Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):



	December 31,
	2018			2017

Term Loan (matures June 2020)	$	33,693		$	97,500
2022 Notes (mature May 2022)	125,000			125,000
2023 Notes (mature September 2023)	125,000			—
2032 Notes (redeemed May 2018)	—			60,115
MARAD Debt (matures February 2027)	70,468			77,000
Nordea Q5000 Loan (matures April 2020)	125,000			160,714
Unamortized debt discounts	(28,802		)	(14,406		)
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(10,044		)	(10,296		)
Total debt	440,315			495,627
Less current maturities	(47,252		)	(109,861		)
Long-term debt	$	393,063		$	385,766

Credit Agreement

On June 30, 2017, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a group of lenders led by Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”). The amended and restated credit facility is comprised of a $100 million term loan (the “Term Loan”) and a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) of up to $150 million (the “Revolving Loans”). The Revolving Credit Facility permits us to obtain letters of credit up to a sublimit of $25 million. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, subject to existing lender participation and/or the participation of new lenders, and subject to standard conditions precedent, we may request aggregate commitments up to $100 million with respect to an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility, additional term loans or a combination thereof. The $100 million proceeds from the Term Loan as well as cash on hand were used to repay the approximately $180 million term loan then outstanding under the credit facility prior to its June 2017 amendment and restatement. As of December 31, 2018, we had no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, and our available borrowing capacity under that facility, based on the applicable leverage ratio covenant, totaled $147.4 million, net of $2.6 million of letters of credit issued under that facility.

The Term Loan and the Revolving Loans (together, the “Loans”), at our election, bear interest at the Bank of America’s base rate, to a LIBOR rate or a combination thereof. The Term Loan bearing interest at the base rate will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to Bank of America’s base rate plus a margin of 3.25%. The Term Loan bearing interest at a LIBOR rate will bear interest per annum at the LIBOR rate selected by us plus a margin of 4.25%. The interest rate on the Term Loan was 6.77% as of December 31, 2018. The Revolving Loans bearing interest at the base rate will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to Bank of America’s base rate plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 3.25%. The Revolving Loans bearing interest at a LIBOR rate will bear interest per annum at the LIBOR rate selected by us plus a margin ranging from 2.75% to 4.25%. A letter of credit fee is payable by us equal to its applicable margin for LIBOR rate Loans times the daily amount available to be drawn under the applicable letter of credit. Margins on the Revolving Loans will vary in relation to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio (as defined below) as provided for in the Credit Agreement. We also pay a fixed commitment fee of 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of our Revolving Credit Facility.

The Term Loan principal is required to be repaid in quarterly installments totaling 5% in the first loan year, 10% in the second loan year and 15% in the third loan year, with a balloon payment at maturity. Installment amounts are subject to adjustment for any prepayments on the Term Loan. We may elect to prepay indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan without premium or penalty, but may not reborrow any amounts prepaid. We may prepay indebtedness outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility without premium or penalty, and may reborrow any amounts prepaid up to the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility. The Loans mature on June 30, 2020.

The Credit Agreement and the other loan documents entered into in connection with the Credit Agreement include terms and conditions, including covenants, which we consider customary for this type of facility. The covenants include certain restrictions on our and our subsidiaries’ ability to grant liens, incur indebtedness, make investments, merge or consolidate, sell or transfer assets, pay dividends and make capital expenditures. In addition, the Credit Agreement obligates us to meet minimum ratios of EBITDA to interest charges (“Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio”) and funded debt to EBITDA (“Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio”), and provided there are no Loans outstanding, the funded debt ratio requirement permits us to offset a certain amount of cash against the funded debt used in the calculation (“Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio”). After the Term Loan is repaid in full, if there are any Loans outstanding, including unreimbursed draws under letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility, we also are required to ensure that the ratio of our total secured indebtedness to EBITDA (“Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio”) does not exceed a maximum permitted ratio. The Credit Agreement also obligates us to maintain certain cash levels depending on the type of indebtedness that is outstanding.

We may from time to time designate one or more of our foreign subsidiaries as subsidiaries not generally subject to the covenants in the Credit Agreement (the “Unrestricted Subsidiaries”). The debt and EBITDA of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not included in the calculations of our financial covenants, except for the debt and EBITDA of Helix Q5000 Holdings, S.a.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in Luxembourg (“Q5000 Holdings”). Our obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by our domestic subsidiaries (except Cal Dive I - Title XI, Inc.) and by Canyon Offshore Limited, a wholly owned Scottish subsidiary. Our obligations under the Credit Agreement, and of our subsidiary guarantors under their guarantee, are secured by (i) most of the assets of the parent company, (ii) the shares of our domestic subsidiaries (other than Cal Dive I - Title XI, Inc.) and of Canyon Offshore Limited, and (iii) most of the assets of our domestic subsidiaries (other than Cal Dive I - Title XI, Inc.) and of Canyon Offshore Limited. In addition, these obligations are secured by pledges of up to 66% of the shares of certain foreign subsidiaries.

