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Debt
6 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2014
Debt [Abstract]  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
DEBT

As discussed more fully below (and certain capitalized terms used below defined), in January 2012, in conjunction with the effectiveness of the Plan, we refinanced all of our debt. The Plan refinanced our then-existing credit agreement and extended the April 2012 maturity in a structure of first and second lien debt with the existing lenders ("Lenders"). We also amended the Pulitzer Notes, and extended the April 2012 maturity with the existing Noteholders. In May 2013, we again refinanced the remaining balance of the Pulitzer Notes. On March 31, 2014, subsequent to the end of the quarter, we refinanced all of our other debt. The following description of the 1st Lien Agreement and the 2nd Lien Agreement is related to such debt as it existed at the end of the quarter, prior to the refinancing.
    
1st Lien Agreement

In January 2012, we entered into a credit agreement (the “1st Lien Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders (the “1st Lien Lenders”). The 1st Lien Agreement consists of a term loan of $689,510,000, and a new $40,000,000 revolving credit facility under which we have not drawn. The revolving credit facility also supports issuance of letters of credit.

Interest Payments

Debt under the 1st Lien Agreement bears interest, at our option, at either a base rate or an adjusted Eurodollar rate (“LIBOR”), plus an applicable margin. The base rate for the facility is the greater of (a) the prime lending rate of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas at such time; (b) 0.5% in excess of the overnight federal funds rate at such time; or (c) 30 day LIBOR plus 1.0%. LIBOR loans are subject to a minimum rate of 1.25%. The applicable margin for term loan base rate loans is 5.25%, and 6.25% for LIBOR loans. The applicable margin for revolving credit facility base rate loans is 4.5%, and is 5.5% for LIBOR loans. At March 30, 2014, all borrowing under the 1st Lien Agreement is based on LIBOR at a total rate of 7.5%.

Principal Payments

At March 30, 2014, the balance outstanding under the term loan is $593,000,000. We may voluntarily prepay principal amounts outstanding or reduce commitments under the 1st Lien Agreement at any time, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon proper notice and subject to certain limitations as to minimum amounts of prepayments.

We are required to repay principal amounts, on a quarterly basis until maturity, under the 1st Lien Agreement. Principal payments are required quarterly beginning in June 2012, and total $12,750,000 in 2014, $13,500,000 in 2015 and $3,375,000 in 2016, prior to the final maturity.

In addition to the scheduled payments, we are required to make mandatory prepayments under the 1st Lien Agreement under certain other conditions, such as from the net proceeds from asset sales. The 1st Lien Agreement also requires us to accelerate future payments in the amount of our quarterly excess cash flow, as defined. The acceleration of such payments due to future asset sales or excess cash flow does not change the due dates of other 1st Lien Agreement payments prior to the December 2015 maturity.

2014 payments made, or required to be made for the remainder of the year, under the 1st Lien Agreement, are summarized as follows:
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
13 Weeks Ending
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
December 29
2013

March 30
2014

June 29
2014

September 28
2014

 
 
 
 
 
Mandatory
3,000

3,000

3,375

3,375

Voluntary
3,350

5,500



Asset sales
150




Excess cash flow

1,500



 
6,500

10,000

3,375

3,375



2013 payments made under the 1st Lien Agreement are summarized as follows:
 
 
 
13 Weeks Ended

(Thousands of Dollars)
December 30
2012

March 31
2013

June 30
2013

September 29
2013

 
 
 
 
 
Mandatory
2,500

2,500

3,000

3,000

Voluntary
9,750

15,350

2,260

6,000

Asset sales
7,750


240


Excess cash flow




 
20,000

17,850

5,500

9,000



Security

The 1st Lien Agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by all of our existing and future, direct and indirect subsidiaries in which we hold a direct or indirect interest of more than 50% (the “Credit Parties”); provided however, that our wholly-owned subsidiary Pulitzer Inc. (“Pulitzer”) and its subsidiaries are not Credit Parties. The 1st Lien Agreement is secured by first priority security interests in the stock and other equity interests owned by the Credit Parties in their respective subsidiaries.

