Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt

v3.24.0.1
Long-Term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Long-Term Debt  
Long-Term Debt

6. LONG-TERM DEBT

The following table reconciles the principal balances of our outstanding debt to our Consolidated Balance Sheets, in thousands:

As of December 31,

2023

    

2022

3.625% Senior Notes due 2029

$

400,000

$

400,000

4.125% Senior Notes due 2032

500,000

500,000

Term loan due 2026

532,500

566,250

Equipment notes

2,039

8,427

Unamortized debt issuance costs

(14,472)

(17,352)

Total debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs

1,420,067

1,457,325

Less: current portion of long-term debt

47,039

40,068

Total long-term debt

$

1,373,028

$

1,417,257

The following table sets forth our remaining principal payments for our outstanding debt balances as of December 31, 2023, in thousands:

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

Thereafter

Total

3.625% Senior Notes

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

400,000

$

400,000

4.125% Senior Notes

-

-

-

-

-

500,000

500,000

Term loan

45,000

48,750

438,750

-

-

-

532,500

Equipment notes

2,039

-

-

-

-

-

2,039

Total

$

47,039

$

48,750

$

438,750

$

-

$

-

$

900,000

$

1,434,539

Credit Agreement

On July 26, 2023, we entered into Amendment No. 4 to our Credit Agreement, which provides for a new $550.0 million Term Facility Two, the proceeds of which will be used, in part, to finance the acquisition of SPI, including the payment of related fees and expenses. The Term Facility Two availability period ends on October 25, 2024, if not drawn. Once drawn, Term Facility Two will mature on October 7, 2026 and will be subject to substantially the same scheduled percentage amortization payments as the Company’s existing term loan facility under the Credit Agreement. Borrowings of Term Facility Two bear interest at SOFR or the Base Rate (each as defined in Credit Agreement) plus an applicable rate ranging from 1.50% to 3.00% for SOFR-based loans and from 0.50% to 2.00% for Base Rate-based loans, depending upon the Company’s consolidated secured leverage ratio. The Company is required to pay a ticking fee on the undrawn Term Facility Two commitments at an annual rate equal to: (i) 0.175% for the first six-month period after the Amendment Effective Date, (ii) 0.200% for the next successive six-month period, and (iii) 0.250% for next successive three-month period.

The following table outlines the key terms of the Credit Agreement (dollars in thousands):

Senior secured term loan facility

$

600,000

Additional delayed draw term loan (a)

$

550,000

Revolving facility (b)

$

500,000

Sublimit for issuance of letters of credit under revolving facility

$

100,000

Sublimit for swingline loans under revolving facility

$

35,000

Interest rate as of December 31, 2023

6.46

%

Scheduled maturity date

10/7/2026

(a) Represents Term Facility Two which has not been drawn upon as of December 31, 2023.
(b) Use of the sublimits for the issuance of letters of credit and swingline loans reduces the availability under the revolving facility.

Interest payable on borrowings under the Credit Agreement is based on an applicable margin rate plus, at our option, either:  

A base rate determined by reference to the highest of either (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50 percent, (ii) BofA’s “prime rate,” and (iii) the SOFR rate for U.S. dollar deposits with a term of one month, plus 1.00 percent; or 1.50 percent (Term Facility Two); or

A SOFR rate determined by reference to the costs of funds for deposits in U.S. dollars for the interest period relevant to such borrowings, subject to a floor of 0%.

The applicable margin rate is determined based on our Secured Leverage Ratio. In the case of base rate borrowings, the applicable margin rate ranges from 0.00 percent to 1.50 percent for Term Facility One and 0.50 percent to 2.00 percent for Term Facility Two and in the case of SOFR rate borrowings, the applicable margin ranges from 1.00 percent to 2.50 percent for Term Facility One and 1.50 percent to 3.00 percent for Term Facility Two. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are prepayable at the Company’s option without premium or penalty. The Company is required to make prepayments with the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and certain extraordinary receipts.  

