Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt

v3.7.0.1
Debt
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Debt  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

(6) Debt

Outstanding debt at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2017

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

amounts in thousands

2014 Margin Loans

 

400,000

 

400,000

2016 Margin Loans

 

200,000

 

200,000

Total

$

600,000

 

600,000

 

2014 Margin Loans

 

On October 30, 2014, in connection with and prior to the effectiveness of the Broadband Spin-Off, a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary of the Company (“BroadbandSPV”) entered into two margin loan agreements (the “2014 Margin Loan Agreements”) with each of the lenders party thereto. The 2014 Margin Loan Agreements permit BroadbandSPV, subject to certain funding conditions, to borrow term loans up to an aggregate principal amount equal to $400 million (the “2014 Margin Loans”). The maximum borrowing capacity of $400 million under the 2014 Margin Loan Agreements was outstanding at March 31, 2017. The maturity date of the 2014 Margin Loans is October 30, 2017, accordingly the debt is classified as current as of March 31, 2017. Borrowings under the 2014 Margin Loan Agreements bear interest at the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.55%, and have an unused commitment fee of 0.25% per annum based on the average daily unused portion of the 2014 Margin Loans. Borrowings outstanding under these margin loans bore interest at a rate of 2.70% per annum at March 31, 2017. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears beginning on December 31, 2014.

 

2016 Margin Loans

 

On March 21, 2016, a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary of the Company (“Cheetah 5”), entered into two margin loan agreements (the “2016 Margin Loan Agreements” and together with the 2014 Margin Loan Agreements, the “Margin Loan Agreements”) with each of the lenders party thereto. The 2016 Margin Loan Agreements permit Cheetah 5, subject to certain funding conditions, to borrow initial term loans up to an aggregate principal amount equal to $200 million and delayed draw loans (the “Draw Loans”) up to an aggregate principal amount equal to $100 million, for an aggregate total of $300 million (collectively the “2016 Margin Loans”). Cheetah 5 had borrowed $200 million as of March 31, 2017 and had $100 million available to be drawn until March 21, 2017. During the first quarter of 2017, the availability period to draw on the $100 million was extended to September 21, 2017. The maturity date of the 2016 Margin Loans is March 21, 2018, accordingly the debt is classified as current as of March 31, 2017. Borrowings under the 2016 Margin Loans bear interest at the applicable LIBOR rate plus 2.10% per annum and have an unused commitment fee of 0.5% per annum based on the average daily unused portion of the Draw Loans. Borrowings outstanding under these margin loans bore interest at a rate of 3.25% per annum at March 31, 2017.  Interest is payable quarterly in arrears beginning on March 31, 2016. The proceeds of the 2016 Margin Loans were used for the Company’s additional investment in Charter during May 2016 (note 4). Borrowings may also be used for distribution as a dividend or a return of capital, for the purchase of margin stock and for general corporate purposes.

 

The Margin Loan Agreements contain various affirmative and negative covenants that restrict the activities of BroadbandSPV and Cheetah 5. The Margin Loan Agreements do not include any financial covenants.  The Margin Loan Agreements also contain restrictions related to additional indebtedness. In connection with Cheetah 5’s execution of the 2016 Margin Loan Agreements, the 2014 Margin Loan Agreements were amended to, among other things, permit the transactions under the 2016 Margin Loan Agreements and conform certain of the terms in the 2014 Margin Loan Agreements to the 2016 Margin Loan Agreements.

 

BroadbandSPV and Cheetah 5’s obligations under the Margin Loan Agreements, are guaranteed by the Company. In addition, BroadbandSPV and Cheetah 5’s obligations are secured by first priority liens on a portion of the Company’s ownership interest in Charter, sufficient for BroadbandSPV and Cheetah 5 to meet the loan to value requirements under the Margin Loan Agreements. Each agreement contains language that indicates that Liberty Broadband, transferor of underlying shares as collateral, has the right to exercise all voting, consensual and other powers of ownership pertaining to the transferred shares for all purposes, provided that Liberty Broadband agrees that it will not vote the shares in any manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to transfer or other certain restrictions. Similarly, the Margin Loan Agreements indicate that no lender party shall have any voting rights with respect to the shares transferred, 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 agreements. As of March 31, 2017,  9.5 million shares of Charter with a value of $3.1 billion were pledged as collateral pursuant to the 2014 Margin Loans and the 2016 Margin Loans.