NOTE 11 — LONG-TERM DEBT:

Long-term debt consisted of the following:


	As of December 31,
	2013		2012
8⁵⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2017	$	—	$	375,000
1³⁄₄% Senior Convertible Notes due 2017		252,084		239,126
7¹⁄₂% Senior Notes due 2022		775,000		300,000
Bank debt		—		—

Total long-term debt	$	1,027,084	$	914,126

Bank Debt

On April 26, 2011, we entered into an amended and restated revolving credit facility with commitments totaling $700,000 (subject to borrowing base limitations) through a syndicated bank group, replacing our previous facility. Our bank credit facility matures on April 26, 2015. On December 18, 2013, our borrowing base was reaffirmed at $400,000. As of December 31, 2013 and February 25, 2014, we had no outstanding borrowings under our bank credit facility and letters of credit totaling $21,406 had been issued pursuant to our bank credit facility, leaving $378,594 of availability under our bank credit facility.

The borrowing base under our bank credit facility is redetermined semi-annually, in May and November, by the lenders, taking into consideration the estimated value of our oil and gas properties and those of our direct and indirect material subsidiaries in accordance with the lenders’ customary practices for oil and gas loans. In addition, we and the lenders each have discretion at any time, but not more than two additional times in any calendar year, to have the borrowing base redetermined. If a reduction in our borrowing base were to fall below any outstanding balances under the bank credit facility plus any outstanding letters of credit, our agreement with the banks allows us one or more of three options to cure the borrowing base deficiency: (1) repay amounts outstanding sufficient to cure the deficiency within 10 days after our written election to do so; (2) add additional oil and gas properties acceptable to the banks to the borrowing base and take such actions necessary to grant the banks a mortgage in the properties within 30 days after our written election to do so or (3) arrange to pay the deficiency in five equal monthly installments.

Our bank credit facility is guaranteed by our only significant subsidiary, Stone Offshore. Our bank credit facility is collateralized by substantially all of Stone’s and Stone Offshore’s assets. Stone and Stone Offshore are required to mortgage, and grant a security interest in, their oil and natural gas reserves representing at least 80% of the discounted present value of the future net cash flows from their oil and natural gas reserves reviewed in determining the borrowing base. At Stone’s option, loans under our bank credit facility will bear interest at a rate based on the adjusted London Interbank Offering (“Libor”) Rate plus an applicable margin, or a rate based on the prime rate or federal funds rate plus an applicable margin.

Under the financial covenants of our bank credit facility, we must (1) maintain a ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the credit agreement, for the preceding four quarterly periods of not greater than 3.25 to 1 and (2) maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated Net Interest Expense, as defined in the credit agreement, for the preceding four quarterly periods of not less than 3.0 to 1. As of December 31, 2013, our debt to EBITDA ratio was 1.73 to 1 and our EBITDA to consolidated Net Interest Expense ratio was approximately 18.40 to 1. In addition, our bank credit facility includes certain customary restrictions or requirements with respect to disposition of properties, incurrence of additional debt, change of ownership and reporting responsibilities. These covenants may limit or prohibit us from paying cash dividends but do allow for limited stock repurchases. These covenants also restrict our ability to prepay other indebtedness under certain circumstances. We were in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2013.

2017 Convertible Notes

On March 6, 2012, we issued in a private offering $300,000 in aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Convertible Notes to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The 2017 Convertible Notes are convertible into cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, based on an initial conversion rate of 23.4449 shares of our common stock per $1 principal amount of 2017 Convertible Notes, which corresponds to an initial conversion price of approximately $42.65 per share of our common stock. On December 31, 2013, our closing share price was $34.59. The conversion rate, and thus the conversion price, may be adjusted under certain circumstances as described in the indenture related to the 2017 Convertible Notes.

The 2017 Convertible Notes may be converted by the holder, in multiples of $1 principal amount, only under the following circumstances:

•

prior to December 1, 2016, on any date during any calendar quarter beginning after June 30, 2012 (and only during such calendar quarter) if the closing sale price of our common stock was more than 130% of the then current conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the period of the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the previous calendar quarter;

•

prior to December 1, 2016, if we distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock rights, options or warrants entitling them to purchase, for a period of 45 calendar days or less from the declaration date for such distribution, shares of our common stock at a price per share less than the average closing sale price of our common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but excluding, the declaration date for such distribution;

•

prior to December 1, 2016, if we distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock cash, other assets, securities or rights to purchase our securities, which distribution has a per share value exceeding 10% of the closing sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the declaration date for such distribution, or if we engage in certain corporate transactions described in the indenture related to the 2017 Convertible Notes;

•

prior to December 1, 2016, during the five consecutive business-day period following any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price per $1 principal amount of 2017 Convertible Notes for each trading day during such five trading-day period was less than 98% of the closing sale price of our common stock for each trading day during such five trading-day period multiplied by the then current conversion rate; or

•

on or after December 1, 2016, and prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the 2017 Convertible Notes, which is March 1, 2017, without regard to the foregoing conditions.