The Credit Parties have also granted a first priority security interest on substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets, and granted mortgages covering certain real estate, as collateral for the payment and performance of their obligations under the 1st Lien Agreement. Assets of Pulitzer and its subsidiaries, TNI and our ownership interest in, and assets of, MNI are excluded.
The revolving credit facility has a super-priority security interest over all of the collateral securing the term loan under the 1st Lien Agreement, superior to that of the term loan lenders.

Covenants and Other Matters

The 1st Lien Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for financing of its type. Due to the refinancing on March 31, 2014, compliance with such covenants was not required for the 13 weeks ended March 30, 2014.

2nd Lien Agreement

In January 2012, we entered into a second lien term loan (the “2nd Lien Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders (the “2nd Lien Lenders”). The 2nd Lien Agreement consists of a term loan of $175,000,000.

The 2nd Lien Agreement bears interest at 15.0% per annum, payable quarterly.

Principal Payments and Redemption

The 2nd Lien Agreement requires no principal amortization, except in March 2017 if required for income tax purposes.

From January 30, 2013 until January 30, 2014, the 2nd Lien Agreement could have been redeemed at 102% of the principal amount, at 101% thereafter until January 30, 2015 and at 100% thereafter until the April 2017 final maturity. Terms of the 1st Lien Agreement also restrict principal payments under the 2nd Lien Agreement.

Security

The 2nd Lien Agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Credit Parties and by Pulitzer and its subsidiaries, other than TNI (collectively, the "2nd Lien Credit Parties"). The 2nd Lien Agreement is secured by second priority security interests in the stock and other equity interests owned by the 2nd Lien Credit Parties.

The 2nd Lien Credit Parties have also granted a second priority security interest on substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets, and granted second lien mortgages or deeds of trust covering certain real estate, as collateral for the payment and performance of their obligations under the 2nd Lien Agreement. Assets of TNI and our ownership interest in, and assets of, MNI are excluded. However, assets of Pulitzer and its subsidiaries, excluding TNI, become subject to a first priority security interest of the 2nd Lien Lenders upon repayment in full of the Pulitzer Notes and any successor debt.

The 2nd Lien Lenders were granted a second priority security interest in our ownership interest in TNI under the New Pulitzer Notes, as discussed more fully below.
 
Covenants and Other Matters

The 2nd Lien Agreement has no affirmative financial covenants. Restrictions on capital expenditures, permitted investments, indebtedness and other provisions are similar to, but generally less restrictive than, those provisions under the 1st Lien Agreement.

2nd Lien Lenders shared in the issuance of 6,743,640 shares of our Common Stock valued at $9,576,000 based on the closing stock price of $1.42 on the date of issuance, an amount equal to 13% of outstanding shares on a pro forma basis as of January 30, 2012. 2nd Lien Lenders also received $8,750,000 in the form of non-cash fees, which were added to and included in the principal amount of the second lien term loan.

Debt Refinancing as of March 31, 2014 - Subsequent Event

On March 31, 2014, we completed a comprehensive refinancing of our debt, which includes the following:

$400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”), pursuant to an Indenture dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, certain subsidiaries party thereto from time to time (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Agent;
 
$250,000,000 first lien term loan and $40,000,000 revolving facility under a First Lien Credit Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “New 1st Lien Credit Facility”) among the Company, the lenders party thereto from time to time (the “New 1st Lien Lenders”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent; and

$150,000,000 second lien term loan under a Second Lien Loan Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “New 2nd Lien Term Loan”) among the Company, the lenders party thereto from time to time (the “New 2nd Lien Lenders”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

The Notes, New 1st Lien Credit Facility and New 2nd Lien Term Loan enabled us to repay in full all amounts outstanding under, including accrued interest, and terminate, on March 31, 2014: (i) the remaining principal balance of $593,000,000 under the 1st Lien Agreement, and related subsidiary guaranty, security and pledge agreements, intercompany subordination and intercreditor agreements; and (ii) the remaining principal balance of $175,000,000 under the 2nd Lien Agreement, and related subsidiary guaranty, security and pledge agreements and intercreditor agreement. We also used the proceeds of the refinancing to pay fees and expenses related to the refinancing.

Notes

The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Company and mature on March 15, 2022. The Notes require payment of interest semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, at an annual rate of 9.5%. Interest on the Notes accrues from March 31, 2014 and the first interest payment date is due September 15, 2014. The Notes were sold pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after March 15, 2018 at the redemption prices described in the Indenture. We may also redeem up to 35% of the Notes prior to March 15, 2017 using the proceeds of certain future equity offerings. The Notes have customary call protection provisions, as set forth in the Indenture. If we sell certain of our assets or experience specific kinds of changes of control, we must, subject to certain exceptions, offer to purchase the Notes.

The Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of our material domestic subsidiaries in which the Company holds a direct or indirect interest of more than 50% and which guaranty indebtedness for borrowed money, including the New 1st Lien Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2014, material domestic subsidiaries of the Company that are excluded from such subsidiary guarantee obligations under the Notes are (a)  MNI, (b) except as noted below, Pulitzer and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Pulitzer Subsidiaries”), and (c) TNI.

At such time as the New Pulitzer Notes, as discussed more fully below, are satisfied, including any successor debt (the “Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date”), the Notes will also be guaranteed by Pulitzer and each Pulitzer Subsidiary that guarantees the indebtedness under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility or other borrowings incurred by the Company or any subsidiary guarantor.

The Notes and the subsidiary guarantees are secured, subject to certain exceptions, priorities and limitations in the various agreements, by a lien on all property and assets of the Company and each subsidiary guarantor, other than any property and assets of MNI, Pulitzer, each Pulitzer Subsidiary and TNI (the “Lee Legacy Collateral”), on a first-priority basis, equally and ratably with all of the Company’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future obligations under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility, pursuant to a Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Notes Security Agreement”) among the Company and the subsidiary guarantors (collectively, the “Notes Assignors”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.
 
Certain of the Notes Assignors, separately, will grant first lien mortgages or deeds of trust, covering their material real estate and improvements for the benefit of the holders of the Notes.

Also, the Notes are secured, subject to certain exceptions, priorities and limitations in the various agreements, by first priority security interests in the stock and other equity interests owned by the Notes Assignors pursuant to the Notes Security Agreement.

Prior to the Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date, none of the property and assets of Pulitzer and the Pulitzer Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Pulitzer Collateral”) will be pledged to secure the Notes or the subsidiary guarantees. After the Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date, the Notes and the subsidiary guarantees will be secured, subject to permitted liens, by a lien on the Pulitzer Collateral owned by each of the Pulitzer Subsidiaries that become subsidiary guarantors on a second-priority basis, equally and ratably with all of the Company’s and the subsidiary guarantors’ existing and future obligations under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility and certain other indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by the Company or any subsidiary guarantor.

The Indenture contains certain of the restrictive covenants in the New 1st Lien Credit Facility described below and limitations on our use of the Pulitzer Subsidiaries’ cash flows. However, many of these covenants will cease to apply if the Notes are rated investment grade from either Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group and there is no default or event of default under the Indenture.

The rights of the Notes Assignors with respect to the Lee Legacy Collateral are subject to:

A Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement”) among the Company, the other Grantors party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas; and

A Junior Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Junior Intercreditor Agreement”) among the Company, the other Grantors party hereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Wilmington Trust, National Association.

New 1st Lien Credit Facility

The New 1st Lien Credit Facility consists of a $250,000,000 term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) and a $40,000,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”). The New 1st Lien Credit Facility documents the primary terms of both the Revolving Facility and the Term Loan. The Revolving Facility, which was not drawn on the Closing Date, may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes (including letters of credit).

The Term Loan has an original issue discount of 2.0%. Interest on the Term Loan accrues at either (at our option) LIBOR plus 6.25% (with a LIBOR floor of 1.0%) or at a base rate equal to highest of (i) the prime rate at the time, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, and (iii) one month LIBOR plus 1.0%, plus 5.25% (with a base rate floor of 2.0%), and is payable quarterly, beginning in June 2014. Quarterly principal payments of $6,250,000 are required, with other payments made either voluntarily, based on excess cash flow or proceeds from asset sales. The Term Loan matures in March 2019. Concurrently with the issuance of the Term Loan, we also entered into the Revolving Facility that matures in December 2018. Interest on the Revolving Facility, when used, accrues at either (at our option) LIBOR plus 5.5%, or at a base rate equal to highest of (i) the prime rate at the time, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, and (iii) one month LIBOR plus 1.0%, plus 4.5%. The Company may voluntarily prepay principal amounts outstanding or reduce commitments under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility at any time without premium or penalty, upon proper notice and subject to certain limitations as to minimum amounts of prepayments.

