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LONG-TERM DEBT
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
LONG-TERM DEBT  
LONG-TERM DEBT

8. LONG-TERM DEBT

On April 10, 2019, the Company entered into a credit facility, with CoBank, ACB and a syndicate of other lenders (the “2019 CoBank Credit Facility”).  The 2019 CoBank Credit Facility provides for a $200 million revolving credit facility that includes (i) up to $75 million for standby or trade letters of credit and (ii) up to $10 million under a swingline sub-facility.  Approximately $16.0 million of performance letters of credit have been issued and remain outstanding and undrawn as of December 31, 2021.  The 2019 CoBank Credit Facility matures on April 10, 2024.

Amounts borrowed under the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin ranging between 1.25% to 2.25% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.25%.  Swingline loans bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable margin for base rate loans. The base rate is equal to the higher of (i) 1.00% plus the higher of (x) LIBOR for an interest period of one month and (y) LIBOR for an interest period of one week; (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility) plus 0.50% per annum; and (iii) the Prime Rate (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility). The applicable margin is determined based on the Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility). Under the terms of the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility, the Company must also pay a fee ranging from 0.150% to 0.375% of the average daily unused portion of the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility over each calendar quarter.

  

 The 2019 CoBank Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including a financial covenant that imposes a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA as well as covenants limiting additional indebtedness, liens, guaranties, mergers and consolidations, substantial asset sales, investments and loans, sale and leasebacks, transactions with affiliates and fundamental changes.  The Company’s investments in “unrestricted” subsidiaries and certain dividend payments to its stockholders are not limited unless the Total Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.75 to 1.0.  The Total Net Leverage Ratio is measured each fiscal quarter and is required to be less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.0.  In the event of a Qualifying Acquisition (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility), the Total Net Leverage Ratio increases to 3.25 to 1.0 for the subsequent three fiscal quarters. 

The 2019 CoBank Credit Facility also provides for the incurrence by the Company of incremental term loan facilities, when combined with increases to revolving loan commitments, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200 million (the “Accordion”).  Amounts borrowed under the Accordion are also subject to proforma compliance with a net leverage ratio financial covenant.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants, had $61.5 million outstanding in borrowings and, net of the $16.0 million of outstanding performance letters of credit, had $122.5 million of availability under the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility. 

Alaska Credit Facility

On July 22, 2021, Alaska Communications entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Alaska Credit Facility”) with Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and a syndicate of lenders to provide a $35.0 million revolving facility (the “Alaska Revolving Facility”) and a $210.0 million initial term loan facility (the “Alaska Term

Loan”). As of December 31, 2021, $210.0 million was outstanding under the Alaska Term Loan and $2.0 million outstanding under the Alaska Revolving Facility. Both facilities mature on July 22, 2026.

The Alaska Credit Facility also provides for incremental term loans up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of $70.0 million and Alaska Communications’ trailing twelve month Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Alaska Credit Facility).

The key terms and conditions of the Alaska Credit Facility include the following:

Amounts outstanding bear an interest rate of LIBOR, or a LIBOR replacement rate as applicable, plus a margin ranging from 3.00% to 4.00% based on Alaska Communications’ Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or an alternate base rate may be selected at a margin that is 1% lower than the counterpart LIBOR margin;

Principal repayments are due quarterly commencing in the fourth quarter of 2023 in quarterly amounts as follows: from the fourth quarter of 2023 through the third quarter of 2024, $1,312,500; and from the fourth quarter of 2024 through the third quarter of 2026, $2,625,000. The remaining unpaid balance is due on the final maturity date;

 

Alaska Communications is required to maintain financial ratios subsequent to the closing of the Alaska Transaction, as defined in the Alaska Credit Facility, including (a) a maximum Consolidated Net Total Leverage Ratio of 4.00:1.00, stepping down to 3.75:1.00 beginning with the second quarter of 2024; and (b) a minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.25:1.00; and

 

The Alaska Credit Facility is non-recourse to the Company and is secured by substantially all of the personal property and certain material real property owned by Alaska Communications.

