Debt And Credit Facilities

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2022

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt And Credit Facilities

NOTE 3: DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES

Debt

During the first quarter of 2021, we issued $250 aggregate principal amount of 2.30% senior notes due April 2024 and $425 aggregate principal amount of 4.25% senior notes due August 2031.With the net proceeds of these new notes, together with cash on hand, we retired our $600 Secured Notes. We recorded $88 related to the redemption in interest expense, net, which primarily consisted of a one-time payment of $78 for a “make-whole” premium, and the write-off of unamortized balances associated with the debt discount and issuance costs. The “make-whole” premium payment was not included in cash paid during the period for interest, net of capitalized interest in the Supplemental Cash Flow Information.

Credit Facilities

As of April 30, 2022, the provisions of our prior revolving credit facility as described in our 2021 Annual Report were in effect. Subsequent to quarter end, we terminated and replaced our prior revolving credit facility set to expire in September 2023 with a new five-year $800 Revolver that expires in May 2027. Consistent with our prior revolving credit agreement, any outstanding borrowings under the Revolver are secured by substantially all our personal and intellectual property assets and are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries. Under the Revolver, our obligation to secure any outstanding borrowings will be eliminated if no default exists and we either have an unsecured investment-grade debt rating from two of three specified ratings agencies, or we have one investment-grade rating and achieve two consecutive fiscal quarters with a Leverage Ratio of less than 2.5 times.

Under the Revolver, we have two financial covenant tests that need to be met on a quarterly basis: a Leverage Ratio that is less than or equal to 4 times and a fixed charge coverage ratio that is greater than or equal to 1.25 times. For the first quarter of 2022, we are reporting our quarterly compliance status under the terms of the new Revolver and are in compliance with all covenants.

The Revolver provides us with additional flexibility, compared with our prior revolving credit facility, for dividends and share repurchases, provided we are not in default, and no default would arise as a result of such payments. If the pro-forma Leverage Ratio after such payments is less than 3 times, then such payments are unlimited. If the pro-forma Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 3 times but less than 3.5 times then we are limited to $100 per fiscal quarter and if the pro-forma Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 3.5 times then the limit is $60 per fiscal quarter.

The Revolver contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and terms, including paying a variable rate of interest and a facility fee based on our debt rating, and is available for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Provided that we obtain written consent from the lenders, we have the option to increase the Revolver by up to $200, to a total of $1,000, and two options to extend the Revolver for additional one-year terms. As of April 30, 2022, we had no borrowings outstanding under our Revolver.

Our $800 commercial paper program allows us to use the proceeds to fund operating cash requirements. Under the terms of the commercial paper agreement, we pay a rate of interest based on, among other factors, the maturity of the issuance and market conditions. The issuance of commercial paper has the effect of reducing available liquidity under the Revolver by an amount equal to the principal amount of commercial paper outstanding. Conversely, borrowings under our Revolver have the effect of reducing the available capacity of our commercial paper program by an amount equal to the amount outstanding. As of April 30, 2022, we had no issuances outstanding under our commercial paper program.