The New 1st Lien Credit Facility requires that we comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants customary for financing of this nature, including maintenance of a maximum total leverage ratio, which only applies to the Revolving Facility. The New 1st Lien Credit Facility restricts us from paying dividends on our Common Stock, and generally restricts us from repurchasing Common Stock, unless in each case no default shall have occurred and we have satisfied certain financial measurements. Further, the New 1st Lien Credit Facility restricts or limits, among other things, subject to certain exceptions, the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to: (i) incur indebtedness, (ii) enter into mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (iii) incur or create liens and (iv) enter into transactions with certain affiliates. The New 1st Lien Credit Facility contains various representations and warranties and may be terminated upon occurrence of certain events of default. The New 1st Lien Credit Facility also contains cross-default provisions tied to the terms of each of the Indenture, New 2nd Lien Term Loan and New Pulitzer Notes.
The New 1st Lien Credit Facility is secured, subject to certain priorities and limitations in the various agreements, by perfected security interests in substantially all the assets of the Company and guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors (together with the Company, the “1st Lien Assignors”), pursuant to a First Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “1st Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., on a first-priority basis, equally and ratably with all of the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ existing and future obligations under the Notes. The 1st Lien Assignors’ pledged assets include, among other things, equipment, inventory, accounts receivables, depository accounts, intellectual property and certain of their other tangible and intangible assets (excluding the assets of Pulitzer, the Pulitzer Subsidiaries, TNI and MNI).

Under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility, certain of the 1st Lien Assignors, separately, will grant first lien mortgages or deeds of trust, covering certain real estate and improvements, to the 1st Lien Lenders (excluding the real estate of Pulitzer, Pulitzer Subsidiaries, TNI and MNI).

Also, the New 1st Lien Credit Facility is secured by a pledge of interests in all of the stock and other equity interests owned by the 1st Lien Assignors (excluding the capital stock and equity interests of or held by Pulitzer and the Pulitzer Subsidiaries, as well as the capital stock and equity interest of MNI and TNI, respectively).
 
The rights of the 1st Lien Assignors with respect to the Lee Legacy Collateral are subject to:

The Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement;

The Junior Intercreditor Agreement; and

An Intercompany Subordination Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “1st Lien Intercompany Subordination Agreement”) among the Company, Subsidiary Guarantors, Pulitzer, Pulitzer Subsidiaries and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 

New 2nd Lien Term Loan

The $150,000,000 New 2nd Lien Term Loan, bears interest at 12.0%, payable quarterly, and matures on December 15, 2022. There are no scheduled mandatory amortization payments required.

Under the New 2nd Lien Term Loan, cash flows of Pulitzer and the Pulitzer Subsidiaries must be used, (i) first, to reduce the outstanding amount of the New Pulitzer Notes to zero and (ii) second, (a) at any time after the Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date but prior to March 31, 2017, to make an offer to the New 2nd Lien Lenders (which offer the New 2nd Lien Lenders may accept or reject), to pay amounts under the New 2nd Lien Term Loan at par and (b) at any time after the Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date and on or after March 31, 2017, to pay amounts under the New 2nd Lien Term Loan at par. After the Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date, subject to certain conditions in the New 2nd Lien Term Loan, the balance of the New 2nd Lien Term Loan can, or will be, reduced at par from proceeds from asset sales by Pulitzer or the Pulitzer Subsidiaries. Voluntary payments under the New 2nd Lien Term Loan otherwise will be subject to call premiums that step down to zero over a five-year period.

The New 2nd Lien Term Loan is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Company, Subsidiary Guarantors, Pulitzer and the Pulitzer Subsidiaries (collectively, the “2nd Lien Assignors”), other than MNI and TNI, pursuant to a Second Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “2nd Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”) among the 2nd Lien Assignors and Wilmington Trust, National Association.

Under the 2nd Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the 2nd Lien Assignors have granted (i) second priority security interests, subject to certain priorities and limitations in the various agreements, on substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets, including the stock and other equity interests owned by the 2nd Lien Assignors, and (ii) will grant second lien mortgages or deeds of trust covering certain real estate, as collateral for the payment and performance of their obligations under the New 2nd Lien Term Loan. Assets of, or used in the operations or business of, TNI and our ownership interest in, and assets of, MNI are excluded.

