Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt

v3.20.2
Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt

(7) Debt

Debt is summarized as follows:

    

Outstanding

    

    

    

    

principal

Carrying value

September 30, 

September 30, 

December 31, 

        

2020

    

2020

        

2019

 

amounts in thousands

Margin Loan Facility

$

1,300,000

 

1,300,000

 

1,300,000

Exchangeable senior debentures

 

477,250

 

820,035

 

658,839

Senior notes

 

775,000

 

793,524

 

796,138

Senior credit facility

 

510,822

 

510,822

 

512,666

Wells Fargo note payable

 

6,608

 

6,608

 

7,066

Deferred financing costs

 

 

(8,302)

 

(8,491)

Total debt

$

3,069,680

 

3,422,687

 

3,266,218

Debt classified as current

 

 

(823,166)

 

(3,008)

Total long-term debt

$

2,599,521

 

3,263,210

Margin Loan

On August 12, 2020, Broadband Holdco, LLC ("Broadband Holdco") entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Margin Loan Agreement, which amends the original margin loan agreement, dated December 29, 2017 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2018, and as further amended by that certain Amendment No. 2 to Margin Loan Agreement and Amendment No. 1 to Collateral Account Control Agreement, dated as of November 25, 2019, the “Existing Margin Loan Agreement”, and the Existing Margin Loan Agreement as amended by the Third Amendment, the “Margin Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to Amendment No. 3, lenders have agreed to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the Margin Loan Agreement to August 24, 2022. This facility provides a delayed draw term loan facility of $300.0 million (“Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility”), a revolving credit facility in an

aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a separate term loan facility in an aggregate amount of $800.0 million (the “Initial Term Loan Facility”; the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility, the Revolving Credit Facility and the Initial Term Loan Facility, collectively, the “Margin Loan Facilities” and the loans extended thereunder, the “Loans”). The Loans will mature on August 24, 2022 (the “Maturity Date”) and accrue interest at a rate equal to the 3-month LIBOR rate plus a per annum spread of 1.85%, subject to certain conditions and exceptions. The Margin Loan Agreement also provides for customary LIBOR replacement provisions. Undrawn revolving commitments shall be available to Broadband Holdco from August 12, 2020 to but excluding the earlier of (i) the date that is one month prior to the Maturity Date and (ii) the date of the termination of such revolving commitments pursuant to the terms of the Margin Loan Agreement. The obligations under the Margin Loan Facility are secured by first priority liens on the shares of Liberty Broadband owned by Broadband Holdco and certain other cash collateral provided by Broadband Holdco. 42,681,842 shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock with a value of $6.1 billion were pledged by Broadband Holdco as collateral for the Loans as of September 30, 2020.

On December 27, 2019, Broadband Holdco borrowed $100.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility and $300.0 million under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility. As of September 30, 2020, $1,300.0 million in borrowings were outstanding under the Margin Loan Facility.

Exchangeable Senior Debentures

On June 18, 2018, GCI Liberty issued 1.75% exchangeable senior debentures due 2046 ("Exchangeable Senior Debentures"). Upon an exchange of debentures, GCI Liberty, at its option, may deliver Charter Class A common stock, cash or a combination of Charter Class A common stock and cash. Initially, 2.6989 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to each $1,000 principal amount of debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $370.52 for each share of Charter Class A common stock. A total of 1,288,051 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to the debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The debentures may be redeemed by GCI Liberty, in whole or in part, on or after October 5, 2023. Holders of debentures also have the right to require GCI Liberty to purchase their debentures on October 5, 2023. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company has elected to account for the debentures using the fair value option. See note 3 for information related to unrealized gains (losses) on debt measured at fair value.  As of September 30, 2020, the holders of the debentures will have the ability to exchange their debentures for the period from October 1, 2020 through at least December 31, 2020 given that the trading value of the reference shares exceeded 130% of the par value for twenty of the last thirty trading days in the third quarter of 2020.  Given the holders’ ability to exchange the debentures within a one-year period from the balance sheet date and the Company’s option to settle any exchange in cash, shares of Charter Class A common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Charter Class A common stock, the debentures have been classified as current within the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2020.  The Company reviews the terms of the debentures on a quarterly basis to determine whether an event has occurred to require current classification.

Senior Notes

On June 6, 2019, GCI, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, issued $325.0 million of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2024 at par ("2024 Notes"). The 2024 Notes are unsecured and the net proceeds were used to fund the redemption of $325.0 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of GCI, LLC’s 6.75% Senior Notes due 2021. Interest on the 2024 Notes and GCI, LLC’s 6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes” and collectively, 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 respective indentures, and accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of redemption. The Senior Notes are stated net of an aggregate unamortized premium of $18.5 million at September 30, 2020. Such premium is being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

On October 7, 2020, GCI, LLC issued $600.0 million of 4.750% senior notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”).  The 2028 Notes are unsecured and the net proceeds of the offering, together with cash on hand and net proceeds from incremental borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility (as defined below), were used to fund the redemption of all $450 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2025 Notes and the redemption of all $325 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2024 Notes on October 14, 2020 and October 23, 2020, respectively.

Senior Credit Facility

On December 27, 2018, GCI, LLC amended and restated the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 9, 2018 and refinanced the revolving credit facility and term loan A with a new revolving credit facility, leaving the existing Term Loan B in place (the "Senior Credit Facility"). The Senior Credit Facility provides a $240.7 million term loan B ("Term Loan B") and a $550.0 million revolving credit facility (see below for amendment information subsequent to September 30, 2020).

GCI, LLC’s Senior Credit Facility Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) may not exceed 6.50 to 1.00 and the Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) may not exceed 4.00 to 1.00.

The revolving credit facility borrowings that are LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin that varies between 1.50% and 2.75% depending on the total leverage ratio. The full principal revolving credit facility included in the Senior Credit Facility will mature on December 27, 2023 or August 6, 2021 if the Term Loan B is not refinanced or repaid in full prior to such date.

The interest rate for the Term Loan B is LIBOR plus 2.25%. The Term Loan B requires principal payments of 0.25% of the original principal amount on the last day of each calendar quarter with the full amount maturing on February 2, 2022.

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 Holdings and the subsidiary guarantors, as defined in the Senior Credit Facility, and on the stock of GCI Holdings.

As of September 30, 2020, there was $235.8 million outstanding under the Term Loan B, $275.0 million outstanding under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility and $4.0 million in letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility, leaving $271.0 million available for borrowing.

On October 15, 2020, GCI, LLC amended the Senior Credit Facility to, among other things, extend the maturity dates of the borrowings and commitments under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan B and increase the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan B to $400.0 million (the “Amended Credit Facilities”).  The Amended Credit Facilities include a $550 million revolving credit facility, with a $25 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit, and a $400 million Term Loan B. The borrowings under the Amended Credit Facilities bear 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 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 that are LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin that varies between 1.50% and 2.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. Term Loan B borrowings that are alternate base rate loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin of 1.75%. Term Loan B borrowings that are LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%.

The borrowings under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan B under the Amended Credit Facilities are scheduled to mature on October 15, 2025; provided that, if the Term Loan B is not refinanced or repaid in full prior to April 15, 2025, then the borrowings under the revolving credit facility will mature on April 15, 2025.

Incremental borrowings under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan B were used, along with cash on hand, to redeem all $325 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2024 Notes.

Wells Fargo Note Payable

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"). The interest rate is 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 September 30, 2020.

Fair Value of Debt

The fair value of the Senior Notes was $814.7 million at September 30, 2020.

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 September 30, 2020.