Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Debt

v3.22.0.1
Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Debt  
Debt

(8) Debt

Debt is summarized as follows:

Outstanding

 

principal

Carrying value

 

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

 

2021

2021

2020

 

 

amounts in millions

Margin Loan Facility

$

1,300

 

1,300

 

2,000

2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050

 

575

 

585

 

609

1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050

825

818

837

1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046

15

25

26

Senior notes

 

600

 

632

 

636

Senior credit facility

 

399

 

399

 

704

Wells Fargo note payable

 

6

 

6

 

6

Deferred financing costs

 

 

(4)

 

(2)

Total debt

$

3,720

 

3,761

 

4,816

Debt classified as current

 

 

(28)

 

(31)

Total long-term debt

$

3,733

 

4,785

Margin Loan Facility

On May 12, 2021, a bankruptcy remote wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“SPV”) entered into Amendment No. 4 to Margin Loan Agreement and Amendment No. 4 to Collateral Account Control Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”), which amends SPV’s margin loan agreement, dated as of August 31, 2017 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2018, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Margin Loan Agreement and Amendment No. 1 to Collateral Account Control Agreement, dated August 19, 2019, and as further amended by Amendment No. 3 to Margin Loan Agreement and Amendment No. 2 to Collateral Account Control Agreement, dated August 12, 2020, and as otherwise amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “Existing Margin Loan Agreement”; the Existing Margin Loan Agreement, as amended by the Fourth Amendment, the “Margin Loan Agreement”), with a group of lenders. Upon the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment (the date on which such effectiveness occurred, the “Fourth Amendment Effective Date”), the Margin Loan Agreement provided 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 on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date and, after giving effect to the transactions occurring on such date, there were (i) $1.15 billion in Term Loans outstanding under the Term Loan Facility and (ii) $0.00 of Revolving Loans outstanding. SPV’s obligations under the Margin Loan Facility are secured by first priority liens on the shares of Charter owned by SPV.

On the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, substantially simultaneously but after the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment, SPV repaid $850 million of outstanding Revolving Loans. In the third quarter of 2021, SPV drew down an additional $350 million on the Revolving Loans and in the fourth quarter of 2021, SPV repaid $200 million on the Revolving Loans.

In the third quarter of 2020, SPV drew down an additional $125 million on the existing margin loan facilities in place at the time. Upon the completion of the Combination on December 18, 2020, SPV borrowed an additional $1.3 billion on the Margin Loan Facility in order to repay an existing margin loan at GCI Liberty.

Outstanding borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement and the Existing Margin Loan Agreement were $1.3 billion and $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, SPV was permitted to borrow an additional $1.0 billion 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, 2024 (except for any additional loans incurred thereunder to the extent SPV and the incremental lenders agree to a later

maturity date). Prior to the completion of the Combination, borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement bore interest at the three-month LIBOR rate plus a per annum spread of 1.5%, which increased to a per annum spread of 1.85% from and after the completion of the Combination until the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, when the per annum spread decreased to 1.5%. The Margin Loan Agreement also provides for customary LIBOR replacement provisions.

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 agreements. As of December 31, 2021, 12.3 million shares of Charter with a value of $8.0 billion were pledged as collateral pursuant 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. Upon an exchange of 2.75% 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, 1.1661 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to each $1,000 original principal amount of 2.75% Debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $857.56 for each share of Charter Class A common stock. A total of 670,507 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to the 2.75% Debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2020. The 2.75% Debentures may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part, on or after October 5, 2023. Holders of the 2.75% Debentures also have the right to require the Company to purchase their 2.75% Debentures on October 5, 2023. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the 2.75% Debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus any final period distribution. As of December 31, 2021, a holder of the 2.75% Debentures does not have the ability to exchange and, accordingly, the 2.75% Debentures are classified as long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

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. Upon an exchange of 1.25% 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, 1.1111 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to each $1,000 original principal amount of 1.25% Debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $900.00 for each share of Charter Class A common stock. A total of 916,657 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to the 1.25% Debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing March 31, 2021. The 1.25% Debentures may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part, on or after October 5, 2023. Holders of the 1.25% Debentures also have the right to require the Company to purchase their debentures on October 5, 2023. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the 1.25% Debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus any final period distribution. As of December 31, 2021, a holder of the 1.25% Debentures does not have the ability to exchange and, accordingly, the 1.25% Debentures are classified as long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, the Company assumed GCI Liberty’s outstanding approximately $15 million aggregate original principal 1.75% exchangeable senior debentures due 2046 (the “1.75%

Debentures) 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. Upon an exchange of 1.75% Debentures, the Company, 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 1.75% Debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $370.52 for each share of Charter Class A common stock. A total of 39,231 shares of Charter Class A common stock are attributable to the 1.75% Debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The 1.75% Debentures may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part, on or after October 5, 2023. Holders of the 1.75% Debentures also have the right to require the Company to purchase their debentures on October 5, 2023. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the 1.75% Debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest. As of December 31, 2021, the holders of the 1.75% Debentures will have the ability to exchange their debentures for the period from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022 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 fourth quarter of 2021. 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 1.75% Debentures have been classified as current within the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021.

The Company elected to account for all exchangeable senior debentures at fair value in its consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in unrealized gains (losses) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See note 5 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 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 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 $32 million at December 31, 2021. 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”), 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 that matures on October 15, 2027. Additionally, the $400 million Term Loan B which existed prior to the amendment, was repaid in full using the proceeds from the new Term Loan A together with $150 million in borrowings under the revolving credit facility. 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 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 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 LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR 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. The Senior Credit Facility also provides for customary LIBOR replacement provisions.

Prior to the amendment, 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, 2021, there was $249 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.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, GCI, LLC repaid $305 million on its revolving credit facility and completed an internal restructuring whereby GCI, LLC transferred the subsidiary that holds the Charter shares to Liberty Broadband parent.

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).

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 also provides for customary LIBOR replacement provisions.

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, 2021.

Five Year Maturities

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

2022

$

3

2023

 

$

3

2024

 

$

1,303

2025

 

$

3

2026

 

$

153

Fair Value of Debt

The fair value of the Senior Notes was $616 million at December 31, 2021.

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, 2021.