Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Debt

v3.24.0.1
Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Debt  
Debt

(7) Debt

Debt is summarized as follows:

Outstanding

 

principal

Carrying value

 

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

 

2023

2023

2022

 

 

amounts in millions

Margin Loan Facility

$

1,460

 

1,460

 

1,400

3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2053

1,265

1,255

1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050

 

 

 

798

2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050

560

1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046

15

Senior notes

 

600

 

623

 

628

Senior credit facility

 

394

 

394

 

397

Wells Fargo note payable

 

5

 

5

 

5

Deferred financing costs

 

 

(1)

 

(2)

Total debt

$

3,724

 

3,736

 

3,801

Debt classified as current

 

 

(3)

 

(1,376)

Total long-term debt

$

3,733

 

2,425

Margin Loan Facility

On May 17, 2023, a bankruptcy remote wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“SPV”) entered into Amendment No. 7 to Margin Loan Agreement (the “Seventh Amendment”), which amends SPV’s margin loan agreement, dated as of August 31, 2017 (as amended by the Seventh Amendment, the “Margin Loan Agreement”), with a group of lenders. The Margin Loan Agreement provides for (x) a term loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.15 billion (the “Term Loan Facility” and proceeds of such facility, the “Term Loans”), (y) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.15 billion (the “Revolving Loan Facility” and proceeds of such facility, the “Revolving Loans”; the Revolving Loans, collectively with the Term Loans, the “Loans”) and (z) an uncommitted incremental term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200 million (collectively, the “Margin Loan Facility”). No additional borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement were made in connection with the Seventh Amendment. SPV’s obligations under the Margin Loan Facility are secured by shares of Charter owned by SPV. The Seventh Amendment provided for, among other things, (i) the extension of the scheduled maturity dates to May 12, 2026, (ii) the interest under the Margin Loan Agreement to be determined by reference to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) instead of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), (iii) an increase in the Base Spread (as defined below) applicable to all loans funded under the Margin Loan Agreement and (iv) the removal of certain conditions precedent to the release of pledged shares.

Outstanding borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement were $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, SPV was permitted to borrow an additional $840 million under the Margin Loan Agreement, subject to certain funding conditions, which may be drawn until five business days prior to the maturity date. The maturity date of the loans under the Margin Loan Agreement is May 12, 2026. Pursuant to the Seventh Amendment, the borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement will accrue interest at a rate equal to the three-month SOFR rate plus a per annum spread of 1.875% (the “Base Spread”) (unless and until the replacement of such rate as provided for under the Margin Loan Agreement). The Margin Loan Agreement also has a commitment fee equal to 0.50% per annum on the daily unused amount of the Revolving Loans.

Borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement prior to the Seventh Amendment bore interest at the three-month LIBOR rate plus a per annum spread of 1.5%, effective with the Fourth Amendment on May 12, 2021. Prior to the Fourth Amendment effective date on May 12, 2021, the per annum spread was 1.85%.

The Margin Loan Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants that restrict the activities of SPV (and, in some cases, the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to shares of Charter owned by the Company and its subsidiaries). The Margin Loan Agreement does not include any financial covenants. The Margin Loan Agreement does contain restrictions related to additional indebtedness and events of default customary for margin loans of this type.

SPV’s obligations under the Margin Loan Agreement are secured by first priority liens on a portion of the Company’s ownership interest in Charter, sufficient for SPV to meet the loan to value requirements under the Margin Loan Agreement. The Margin Loan Agreement indicates that no lender party shall have any voting rights with respect to the shares pledged as collateral, except to the extent that a lender party buys any shares in a sale or other disposition made pursuant to the terms of the loan agreement. As of December 31, 2023, 19.1 million shares of Charter common stock with a value of $7.4 billion were held in collateral accounts related to the Margin Loan Agreement.

Exchangeable Senior Debentures

On August 27, 2020, the Company closed a private offering of $575 million aggregate original principal amount of its 2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 (the “2.75% Debentures”), including debentures with an aggregate original principal amount of $75 million issued pursuant to the exercise of an option granted to the initial purchasers. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased all of the outstanding 2.75% Debentures using proceeds from the issuance of the 3.125% Debentures, as defined and further described below.

