Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

DEBT

On March 4, 2021, we issued $600 million of 1.500% Notes due February 15, 2028, $600 million of 2.000% Notes due February 15, 2031 and $300 million of 3.125% Notes due February 15, 2051. We received proceeds of $1,495 million, net of discount, for the issuance of these Notes. The Notes are senior indebtedness and are redeemable at our option at the applicable redemption price. On March 22, 2021, proceeds from the debt issuances, together with cash on hand, were used to repay and early retire our $326 million 5.950% Notes due March 15, 2022, $500 million 4.450% Notes due April 1, 2025, and $500 million 4.375% Notes due April 1, 2026. In connection with these early retirements, we incurred a loss on debt extinguishment of $168 million, which was recorded as interest expense.

On March 13, 2019, we entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with an aggregate commitment of $1.0 billion and a maturity date of March 13, 2024. Under the Credit Agreement, at our request and subject to certain conditions, we can increase the aggregate commitment up to an additional $500 million with the current lenders or new lenders. Upon entry into the Credit Agreement, our credit agreement dated March 28, 2013, as amended, with an aggregate commitment of $750 million, was terminated.

The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility available to us and one of our foreign subsidiaries, in U.S. dollars, European euros, British Pounds Sterling, Canadian dollars and certain other currencies for revolving credit loans, swingline loans and letters of credit. Borrowings under the revolving credit loans denominated in any agreed upon currency other than U.S. dollars are limited to $500 million, equivalent. We can also borrow swingline loans up to $100 million and obtain letters of credit of up to $25 million; outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Agreement reduce our borrowing capacity. At March 31, 2021, we had no outstanding standby letters of credit under the Credit Agreement.

    Revolving credit loans bear interest under the Credit Agreement, at our option, at (A) a rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) the JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. prime rate, (ii) the Federal Reserve Bank of New York effective rate plus 0.50% and (iii) if available, adjusted LIBO Rate plus 1.0% (the "Alternative Base Rate"); plus an applicable margin based upon our then-applicable corporate credit ratings; or (B) if available, adjusted LIBO Rate plus an applicable margin based upon our then-applicable corporate credit ratings. The foreign currency revolving credit loans bear interest at a rate equal to adjusted LIBO Rate, if available, plus an applicable margin based upon our then-applicable corporate credit ratings.

The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants requiring us to maintain (A) a net leverage ratio, as adjusted for certain items, not exceeding 4.0 to 1.0, and (B) a minimum interest coverage ratio, as adjusted for certain items, not less than 2.5 to 1.0.

In order for us to borrow under the Credit Agreement, there must not be any default in our covenants in the Credit Agreement (i.e., in addition to the two financial covenants, principally limitations on subsidiary debt, negative pledge restrictions, legal compliance requirements and maintenance of properties and insurance) and our representations and warranties in the Credit Agreement must be true in all material respects on the date of borrowing (i.e., principally no material adverse change or litigation likely to result in a material adverse change, since December 31, 2018, no material ERISA or environmental non-compliance, and no material tax deficiency). We were in compliance with all covenants and no borrowings were outstanding at March 31, 2021.