Revolving Facility

The Company has outstanding standby letters of credit that secure our financial obligations related to our workers’ compensation, general insurance, and auto liability programs.  These standby letters of credit, as well as any outstanding amount borrowed under our revolving facility, reduce the availability under the revolving facility.  The following table summarizes our availability under the revolving facility, in thousands:

As of December 31,

    

2023

    

2022

Revolving facility

$

500,000

$

500,000

Less: standby letters of credit

(63,770)

(67,689)

Availability under Revolving facility

$

436,230

$

432,311

We are required to pay commitment fees to the Lenders in respect of any unutilized commitments.  The commitment fees range from 0.15 percent to 0.275 percent per annum, depending on our Secured Leverage Ratio.  We must also pay customary fees on outstanding letters of credit.

3.625% Senior Notes

The 3.625% Senior Notes are $400.0 million senior unsecured obligations and bear interest at 3.625% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, beginning on September 15, 2021. The 3.625% Senior Notes mature on March 15, 2029, unless redeemed early or repurchased. If we undergo a change in control, we must make an offer to repurchase all of the 3.625% Senior Notes then outstanding at a repurchase price equal to 101% of their aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to, but not including, the repurchase date. 

The Company may redeem the 3.625% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after March 15, 2024 at the redemption prices specified in the notes.  The Company may also redeem all or part of the 3.625% Senior Notes at any time prior to March 15, 2024 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium (as defined in the notes), as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the redemption date. Additionally, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 3.625% Senior Notes prior to March 15, 2024 with the net cash proceeds of certain sales of its capital stock at 103.625% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption only if, after the redemption, at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes originally issued remains outstanding.

4.125% Senior Notes

The 4.125% Senior Notes are $500.0 million senior unsecured obligations and bear interest at 4.125% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15, beginning on August 15, 2022. The 4.125% Senior Notes mature on February 15, 2032, unless redeemed early or repurchased. If we undergo a change in control, we must make an offer to repurchase all of the 4.125% Senior Notes then outstanding at a repurchase price equal to 101% of their aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to, but not including, the repurchase date. 

The Company may redeem the 4.125% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after October 15, 2026 at the redemption prices specified in the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest if redeemed during the 12 month period commencing on October 15 of the years set for: 2026 – 102.063%, 2027 – 101.375%, 2028 – 100.688%, 2029 and thereafter – 100.000%. The Company may also redeem a make-whole redemption of the 4.125% Senior Notes at any time prior to October 15, 2026 at the treasury rate plus 50 basis points. Additionally, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 4.125% Senior Notes prior to October 15, 2024 with the net cash proceeds of certain sales of its capital stock at 104.125% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption only if, after the redemption, at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes originally issued remains outstanding.

Equipment Notes

We did not issue equipment notes during the year ended December 31, 2023. The company issued $41.6 million of equipment notes for the purpose of financing the purchase of vehicles and equipment in prior years. The Company’s equipment notes each have a five year term maturing in 2024 and bear interest at fixed rates between 2.8% and 4.4%.

Covenant Compliance

The indentures governing our 3.625% Senior Notes and our 4.125% Senior Notes (together, our “Senior Notes”) contain restrictive covenants that, among other things, generally limit the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions) to (i) create liens, (ii) pay dividends, acquire shares of capital stock and make payments on subordinated debt, (iii) place limitations on distributions from certain subsidiaries, (iv) issue or sell the capital stock of certain subsidiaries, (v) sell assets, (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates and (vii) effect mergers.  The indentures provide for customary events of default which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), among others: nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of covenants or other agreements in the indenture; defaults in failure to pay certain other indebtedness; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. Generally, if an event of default occurs and is continuing under the indenture, the trustee or the holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of each of our Senior Notes then outstanding may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Senior Notes subject to such declaration immediately due and payable. The Senior Notes and related guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and we are not required to register either the Senior Notes or the guarantees in the future.

The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company to incur additional indebtedness or liens; to make certain investments or loans; to make certain restricted payments; to enter into consolidations, mergers, sales of material assets, and other fundamental changes; to transact with affiliates; to enter into agreements restricting the ability of subsidiaries to incur liens or pay dividends; or to make certain accounting changes.  The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants and events of default.

The Credit Agreement requires that we maintain a Net Leverage Ratio and minimum Interest Coverage Ratio throughout the term of the agreement.  The following table outlines the key financial covenants effective for the period covered by this Annual Report:

As of December 31, 2023

Maximum Net Leverage Ratio

3.50:1.00

Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio

3.00:1.00

Compliance as of period end

In Compliance