Assets of Pulitzer and the Pulitzer Subsidiaries, excluding assets of or assets used in the operations or business of, TNI, will become subject to (i) a first priority security interest in favor of the New 2nd Lien Lenders; and (ii) a second priority security interest in favor of the secured parties under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility, as applicable, upon the Pulitzer Debt Satisfaction Date.
 
The New 2nd Lien Term Loan requires that we comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants customary for financing of this nature, including the negative covenants under the New 1st Lien Credit Facility described above. The New 2nd Lien Term Loan contains various representations and warranties and may be terminated upon occurrence of certain events of default. The New 2nd Lien Term Loan also contains cross-default provisions tied to the terms of the Indenture, New 1st Lien Loan Credit Facility and the New Pulitzer Notes.

The 2nd Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is subject to:

The Junior Intercreditor Agreement;

An Intercreditor Agreement dated as of January 30, 2012 among The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Wilmington Trust, National Association, Pulitzer and the Pulitzer Subsidiaries, as amended by the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated May 1, 2013, and as further amended by the Second Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Second Amendment to Pulitzer Intercreditor Agreement”); and

An Intercompany Subordination Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Pulitzer Intercompany Subordination Agreement”) among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, Pulitzer, Pulitzer Subsidiaries and Wilmington Trust, National Association.

In connection with the New 2nd Lien Term Loan, we entered into a Warrant Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. Under the Warrant Agreement, certain affiliates or designees of the New 2nd Lien Lenders received on March 31, 2014 their pro rata share of warrants to purchase, in cash, an initial aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to anti-dilution provisions (the “Warrants”). The Warrants represent, when fully exercised, approximately 10.1% of shares of Common Stock outstanding at March 30, 2014 on a fully diluted basis. The exercise price of the Warrants is $4.19 per share.

In connection with the issuance of the Warrants, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 31, 2014 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement requires, among other matters, that we use our commercially reasonable efforts to file and maintain the effectiveness for certain specified periods of a shelf registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants.
We incurred approximately $32,000,000 of fees and expenses related to the refinancing, including a $1,750,000 premium (1% of the principal amount) related to the redemption of the 2nd Lien Agreement and $5,000,000 original issue discount on the New 1st Lien Credit Facility. In addition, at March 30, 2014 we have $10,549,000 of unamortized present value adjustments related to the 1st Lien Agreement and 2nd Lien Agreement. Certain of the unamortized present value adjustments, the new fees and expenses and a portion of the value of the Warrants will be charged to expense in the 13 weeks ending June 29, 2014 while the remainder of such costs will be capitalized and amortized into interest expense over the lives of the respective agreements.

New Pulitzer Notes

In conjunction with its formation in 2000, St. Louis Post-Dispatch LLC ("PD LLC") borrowed $306,000,000 (the “Pulitzer Notes”) from a group of institutional lenders (the “Noteholders”). The Pulitzer Notes were guaranteed by Pulitzer pursuant to a Guaranty Agreement with the Noteholders. The aggregate principal amount of the Pulitzer Notes was payable in April 2009.

In February 2009, the Pulitzer Notes and the Guaranty Agreement were amended (the “Notes Amendment”). Under the Notes Amendment, PD LLC repaid $120,000,000 of the principal amount of the debt obligation. The remaining debt balance of $186,000,000 was refinanced by the Noteholders until April 2012.

In January 2012, in connection with the Plan, we entered into an amended Note Agreement and Guaranty Agreement, which amended the Pulitzer Notes and extended the maturity with the Noteholders. After consideration of unscheduled principal payments totaling $15,145,000 ($10,145,000 in December 2011 and $5,000,000 in January 2012), offset by $3,500,000 of non-cash fees paid to the Noteholders in the form of additional Pulitzer Notes debt, the amended Pulitzer Notes had a balance of $126,355,000 in January 2012.

The Pulitzer Notes carried an interest rate at 10.55%, which increased 0.75% to 11.3% in January 2013 and was to increase in January of each year thereafter. Due to the increasing interest rate, interest on the Pulitzer Notes was charged to expense using a calculated effective interest rate during the period.