Upon conversion, we will be obligated to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election. If we satisfy our conversion obligation solely in cash or through payment and delivery, as the case may be, of a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, the amount of cash and shares of common stock, if any, due upon conversion will be based on a daily conversion value (as described in the indenture related to the 2017 Convertible Notes) calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day in a 25 consecutive trading-day conversion period (as described in the indenture related to the 2017 Convertible Notes). Upon any conversion, subject to certain exceptions, holders of the 2017 Convertible Notes will not receive any cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest. Instead, interest will be deemed to be paid by the cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of a 2017 Convertible Note.

In connection with the offering, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with respect to our common stock (the “Purchased Call Options”) with Barclays Capital Inc., acting as agent for Barclays Bank PLC and Bank of America, N.A. (the “Dealers”). We paid an aggregate amount of approximately $70,830 to the Dealers for the Purchased Call Options. The Purchased Call Options cover, subject to customary antidilution adjustments, approximately 7,033,470 shares of our common stock at a strike price that corresponds to the initial conversion price of the 2017 Convertible Notes, also subject to adjustment, and are exercisable upon conversion of the 2017 Convertible Notes.

We also entered into separate warrant transactions whereby, in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we sold to the Dealers warrants to acquire, subject to customary antidilution adjustments, approximately 7,033,470 shares of our common stock (the “Sold Warrants”) at a strike price of $55.91 per share of our common stock. We received aggregate proceeds of approximately $40,170 from the sale of the Sold Warrants to the Dealers. If, upon expiration of the Sold Warrants, the price per share of our common stock, as measured under the Sold Warrants, is greater than the strike price of the Sold Warrants, we will be required to issue, without further consideration, under each Sold Warrant a number of shares of our common stock with a value equal to the amount of such difference.

As of December 31, 2013, the carrying amount of the liability component of the 2017 Convertible Notes was $252,084 and $1,750 had been accrued in connection with the March 1, 2014 interest payment. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recognized $12,959 of interest expense for the amortization of the discount and $1,238 of interest expense for the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we recognized $9,956 of interest expense for the amortization of the discount and $951 of interest expense for the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we recognized $5,250 and $4,302, respectively, of interest expense related to the contractual interest coupon on the 2017 Convertible Notes.

2022 Notes

On November 8, 2012, we completed the public offering of $300,000 aggregate principal amount of our 2022 Notes, which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Stone Offshore and by certain future restricted subsidiaries of Stone. The net proceeds from the offering after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, fees and expenses totaled $293,203. On November 27, 2013, we completed the public offering of an additional $475,000 aggregate principal amount of our 2022 Notes at a 3% premium. The net proceeds from this offering after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, fees and expenses totaled $480,195. The 2022 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior debt, and rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated debt. The 2022 Notes mature on November 15, 2022, and interest is payable on the 2022 Notes on each May 15 and November 15. We may redeem some or all of the 2022 Notes at any time on or after November 15, 2017 at the redemption prices specified in the indenture, and we may redeem some or all of the 2022 Notes prior to November 15, 2017 at a make-whole redemption price as specified in the indenture. We also may redeem up to 35% of the 2022 Notes prior to November 15, 2015 with cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 107.500% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. If we sell certain assets and do not reinvest the proceeds or repay senior indebtedness, or we experience certain changes of control, each as described in the indenture, we must offer to repurchase the 2022 Notes. The 2022 Notes provide for certain covenants, which include, without limitation, restrictions on liens, indebtedness, asset sales, dividend payments and other restricted payments. The violation of any of these covenants could give rise to a default, which if not cured could give the holder of the 2022 Notes a right to accelerate payment. At December 31, 2013, $7,266 had been accrued in connection with the May 15, 2014 interest payment.

2017 Notes

On January 26, 2010, we issued $275,000 aggregate principal amount of our 2017 Notes. On November 17, 2010, we completed a public offering of an additional $100,000 aggregate principal amount of our 2017 Notes. In November 2013, we used proceeds from the 2022 Notes offering to purchase a portion of our 2017 Notes pursuant to a tender offer and consent solicitation. In December 2013, the remaining 2017 Notes were redeemed in full. The total cost of the redemption was $406,967, which included $396,014 to redeem the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest of $10,953. The transaction resulted in a charge to earnings of $27,279 in the fourth quarter of 2013, which represented the premium paid for the repurchase and redemption of $21,014 and the write off of the remaining deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Notes of $6,265.

Deferred Financing Cost and Interest Cost

Other assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012 included approximately $11,754 and $27,753, respectively, of deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization. These costs related primarily to the issuance of the 2017 Convertible Notes, the 2022 Notes and our bank credit facility. The costs associated with the 2017 Convertible Notes are being amortized over the life of the notes using a method that applies an effective interest rate of 7.51%. The costs associated with the November 2012 issuance and November 2013 issuance of the 2022 Notes are being amortized over the life of the notes using a method that applies effective interest rates of 7.75% and 7.04%, respectively. The costs associated with our bank credit facility are being amortized over the term of our bank credit facility.

Total interest cost incurred, before capitalization, on all obligations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $79,697, $68,031 and $51,322 respectively.