On November 23, 2020, the Company closed a private offering of $825 million aggregate original principal amount of its 1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 (the “1.25% Debentures”), including debentures with an aggregate original principal amount of $75 million issued pursuant to the exercise of an option granted to the initial purchasers. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased a significant portion of the 1.25% Debentures using proceeds from the issuance of the 3.125% Debentures, as defined and further described below. On October 5, 2023, the remaining 1.25% Debentures were redeemed.

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, the Company assumed all of GCI Liberty’s outstanding 1.75% exchangeable senior debentures due 2046 (the “1.75% Debentures”) with an original outstanding principal amount of $15 million at fair value. The total fair value of the acquired 1.75% Debentures was approximately $26 million. The 1.75% Debentures were initially issued on June 18, 2018 by GCI Liberty. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased all of the outstanding 1.75% Debentures using proceeds from the issuance of the 3.125% Debentures, as defined and further described below.

On February 28, 2023, the Company closed a private offering of $1,265 million aggregate original principal amount of its 3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2053 (the “3.125% Debentures”), including debentures with an aggregate original principal amount of $165 million issued pursuant to the exercise of an option granted to the initial purchasers. Upon an exchange of the 3.125% Debentures, the Company, at its election, may deliver shares of Charter Class A common stock, the value thereof in cash, or any combination of shares of Charter Class A common stock and cash. Initially, 1.8901 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to each $1,000 original principal amount of 3.125% Debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $529.07 for each share of Charter Class A common stock. A total of 2,390,977 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to the 3.125% Debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing June 30, 2023. The 3.125% Debentures may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part, on or after April 6, 2026. Holders of the 3.125% Debentures also have the right to require the Company to purchase their 3.125% Debentures on April 6, 2026. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the 3.125% Debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus any final period distribution. As

of December 31, 2023, a holder of the 3.125% Debentures does not have the ability to exchange their debentures and, accordingly, the 3.125% Debentures have been classified as long-term debt within the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023.

As mentioned above, the Company used the net proceeds of the offering of the 3.125% Debentures, together with existing cash on hand, to repurchase all of the outstanding 1.75% Debentures, all of the outstanding 2.75% Debentures and a significant portion of the outstanding 1.25% Debentures. On October 5, 2023, the remaining portion of the 1.25% Debentures were retired at the adjusted principal amount plus accrued interest and, pursuant to a supplemental indenture entered into in February 2023, the Company delivered solely cash to satisfy its obligations.

The Company has elected to account for all of its exchangeable senior debentures at fair value in its consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See note 4 for information related to unrealized gains (losses) on debt measured at fair value. The Company reviews the terms of all the debentures on a quarterly basis to determine whether an event has occurred to require current classification on the consolidated balance sheets.

Senior Notes

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, GCI, LLC became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. GCI, LLC is the issuer of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% senior notes due 2028 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes were issued by GCI, LLC on October 7, 2020 and are unsecured. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The Senior Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at a redemption price defined in the indenture, and accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of redemption. The Senior Notes are stated net of an aggregate unamortized premium of $23 million at December 31, 2023. Such premium is being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Senior Credit Facility

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, GCI, LLC became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. GCI, LLC is the borrower under the Senior Credit Facility (as defined below).

On October 15, 2021, GCI, LLC entered into an Eighth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Senior Credit Facility Eighth Amendment”), which includes a $550 million revolving credit facility, with a $25 million sublimit for standby letters of credit, that matures on October 15, 2026 and a $250 million Term Loan A (the “Term Loan A”) that matures on October 15, 2027. Additionally, the $400 million Term Loan B (the “Term Loan B”) which existed prior to the Senior Credit Facility Eighth Amendment, was repaid in full using the proceeds from the Term Loan A together with $150 million in borrowings under the revolving credit facility. On June 12, 2023, GCI, LLC entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Eighth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Senior Credit Facility”) which modified the interest rates to reference SOFR instead of LIBOR.

