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Debt (Text Block)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt [Text Block]
 Debt

The components of our borrowings are as follows:

 
December 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in thousands)
Credit Facilities
 
 
 
USD denominated term loan
$
277,500

 
$
292,502

Multicurrency revolving line of credit
140,000

 
160,000

Total debt
417,500

 
452,502

Less: Current portion of debt
18,750

 
15,000

Long-term debt
$
398,750

 
$
437,502



Credit Facilities
In August 2011, we entered into a senior secured credit facility (2011 credit facility), which replaced the senior secured credit facility we entered into in 2007 (2007 credit facility). The 2011 credit facility consists of a $300 million U.S. dollar term loan (the term loan) and a multicurrency revolving line of credit (the revolver) with a principal amount of up to $660 million, which was increased from $500 million in April 2012. Both the term loan and the revolver mature on August 8, 2016, and amounts borrowed under the revolver are classified as long-term. Amounts borrowed under the revolver during the credit facility term may be repaid and reborrowed until the revolver's maturity, at which time the revolver will terminate, and all outstanding loans, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, must be repaid. Amounts not borrowed under the revolver are subject to a commitment fee, which is paid in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter, ranging from 0.20% to 0.40% per annum depending on our total leverage ratio as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter. Amounts repaid on the term loan may not be reborrowed. The 2011 credit facility permits us and certain of our foreign subsidiaries to borrow in U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, or, with lender approval, other currencies readily convertible into U.S. dollars. All obligations under the 2011 credit facility are guaranteed by Itron, Inc. and material U.S. domestic subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the assets of Itron, Inc. and material U.S. domestic subsidiaries, including a pledge of 100% of the capital stock of material U.S. domestic subsidiaries and up to 66% of the voting stock (100% of the non-voting stock) of their first-tier foreign subsidiaries. In addition, the obligations of any foreign subsidiary who is a foreign borrower, as defined by the 2011 credit facility, are guaranteed by the foreign subsidiary and by its direct and indirect foreign parents. The 2011 credit facility includes debt covenants, which contain certain financial ratios and place certain restrictions on the incurrence of debt, investments, and the issuance of dividends. We were in compliance with the debt covenants under the 2011 credit facility at December 31, 2012.

Scheduled principal repayments for the term loan are due quarterly in the amounts of $3.8 million through June 2013, $5.6 million from September 2013 through June 2014, $7.5 million from September 2014 through June 2016, and the remainder due at maturity on August 8, 2016. The term loan may be repaid early in whole or in part, subject to certain minimum thresholds, without penalty.

Required minimum principal payments on our outstanding credit facilities are as follows:

 
Minimum Payments  
 
(in thousands)
2013
$
18,750

2014
26,250

2015
30,000

2016
342,500

2017

Total minimum payments on debt
$
417,500



Under the 2011 credit facility, we elect applicable market interest rates for both the term loan and any outstanding revolving loans. We also pay an applicable margin, which is based on our total leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). The applicable rates per annum may be based on either: (1) the LIBOR rate, plus an applicable margin, or (2) the Alternate Base Rate, plus an applicable margin. The Alternate Base Rate election is equal to the greatest of three rates: (i) the prime rate, (ii) the Federal Reserve effective rate plus 1/2 of 1%, or (iii) one month LIBOR plus 1%. At December 31, 2012, the interest rate for both the term loan and the revolver was 1.47% (the LIBOR rate plus a margin of 1.25%).

Total credit facility repayments were as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
(in thousands)
2011 credit facility term loan
$
15,002

 
$
7,500

 
$

2011 credit facility multicurrency revolving line of credit(1)
100,000

 
40,000



2007 credit facility term loans

 
406,950

 
155,163

2007 credit facility revolving line of credit(2)

 
170,000

 

Total credit facility repayments
$
115,002

 
$
624,450

 
$
155,163



(1) We borrowed $80.0 million under the multicurrency revolving line of credit during 2012.

(2) See repayment of the convertible senior subordinated notes below.

At December 31, 2012, $140 million was outstanding under the 2011 credit facility revolver, and $54.3 million was utilized by outstanding standby letters of credit, resulting in $465.7 million available for additional borrowings.

Upon repayment of the 2007 credit facility in August 2011, unamortized prepaid debt fees of $2.4 million were written-off to interest expense. Prepaid debt fees of approximately $6.6 million were capitalized in the third quarter of 2011 associated with the 2011 credit facility, and $897,000 were capitalized in the second quarter of 2012 associated with the increase in the revolver in April 2012. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, unamortized prepaid debt fees were as follows:
 
December 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in thousands)
Unamortized prepaid debt fees
$
5,367

 
$
6,027



Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes
On August 1, 2011, in accordance with the terms of the convertible senior subordinated notes (convertible notes), we repurchased $184.8 million of the convertible notes at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. On September 30, 2011, we redeemed the remaining $38.8 million of the convertible notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The convertible notes were separated between the liability and equity components using our estimated non-convertible debt borrowing rate at the time the convertible notes were issued, which was determined to be 7.38%. This rate also reflected the effective interest rate on the liability component for all periods during which the convertible notes were outstanding. The carrying amount of the equity component of $31.8 million is retained as a permanent component of our shareholders' equity, and no gain or loss was recognized upon derecognition of the convertible notes as the fair value of the consideration transferred to the holders equaled the fair value of the liability component.

The discount on the liability component was fully amortized by the end of the second quarter of 2011. The interest expense relating to both the contractual interest coupon and amortization of the discount on the liability component is as follows:

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
(in thousands)
Contractual interest coupon
$

 
$
3,420

 
$
5,590

Amortization of the discount on the liability component

 
5,336

 
10,099

Total interest expense on convertible notes
$

 
$
8,756

 
$
15,689