Note 11—Debt

Our total debt as of April 4, 2015 and January 3, 2015 was as follows:


(in millions of U.S. dollars)	April 4, 2015		January 3, 2015
6.750% senior notes due in 2020		625.0		625.0
10.000% senior notes due in 2021 ¹		394.2		405.6
5.375% senior notes due in 2022		525.0		525.0
ABL facility		221.0		229.0
GE Term Loan		7.7		8.2
Capital leases and other debt financing		4.7		5.2

*Total debt*		1,777.6		1,798.0
Less: Short-term borrowings and current debt:
ABL facility		221.0		229.0

*Total short-term borrowings*		221.0		229.0
GE Term Loan – current maturities		2.1		2.0
Capital leases and other financing – current maturities		2.0		2.0

*Total current debt*		225.1		233.0

*Total long-term debt*	$	1,552.5	$	1,565.0

^1.

The outstanding aggregate principal amount of the DSS Notes of $350.0 million was assumed by Cott at fair value of $406.0 million in connection with the DSS Acquisition. The premium of $56.0 million is being amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method over the remaining contractual term of the DSS Notes. The effective interest rate is 7.515%.

Asset-Based Lending Facility

In March 2008, we entered into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as Agent that created an asset-based lending credit facility (the “ABL facility”) to provide financing for our North America, U.K. and Mexico operations. We refinanced the ABL facility in August 2010 and have amended the ABL from time to time and incurred an aggregate of $7.5 million of financing fees in connection therewith.

Most recently, on December 12, 2014, in connection with the DSS Acquisition, we amended the ABL facility to, among other things, (1) provide for an increase in the lenders’ commitments under the ABL facility to $400.0 million (which, with the accordion feature, if used, permits us to increase the lenders’ commitments under the ABL facility to $450.0 million, subject to certain conditions), (2) extend the maturity date to the earliest of (i) December 12, 2019, (ii) June 12, 2019, if we have not redeemed, repurchased or refinanced the 2020 Notes by May 28, 2019, or (iii) any earlier date on which the commitments under the ABL facility are reduced to zero or otherwise terminated, (3) include DSS and its subsidiaries as borrowers, (4) permit certain adjustments to the borrowing base calculation, (5) permit the debt, liens and intercreditor arrangements contemplated by the supplemental indenture entered into in connection with the DSS Notes (described below), (6) permit certain other indebtedness that we intend to issue or assume in connection with the DSS Acquisition, (7) permit certain other changes to dollar thresholds and limitations within our covenants generally reflecting the increased size of the facility. We incurred approximately $1.7 million of financing fees in connection with the amendment of the ABL facility.

The financing fees incurred in connection with the refinancing of the ABL facility in August 2010, along with the financing fees incurred in connection with the amendments of the ABL facility, other than the May 2014 amendment, are being amortized using the straight-line method over the duration of the amended ABL facility. Each of the amendments, with the exception of the May 2014 amendment, was considered to be a modification of the original agreement under GAAP.

As of April 4, 2015, we had $221.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the ABL facility. The commitment fee was 0.375% per annum of the unused commitment, which, taking into account $42.0 million of letters of credit, was $137.0 million as of April 4, 2015. As of April 4, 2015, our total availability under the ABL facility was $380.8 million, which was based on our borrowing base (accounts receivable, inventory, and fixed assets). As a result of our outstanding borrowings under the ABL facility of $221.0 million and outstanding letters of credit of $42.0 million, our excess availability under the ABL facility was $117.8 million.

5.375% Senior Notes due in 2022

On June 24, 2014, we issued $525.0 million of our 5.375% senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) to qualified purchasers in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The issuer of the 2022 Notes is our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Cott Beverages Inc., and we and most of our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries guarantee the 2022 Notes. The interest on the 2022 Notes is payable semi-annually on January 1st and July 1st of each year commencing on January 1, 2015.