In March 2018, we prepaid $61 million of the Term Loan with a portion of the net proceeds from the 2023 Notes. We recognized a $0.9 million loss to write off the related unamortized debt issuance costs. In June 2017, we recognized a $0.4 million loss to write off the unamortized debt issuance costs related to certain lenders exiting from the term loan then outstanding under our principal corporate credit facility prior to its June 2017 amendment and restatement. These losses are presented as “Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. In connection with decreases in lenders’ commitments under our revolving credit facility, in June 2017 and February 2016, we recorded interest charges of $1.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively, to accelerate the amortization of a pro-rata portion of debt issuance costs related to the lenders whose commitments were reduced.

On January 18, 2019, contemporaneously with our purchase from Marathon Oil of certain operating depths associated with the Droshky Prospect on offshore Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon Block 244, along with several wells and related infrastructure, we entered into an amendment to our Credit Agreement which permits us to issue certain security to third parties for required plug and abandonment obligations and to make certain capital expenditures in connection with the acquired assets (Note 1).

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2022

On November 1, 2016, we completed a public offering and sale of our Convertible Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $125 million. The 2022 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.25% per annum, and are payable semi-annually in arrears on November 1 and May 1 of each year, beginning on May 1, 2017. The 2022 Notes mature on May 1, 2022 unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. During certain periods and subject to certain conditions, the 2022 Notes are convertible by the holders into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion rate of 71.9748 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount (which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $13.89 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. We have the right and the intention to settle the principal amount of any such future conversions in cash.

Prior to November 1, 2019, the 2022 Notes are not redeemable. On or after November 1, 2019, if certain conditions are met, we may redeem all or any portion of the 2022 Notes at a redemption price payable in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, and a “make-whole premium” (as defined in the indenture governing the 2022 Notes). Holders of the 2022 Notes may require us to repurchase the notes following a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture governing the 2022 Notes).

The indenture governing the 2022 Notes contains customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default occurring and continuing, either the trustee under the Indenture or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount then outstanding under the 2022 Notes may declare the entire principal amount of all the notes, and the interest accrued on such notes, if any, to be immediately due and payable. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us or a significant subsidiary, the principal amount of the 2022 Notes together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon will become immediately due and payable.

The 2022 Notes are accounted for by separating the net proceeds between long-term debt and shareholders’ equity. In connection with the issuance of the 2022 Notes, we recorded a debt discount of $16.9 million ($11.0 million net of tax) as a result of separating the equity component. The effective interest rate for the 2022 Notes is 7.3% after considering the effect of the accretion of the related debt discount that represented the equity component of the 2022 Notes at their inception. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, interest expense (including amortization of the debt discount) related to the 2022 Notes totaled $8.1 million, $7.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The remaining unamortized amount of the debt discount of the 2022 Notes was $11.0 million and $13.9 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023

On March 20, 2018, we completed a public offering and sale of our 2023 Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $125 million. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Notes were approximately $121 million, after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and offering expenses. We used the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Notes to fund the required repurchase of $59.3 million in principal of the 2032 Notes and to prepay $61 million of our Term Loan.

The 2023 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.125% per annum, and are payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2018. The 2023 Notes mature on September 15, 2023 unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. During certain periods and subject to certain conditions, the 2023 Notes are convertible by the holders into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion rate of 105.6133 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount (which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $9.47 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. We have the right and the intention to settle the principal amount of any such future conversions in cash.

Prior to March 15, 2021, the 2023 Notes are not redeemable. On or after March 15, 2021, if certain conditions are met, we may redeem all or any portion of the 2023 Notes at a redemption price payable in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, and a “make-whole premium” (as defined in the indenture governing the 2023 Notes). Holders of the 2023 Notes may require us to repurchase the notes following a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture governing the 2023 Notes).

The indenture governing the 2023 Notes contains customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default occurring and continuing, either the trustee under the indenture or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount then outstanding under the 2023 Notes may declare the entire principal amount of all the notes, and the interest accrued on such notes, if any, to be immediately due and payable. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us or a significant subsidiary, the principal amount of the 2023 Notes together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon will become immediately due and payable.

The 2023 Notes are accounted for by separating the net proceeds between long-term debt and shareholders’ equity. In connection with the issuance of the 2023 Notes, we recorded a debt discount of $20.1 million ($15.9 million net of tax) as a result of separating the equity component. The effective interest rate for the 2023 Notes is 7.8% after considering the effect of the accretion of the related debt discount that represented the equity component of the 2023 Notes at their inception. For the year ended December 31, 2018, interest expense (including amortization of the debt discount) related to the 2023 Notes totaled $6.4 million. The remaining unamortized amount of the debt discount of the 2023 Notes was $17.8 million at December 31, 2018.

MARAD Debt

This U.S. government guaranteed financing (the “MARAD Debt”), pursuant to Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 administered by the Maritime Administration, was used to finance the construction of the Q4000. The MARAD Debt is collateralized by the Q4000 and is guaranteed 50% by us. The MARAD Debt is payable in equal semi-annual installments, matures in February 2027 and bears interest at a rate of 4.93%.