Alaska Communication entered into an amortizing interest rate swap that has been designated as a cash flow hedge that has an interest rate of 1.6735% and expires on June 30, 2022.  As of December 31, 2021, the swap had an unamortized notional amount of $121.5 million.

FirstNet Receivables Credit Facility

On March 26, 2020, Commnet Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Commnet Wireless, entered into a receivables credit facility with the Company, Commnet Wireless, and CoBank, ACB (the “Receivables Credit Facility”).

 

The Receivables Credit Facility provides for a senior secured delayed draw term loan in an aggregate principal amount of up to $75.0 million and the proceeds may be used to acquire certain receivables from Commnet Wireless.  The receivables to be financed and sold under the Receivables Credit Facility, which provide the loan security, relate to the obligations of AT&T under the FirstNet Agreement. On December 29, 2021, CoBank amended the Receivables Credit Facility and extended the delayed draw period to December 31, 2022.

The maturity date for each loan will be set by CoBank and will match the weighted average maturity of the certain receivables financed.

Interest on the loans accrues at a fixed annual interest rate to be quoted by CoBank. 

  

The Receivables Credit Facility contains customary events of termination, representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for facilities of this type.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $35.5 million outstanding, of which $4.6 million was current, and $37.7 million of availability under the Receivables Credit Facility.  The Company capitalized $0.9 million of fees associated with the Receivables Credit Facility which are being amortized over the life of the debt and $0.7 million were unamortized at December 31, 2021. 

Viya Debt

The Company, and certain of its subsidiaries, have entered into a $60.0 million loan agreement (the “Viya Debt”) with Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (“RTFC”).  The Viya Debt agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants (including limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sale of assets and liens) and a financial covenant that limits the maximum ratio of indebtedness to annual operating cash flow to 3.5 to 1.0 (the “Net Leverage Ratio”).  This covenant is tested on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year.  Interest is paid quarterly at a fixed rate of 4.0% per annum and principal repayment is not required until maturity on July 1, 2026.  Prepayment of the Viya Debt may be subject to a fee under certain circumstances.  The debt is secured by certain assets of the Company’s Viya subsidiaries and is guaranteed by the Company.  With RTFC’s consent, the Company funded the restoration of Viya’s network, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, through an intercompany loan arrangement in the amount of $51.6 million.  The Company was not in compliance with the Net Leverage Ratio covenant of the Viya Debt agreement for the year ending December 31, 2021 and received a waiver from the RTFC on March 16, 2022.

The Company paid a fee of $0.9 million in 2016 to lock the interest rate at 4% per annum over the term of the Viya Debt.  The fee was recorded as a reduction to the Viya Debt carrying amount and is being amortized over the life of the loan. 

As of December 31, 2021, $60.0 million of the Viya Debt remained outstanding and $0.4 million of the rate lock fee was unamortized.

One Communications Debt

The Company has an outstanding loan from HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited (the “One Communications Debt”) which is scheduled to mature on May 22, 2022 and bears interest at the one-month LIBOR plus a margin ranging between 2.5% to 2.75% per annum paid quarterly.

The One Communications Debt contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants (including limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sale of assets and liens) and financial covenants, tested annually as of and for the twelve months ended December 31st, that limit the ratio of tangible net worth to long term debt and total net debt to EBITDA and require a minimum debt service coverage ratio (as defined in the One Communications Debt agreement).  The Company was in compliance with its covenants as of December 31, 2021.
 

The Company entered into an amortizing interest rate swap that has been designated as a cash flow hedge, which had an original notional amount of $11.0 million, has an interest rate of 1.874%, and expires in March 2022.  As of December 31, 2021, the swap had an unamortized notional amount of $6.2 million.

  

As of December 31, 2021, $4.7 million of the One Communications Debt was outstanding.