Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt

v3.20.1
Debt
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Debt
Debt is summarized as follows:
Outstanding
principal Carrying value
March 31, March 31, 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    607,301    658,839   
Senior notes 775,000    795,279    796,138   
Senior credit facility 512,051    512,051    512,666   
Wells Fargo note payable 6,930    6,930    7,066   
Deferred financing costs —    (7,846)   (8,491)  
Total debt $ 3,071,231    3,213,715    3,266,218   
Debt classified as current, net of deferred financing costs (3,085)   (3,008)  
Total long-term debt $ 3,210,630    3,263,210   

Margin Loan

Broadband Holdco, LLC ("Broadband Holdco") entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Margin Loan Agreement ("Amendment No. 2" and, together with the original margin loan agreement and first amendment thereto, the “Margin Loan Agreement”) on November 25, 2019. Pursuant to Amendment No. 2, lenders have agreed to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the original term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion (the “Margin Loan”) to December 29, 2021 and provide commitments for a new delayed draw term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $300.0 million ("Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility"). This facility also provides a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and the original loan credit facility under the Margin Loan (the “Term Loan Facility”, and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility and the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility, the "Margin Loan Facility" and the loans thereunder, the "Loans").The Loans will mature on December 29, 2021 (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. Undrawn revolving commitments shall be available to Broadband Holdco from November 25, 2019 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 $4.7 billion were pledged by Broadband Holdco as collateral for the Loans as of March 31, 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 March 31, 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.

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 (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 $20.3 million at March 31, 2020. Such premium is being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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.

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

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 March 31, 2020, there is $237.1 million outstanding under the Term Loan B, $275.0 million outstanding under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility and $8.1 million in letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility, which leaves $266.9 million available for borrowing.

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 March 31, 2020.
Fair Value of Debt

The fair value of the Senior Notes was $758.7 million at March 31, 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 March 31, 2020.