We incurred $9.2 million of financing fees in connection with the issuance of the 2022 Notes. The financing fees are being amortized using the effective interest method over an eight-year period, which represents the term to maturity of the 2022 Notes.

10.000% Senior Notes due in 2021

On August 30, 2013, DS Services of America, Inc. (formerly DS Waters of America, Inc.) issued $350.0 million of the DSS Notes to qualified purchasers in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act. Pursuant to a consent solicitation statement dated November 13, 2014, as amended on November 25, 2014, and its accompanying consent letter, dated November 13, 2014, DSS solicited consent from the holders of the DSS Notes to certain modifications and amendments to the August 30, 2013 indenture and related security documents. On December 2, 2014, the requisite consents from the holders of the DSS Notes were obtained, with a consent payment of approximately $19.2 million. At the DSS Acquisition closing, we and most of our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries executed a supplemental indenture to be added as guarantors to the DSS Notes. The interest on the DSS Notes is payable semi-annually on March 1^st and September 1^st of each year commencing on March 1, 2014.

The DSS Notes were recorded at their fair value of $406.0 million as part of the DSS Acquisition. The difference between the fair value and the principal amount of $350.0 million is amortized as a component of interest expense over the remaining contractual term of the DSS Notes. We incurred approximately $26.5 million of consent solicitation fees and bridge financing commitment fees.

6.750% Senior Notes due in 2020

On December 12, 2014, we issued the 2020 Notes to qualified purchasers in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act. The issuer of the 2020 Notes is our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Cott Beverages Inc., and we and most of our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries guarantee the 2020 Notes. The interest on the 2020 Notes is payable semi-annually on January 1st and July 1st of each year commencing on July 1, 2015.

We incurred $14.4 million of financing fees in connection with the issuance of the 2020 Notes. The financing fees are being amortized using the effective interest method over a five-year period, which represents the term to maturity of the 2020 Notes.

8.125% Senior Notes due in 2018

On August 17, 2010, we issued the 2018 Notes. The issuer of the 2018 Notes was our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Cott Beverages Inc. We incurred $8.6 million of financing fees in connection with the issuance of the 2018 Notes.

On June 24, 2014, we used a portion of the proceeds from our issuance of the 2022 Notes to purchase $295.9 million aggregate principal amount of our 2018 Notes in a cash tender offer. The tender offer included approximately $16.2 million in premium payments as well as accrued interest of $7.5 million, the write-off of approximately $3.0 million in deferred financing fees, and other costs of approximately $0.2 million.

On July 9, 2014 and July 24, 2014, we redeemed all of the remaining $79.1 million aggregate principal amount of our 2018 Notes. The redemption included approximately $3.8 million in premium payments as well as accrued interest of approximately $2.5 million and the write-off of approximately $0.8 million in deferred financing fees.

8.375% Senior Notes due in 2017

On November 13, 2009, we issued $215.0 million of our 8.375% senior notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes”). The 2017 Notes were issued at a $3.1 million discount. The issuer of the 2017 Notes was our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Cott Beverages Inc. We incurred $5.1 million of financing fees in connection with the 2017 Notes.

On November 15, 2013, we redeemed $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 2017 Notes at 104.118% of par. The redemption included approximately $8.2 million in premium payments, the write-off of approximately $4.0 million in deferred financing fees, and discount charges and other costs of approximately $0.5 million.

On February 19, 2014, we redeemed all of the remaining $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Notes at 104.118% of par. The redemption included approximately $0.6 million in premium payments as well as the write-off of approximately $0.3 million in deferred financing fees and discount charges.

GE Term Loan

In January 2008, we entered into a capital lease finance arrangement with General Electric Capital Corporation (“GE Capital”) for the lease of equipment. In September 2013, we purchased the equipment subject to the lease for an aggregate purchase price of $10.7 million, with the financing for such purchase provided by GE Capital at a 5.23% interest rate.