8. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt, net of deferred borrowing costs consists of the following:


In thousands	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Long-term debt associated with the Partnership's Credit Agreement	$	231,550	$	231,735
Less: Current portion of long-term debt		—		—
Total long-term debt		231,550		231,735
Net deferred borrowing costs		2,885		3,261
Total long-term debt, net of deferred borrowing costs	$	228,665	$	228,474

Credit Agreement

On February 27, 2015, we entered into the Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and SG Americas Securities, LLC, collectively, (the “Lenders”). On October 26, 2015, the Partnership entered into the second amendment to the Credit Agreement, (the “Second Amendment”). On March 29, 2016, the Partnership entered into the Third Amendment.

We immediately borrowed $180.8 million under the Credit Agreement, of which $99.5 million was used in connection with the Contribution, $63.0 million was used in connection with the Redemption, $15.0 million was used to repay the outstanding balance as of February 27, 2015 under our existing senior secured revolving credit facility and $3.2 million was used to pay fees and expenses associated with the Credit Agreement. Prior to entering into the Second Amendment, the borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement was $250.0 million.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at: (i) the LIBOR Rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement, plus an applicable margin of 3.25% to 4.25%; or (ii) the Base Rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement plus an applicable margin of 2.25% to 3.25%, in each case, based on the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio,as defined in the Credit Agreement.

All of the Partnership's domestic restricted subsidiaries guarantee our obligations under the Credit Agreement, and all such obligations are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our assets, in each case, subject to certain customary exceptions. The Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customary for credit facilities of its size and nature that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) grant certain liens; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) engage in certain mergers or consolidations; (v) dispose of certain assets; (vi) enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; and (vii) make distributions, with certain exceptions, including the distribution of Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, if no default or event of default exists.

As of March 31, 2016, we had outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $231.6 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 interest expense associated with the Credit Agreement was $2.6 million. For the period March 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015 interest expense associated with the Credit Agreement was $0.6 million. We had net deferred loan costs of $2.9 million and $3.3 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 in connection with the Credit Agreement. These financing costs were classified within long-term debt, net of deferred borrowing costs in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and will be amortized to interest expense and related charges over the maturity period of the Credit Agreement.

As part of the AES Agreement discussed in Note 1, on April 1, 2016, the proceeds from the $15.0 million letter of credit were applied to pay down debt under our Credit Agreement resulting in a balance of $216.6 million.

Amendments to the Credit Agreement

As a result of the decline in commodity prices and associated decline in upstream oil and gas drilling activity, we experienced a decline in the growth in volume of natural gas we gather and process for our customers. These collective events affected our operating results adversely and resulted in the need to amend our Credit Agreement.

In October 2015, the Partnership entered into the Second Amendment, and the first amendment to the security agreement. Among other things, the Partnership agreed to reduce the borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement to $238.0 million in exchange for more favorable financial condition covenants, including amending our maximum permitted consolidated leverage ratio.

Our maximum permitted consolidated leverage ratio as a result of the Second Amendment was superseded by the Third Amendment and waived as an event of default until June 30, 2016.

Under the terms of the Second Amendment, we are prohibited from declaring or paying any distribution to unitholders if a default or event of default exists. In addition, under the Second Amendment, future distributions are contingent upon the maintenance of certain leverage ratios, as detailed in the Second Amendment. There is a reasonable possibility that the Partnership will be unable to comply with the financial covenants over the next four quarters. As part of its balance sheet management, the Partnership is evaluating several alternatives to bolster its capital and liquidity position, including but not limited to asset sales and issuances of equity. The ability to comply with the financial covenants and to pay distributions will depend upon the Partnership’s ability to reduce debt, increase its liquidity, or increase its Adjusted EBITDA due to a rebound in commodity prices and a related increase in drilling activity by the producers supplying its volumes.

We incurred $0.7 million in fees associated with the Second Amendment.

In March 2016, the Partnership entered into the Third Amendment. The amendment waived the affirmative covenant that stated if the Partnership’s annual financial statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards, contained any going concern qualification an event of default would result, for the year ended December 31, 2015. Additionally, the Third Amendment waived certain other events of default until June 30, 2016.

Based upon our current estimates and expectations for commodity prices in 2016, we do not expect to remain in compliance with all of the restrictive covenants contained in its Credit Agreement throughout 2016 unless those requirements are waived or amended. The Partnership does not currently have adequate liquidity to repay all of its outstanding debt in full if such debt were accelerated.

Under the terms of the Third Amendment, we are still prohibited from declaring or paying any distributions to unitholders if a default or event of default exists.

Azure Credit Agreements

On November 15, 2013, Azure closed on a $550.0 million Senior Secured Term Loan B (the "TLB") maturing November 15, 2018, and a $50.0 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, the ("Revolver") and collectively with the TLB, the ("Azure Credit Agreement"), with a maturity of November 15, 2017. Borrowings under the Azure Credit Agreement were unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all of the Azure subsidiaries and are collateralized by first priority liens on substantially all of existing and subsequently acquired assets and equity. The Azure Credit Agreement weighted average interest rate for the period from January 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015 was 6.50%.

Azure System Long-term Debt and Related Expense Allocations

The Azure Credit Agreement served as the sole borrowing agreement applicable for the Azure System from the period November 15, 2013 up to the Transaction Date. In addition, substantially all of Azure’s subsidiaries, including the Azure System, served as guarantors and pledger's with respect to the Azure Credit Agreement. The Azure System’s long-term debt and related expense balances for the period from January 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015 represent an allocation of its proportionate share of the Azure consolidated long-term debt presented in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. The allocation of long-term debt and related expense is based on the Azure System’s proportional carrying value of assets as a percentage of total assets financed by the Azure Credit Agreement.

In connection with entering into the Azure Credit Agreement, Azure incurred financing costs, which were deferred and amortized over the maturity period of the Azure Credit Agreement. These deferred financing costs have also been allocated to the Azure System’s balance sheet, included within other non-current assets, as of December 31, 2015. The Azure System's interest expense allocation has also been calculated using a similar allocation methodology as long-term debt.

The weighted average long-term debt allocated to the Azure System for the period January 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015 was $192.0 million. The weighted average long-term debt allocated to the Partnership for the Azure ETG System was $55.1 million for the period March 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015. The interest expense allocated to the Azure System for the period January 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015 was $2.3 million of which $0.3 million was associated with the allocation of deferred financing cost amortization expense. The interest expense allocated to the Partnership for the Azure ETG System was $0.4 million for the period March 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015, of which $0.1 million was associated with the allocation of deferred financing cost amortization expense.

The allocation of long-term debt and related expenses to the Azure System were in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, and the long-term debt and related expenses were not assumed by the Partnership as part of the Contribution. As a result, the allocation of long-term debt and related expenses is only applicable for the Azure System historical periods presented.