In May 2013, we refinanced the $94,000,000 remaining balance of the Pulitzer Notes (the New Pulitzer Notes) with BH Finance LLC ("Berkshire") a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The New Pulitzer Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 9.0%, payable quarterly. Pulitzer is a co-borrower under the the New Pulitzer Notes, which eliminates the former Guaranty Agreement made by Pulitzer under the Pulitzer Notes.

Principal Payments

At March 30, 2014, the balance of the New Pulitzer Notes is $45,000,000. We may voluntarily prepay principal amounts outstanding under the New Pulitzer Notes at any time, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (except as noted below), upon proper notice, and subject to certain limitations as to minimum amounts of prepayments. The New Pulitzer Notes provide for mandatory scheduled prepayments totaling $6,400,000 annually, beginning in 2014.

In addition to the scheduled payments, we are required to make mandatory prepayments under the New Pulitzer Notes under certain other conditions, such as from the net proceeds from asset sales. The New Pulitzer Notes also require us to accelerate future payments in the amount of our quarterly excess cash flow, as defined. The acceleration of such payments due to future asset sales or excess cash flow does not change the due dates of other New Pulitzer Notes payments prior to the final maturity in April 2017.

The New Pulitzer Notes are subject to a 5% redemption premium if 100% of the remaining balance of the New Pulitzer Notes is again refinanced by lenders, the majority of which are not holders of the New Pulitzer Notes at the time of such refinancing. This redemption premium is not otherwise applicable to any of the types of payments noted above.

2014 payments made, or required to be made for the remainder of the year, under the New Pulitzer Notes are summarized below.
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
13 Weeks Ending
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
December 29
2013

March 30
2014

June 29
2014

September 28
2014

 
 
 
 
 
Mandatory
6,400




Voluntary
1,600

10,000



Asset sales




Excess cash flow




 
8,000

10,000





2013 payments made under the New Pulitzer Notes or Pulitzer Notes are summarized as follows:
 
 
 
13 Weeks Ended

(Thousands of Dollars)
December 30
2012

March 31
2013

June 30
2013

September 29
2013

 
 
 
 
 
Mandatory
3,800

2,600



Voluntary

1,500

14,000

17,000

Asset sales
5,200

1,900



Excess cash flow




 
9,000

6,000

14,000

17,000



Security

Obligations under the New Pulitzer Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by Pulitzer's existing and future subsidiaries other than PD LLC and TNI. The New Pulitzer Notes are also secured by first priority security interests in the stock and other equity interests owned by Pulitzer's subsidiaries including the 50% ownership interest in TNI. Also, Pulitzer, certain of its subsidiaries and PD LLC granted a first priority security interest on substantially all of its tangible and intangible assets, excluding the assets of Star Publishing leased to, or used in the operations or business of, TNI and granted deeds of trust covering certain real estate in the St. Louis area, as collateral for the payment and performance of their obligations under the New Pulitzer Notes.

Covenants and Other Matters

The New Pulitzer Notes contain certain covenants and conditions including the maintenance, by Pulitzer, of minimum trailing 12 month EBITDA (minimum of $24,700,000 beginning March 30, 2014), as defined in the New Pulitzer Notes agreement, and limitations on capital expenditures and the incurrence of other debt. Our actual trailing 12 month EBITDA at March 30, 2014 is $45,250,000. The determination of this amount is not the same as the comparable amount under the 1st Lien Agreement.

Further, the New Pulitzer Notes have limitations or restrictions on distributions, loans, advances, investments, acquisitions, dispositions and mergers. Such covenants require that substantially all future cash flows of Pulitzer are required to be directed first toward repayment of the New Pulitzer Notes, interest due under the 2nd Lien Agreement, or accumulation of cash collateral and that cash flows of Pulitzer are largely segregated from those of the Credit Parties.

Intercreditor Agreements

The 1st Lien Agreement, 2nd Lien Agreement and New Pulitzer Notes contain cross-default provisions tied to each of the various agreements. Intercreditor agreements and an intercompany subordination agreement are also in effect.

Other

Cash payments to the Lenders, Noteholders and legal and professional fees related to the Plan totaled $38,628,000, of which $6,273,000 was paid in 2011, and the remainder of which was paid in 2012. $720,000 of such costs were charged to expense in 2011. In addition, previously capitalized financing costs of $4,514,000 at September 25, 2011 were charged to expense in 2012 as debt financing costs prior to consummation of the Plan, with the remainder classified as reorganization costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) upon consummation of the Plan. 