Nordea Credit Agreement

In September 2014, Q5000 Holdings entered into a credit agreement (the “Nordea Credit Agreement”) with a syndicated bank lending group for a term loan (the “Nordea Q5000 Loan”) in an amount of up to $250 million. The Nordea Q5000 Loan was funded in the amount of $250 million in April 2015 at the time the Q5000 vessel was delivered to us. The parent company of Q5000 Holdings, Helix Vessel Finance S.à r.l., also a wholly owned Luxembourg subsidiary, guaranteed the Nordea Q5000 Loan. The loan is secured by the Q5000 and its charter earnings as well as by a pledge of the shares of Q5000 Holdings. This indebtedness is non-recourse to Helix.

The Nordea Q5000 Loan bears interest at a LIBOR rate plus a margin of 2.5%. The Nordea Q5000 Loan matures on April 30, 2020 and is repayable in scheduled quarterly principal installments of $8.9 million with a balloon payment of $80.4 million at maturity. Q5000 Holdings may elect to prepay indebtedness outstanding under the Nordea Q5000 Loan without premium or penalty, but may not reborrow any amounts prepaid. Quarterly principal installments are subject to adjustment for any prepayments on this debt. In June 2015, we entered into various interest rate swap contracts to fix the one-month LIBOR rate on a portion of our borrowings under the Nordea Q5000 Loan (Note 18). The total notional amount of the swaps (initially $187.5 million) decreases in proportion to the reduction in the principal amount outstanding under our Nordea Q5000 Loan. The fixed LIBOR rates are approximately 150 basis points.

The Nordea Credit Agreement and related loan documents include terms and conditions, including covenants and prepayment requirements, that we consider customary for this type of transaction. The covenants include restrictions on Q5000 Holdings’s ability to grant liens, incur indebtedness, make investments, merge or consolidate, sell or transfer assets, and pay dividends. In addition, the Nordea Credit Agreement obligates Q5000 Holdings to meet certain minimum financial requirements, including liquidity, consolidated debt service coverage and collateral maintenance.

Convertible Senior Notes Due 2032

In March 2012, we issued $200 million of 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes, which were originally scheduled to mature on March 15, 2032 (the “2032 Notes”). We elected to repurchase $7.3 million, $7.6 million and $125 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2032 Notes in June, July and November of 2016, respectively. In March 2018, we made a tender offer for the repurchase of the 2032 Notes outstanding on the first repurchase date as required by the indenture governing the 2032 Notes, and as a result we repurchased $59.3 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2032 Notes on March 20, 2018. The total repurchase price was $59.5 million, including $0.2 million in fees. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, we recognized net losses of $0.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively, related to the repurchases of the 2032 Notes. These losses are presented as “Loss on early extinguishment of long-term debt” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. On May 4, 2018, we redeemed the remaining $0.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2032 Notes.

Other

In accordance with our Credit Agreement, the 2022 Notes, the 2023 Notes, the MARAD Debt agreements and the Nordea Credit Agreement, we are required to comply with certain covenants, including certain financial ratios such as a consolidated interest coverage ratio and various leverage ratios, as well as the maintenance of minimum cash balance, net worth, working capital and debt-to-equity requirements. As of December 31, 2018, we were in compliance with these covenants.

Scheduled maturities of our long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):



	Term Loan ⁽¹⁾			2022 Notes			2023 Notes			MARAD Debt			Nordea Q5000 Loan			Total

Less than one year	$	4,680		$	—		$	—		$	6,858		$	35,714		$	47,252
One to two years	29,013			—			—			7,200			89,286			125,499
Two to three years	—			—			—			7,560			—			7,560
Three to four years	—			125,000			—			7,937			—			132,937
Four to five years	—			—			125,000			8,333			—			133,333
Over five years	—			—			—			32,580			—			32,580
Gross debt	33,693			125,000			125,000			70,468			125,000			479,161
Unamortized debt discounts ⁽²⁾	—			(11,043		)	(17,759		)	—			—			(28,802		)
Unamortized debt issuance costs ⁽³⁾	(372		)	(1,765		)	(2,862		)	(4,025		)	(1,020		)	(10,044		)
Total debt	33,321			112,192			104,379			66,443			123,980			440,315
Less current maturities	(4,680		)	—			—			(6,858		)	(35,714		)	(47,252		)
Long-term debt	$	28,641		$	112,192		$	104,379		$	59,585		$	88,266		$	393,063


(1)	Term Loan borrowing pursuant to the Credit Agreement matures in June 2020. Scheduled principal repayments of the Term Loan have been adjusted to reflect prepayments made in March 2018.


(2)	The 2022 Notes will increase to their face amount through accretion of the debt discount through May 2022. The 2023 Notes will increase to their face amount through accretion of the debt discount through September 2023.


(3)	Debt issuance costs are amortized to interest expense over the term of the applicable debt agreement.

The following table details the components of our net interest expense (in thousands):



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016

Interest expense	$	32,617		$	38,274		$	45,110
Interest income	(3,237		)	(2,590		)	(2,086		)
Capitalized interest	(15,629		)	(16,906		)	(11,785		)
Net interest expense	$	13,751		$	18,778		$	31,239