Following the amendment in June 2023, the revolving credit facility borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility that are alternate base rate loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin that varies between 0.50% and 1.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. The revolving credit facility borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility that are SOFR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable SOFR plus a Credit Spread Adjustment (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) plus a margin that varies between 1.50% and 2.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. Term Loan A borrowings that are alternate base rate loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin that varies between 1.00% and 2.25% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. Term Loan A borrowings that are SOFR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable SOFR plus a margin that varies between 2.00% and 3.25% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. Principal payments are due quarterly on the Term Loan A equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount, which may step up to 1.25% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A depending on GCI, LLC’s secured leverage ratio. Each loan may be prepaid at any time and from time to time without penalty other than customary breakage costs. Any amounts prepaid on the revolving credit facility may be reborrowed. Prior to the amendment in

June 2023, all rates indexed to SOFR were previously indexed to LIBOR. The Senior Credit Facility also has a commitment fee that accrues at a per annum rate between 0.375% and 0.500% on the daily unused amount of the revolving credit facility depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio.

Prior to the Senior Credit Facility Eighth Amendment in October 2021, the borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bore interest at either the alternate base rate or LIBOR (based on an interest period selected by GCI, LLC of one month, two months, three months or six months) at the election of GCI, LLC in each case plus a margin. The revolving credit facility borrowings that were alternate base rate loans bore interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin that varied between 0.50% and 1.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. The revolving credit facility borrowings that were LIBOR loans bore interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin that varied between 1.50% and 2.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. Term Loan B borrowings that were alternate base rate loans bore interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin of 1.75%. Term Loan B borrowings that were LIBOR loans bore interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%.

GCI, LLC’s First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) may not exceed 4.00 to 1.00.

The terms of the Senior Credit Facility include customary representations and warranties, customary affirmative and negative covenants and customary events of default. At any time after the occurrence of an event of default under the Senior Credit Facility, the lenders may, among other options, declare any amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility immediately due and payable and terminate any commitment to make further loans under the Senior Credit Facility. The obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by a security interest on substantially all of the assets of GCI, LLC and the subsidiary guarantors, as defined in the Senior Credit Facility, and on the stock of GCI Holdings.

As of December 31, 2023, there was $244 million outstanding under the Term Loan A, $150 million outstanding under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility and $3 million in letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility, leaving $397 million available for borrowing.

Wells Fargo Note Payable

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, the Company assumed GCI Holdings’ outstanding $6 million under its Wells Fargo Note Payable (as defined below). Outstanding borrowings on the Wells Fargo Note Payable were $5 million as of both December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

GCI Holdings issued a note to Wells Fargo that matures on July 15, 2029 and is payable in monthly installments of principal and interest (the "Wells Fargo Note Payable"). On May 1, 2023, the Wells Fargo Note Payable was amended to update the interest rate to reference SOFR instead of LIBOR. After this amendment, the interest rate is variable at SOFR plus 1.75%. Prior to the amendment, the interest rate was variable at one month LIBOR plus 2.25%.

The note is subject to similar affirmative and negative covenants as the Senior Credit Facility. The obligations under the note are secured by a security interest and lien on the building purchased with the note.

Debt Covenants

GCI, LLC is subject to covenants and restrictions under its Senior Notes and Senior Credit Facility. The Company and GCI, LLC are in compliance with all debt maintenance covenants as of December 31, 2023.

Five Year Maturities

The annual principal maturities of debt, based on stated maturity dates, for each of the next five years is as follows (amounts in millions):

2024

$

3

2025

 

$

3

2026

 

$

1,613

2027

 

$

238

2028

 

$

601

Fair Value of Debt

The fair value of the Senior Notes was $556 million at December 31, 2023 (Level 2).

Due to the variable rate nature of the Margin Loan, Senior Credit Facility and Wells Fargo Note Payable, the Company believes that the carrying amount approximates fair value at December 31, 2023.