Debt under the Plan was considered compromised. As a result, the 1st Lien Agreement, 2nd Lien Agreement and Pulitzer Notes were recorded at their respective present values, which resulted in a discount to the stated principal amount totaling $23,709,000. We used the effective rates of the respective debt agreements to discount the debt to its present value. In determining the effective rates, we considered all cash outflows of the respective debt agreements including: mandatory principal payments, interest payments, fees paid to lenders in connection with the refinancing as well as, in the case of the 2nd Lien Agreement, Common Stock issued. The present value is being amortized as a non-cash component of interest expense over the terms of the related debt.

The refinancing of the Pulitzer Notes with the New Pulitzer Notes resulted in the acceleration of $1,565,000 of the present value adjustment discussed above, which was partially offset by eliminating deferred interest expense of $1,189,000, and the net amount of which was recognized in the 13 weeks ended June 30, 2013. Expenses related to the issuance of the New Pulitzer Notes are capitalized as debt issuance costs and will be amortized until April 2017.

Amortization of the present value adjustment and other costs totaled $6,681,000 in 2013. Amortization of such costs is estimated to total $4,779,000 in 2014, $4,742,000 in 2015, $2,297,000 in 2016 and $1,125,000 in 2017 before accounting for the New 2nd Lien Agreement.

As a result of the Plan, we recognized $37,765,000 of reorganization costs in the 2012 Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The components of reorganization costs are summarized as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
Fees paid in cash to lenders, attorneys and others
 
38,628

Unamortized loan fees from previous debt agreements
 
1,740

Fair value of stock granted to 2nd Lien Lenders
 
9,576

Noncash fees paid in the form of additional debt
 
12,250

Present value adjustment
 
(23,709
)
 
 
38,485

Charged to expense in 2012
 
37,765

Charged to expense in 2011 as other non-operating expense
 
720



Debt is summarized as follows:
 
 
 
Interest Rates (%)
(Thousands of Dollars)
March 30
2014

September 29
2013

March 30
2014
 
 
 
 
Revolving credit facility


6.75
1st Lien Agreement
593,000

609,500

7.50
2nd Lien Agreement
175,000

175,000

15.00
New Pulitzer Notes
45,000

63,000

9.00
Pulitzer Notes


 
Unamortized present value adjustment
(10,549
)
(12,942
)
 
 
802,451

834,558

 
Less current maturities of long-term debt
15,900

19,150

 
Current amount of present value adjustment
(4,788
)
(4,779
)
 
Total long-term debt
791,339

820,187

 

 
Liquidity
 
At March 30, 2014, after consideration of letters of credit, we have approximately $29,942,000 available for future use under our revolving credit facility. Including cash, our liquidity at March 30, 2014 totals $44,821,000. This liquidity amount excludes any future cash flows. We expect all interest and principal payments due in the next twelve months will be satisfied by our cash flows, which will allow us to maintain an adequate level of liquidity. The Warrants, if and when exercised, would provide additional liquidity in an amount up to $25,140,000.

At March 31, 2014, subsequent to the refinancing, the principal amount of our outstanding debt totals $845,000,000.

The comprehensive refinancing of our debt on March 31, 2014 significantly enhances our debt maturity profile. Final maturities of our debt have been extended to dates extending from March 2019 through December 2022. As a result, refinancing risk has been substantially reduced for the next several years.

There are numerous potential consequences under the Notes, New 1st Lien Credit Facility, New 2nd Lien Term Loan, and the New Pulitzer Notes, if an event of default, as defined, occurs and is not remedied. Many of those consequences are beyond our control. The occurrence of one or more events of default would give rise to the right of the applicable lender(s) to exercise their remedies under the Notes, New 1st Lien Credit Facility, New 2nd Lien Term Loan, and the New Pulitzer Notes, respectively, including, without limitation, the right to accelerate all outstanding debt and take actions authorized in such circumstances under applicable collateral security documents.
 
Our ability to operate as a going concern is dependent on our ability to remain in compliance with debt covenants and to refinance or amend our debt agreements as they become due, or earlier if available liquidity is consumed. We are in compliance with our debt covenants at March 30, 2014. The Notes, New 1st Lien Credit Facility and New 2nd Lien Term Loan have only limited affirmative covenants with which we are required to maintain compliance.