repayment of the term loan.

Revolving Credit Facility. On March 27, 2013, the Company terminated the $500 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). There were no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

Debt Redemptions. On February 1, 2013, United redeemed all of the $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and $200 million aggregate principal amount of 12.0% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2013. On February 8, 2013, United redeemed all $123 million aggregate principal amount of the B tranche of the 2006-1 EETC equipment notes due 2013. On April 1, 2013, United redeemed all of the $180 million aggregate principal amount of the senior tranche of the 2006-1 EETC equipment notes due 2013. These notes were all redeemed prior to their scheduled maturity date.

 

EETCs. In October 2012, United created two pass-through trusts, one of which issued $712 million aggregate principal amount of Class A pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 4% and the second of which issued $132 million aggregate principal amount of Class B pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 5.5%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class A and Class B pass-through certificates, which amounted to $844 million, are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United. Of the $844 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, United received $494 million as of March 31, 2013, of which $201 million was received in the first quarter of 2013. United expects to receive the remaining proceeds from the issuance through the second half of 2013 as aircraft are delivered and United issues equipment notes to the trusts. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The proceeds have been and are expected to be used to fund the acquisition of new aircraft.

In December 2012, United created one pass-through trust which issued $425 million aggregate principal amount of Class C pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 6.125%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class C pass-through certificates are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United related to the aircraft financed in both the March and October 2012 EETC financings. Of the $425 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, United received $331 million as of March 31, 2013, of which $54 million was received in the first quarter of 2013. United expects to receive the remaining proceeds from the issuance through the second half of 2013 as aircraft are delivered and United issues equipment notes to the trusts. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates.

The table below presents contractual principal payments at March 31, 2013 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):

 

     UAL      United  

Last nine months of 2013

   $ 859       $ 859   

2014

     958         958   

2015

     2,044         2,044   

2016

     1,003         1,003   

2017

     566         566   

After 2017

     5,985         5,640   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 11,415       $ 11,070