DEBT

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, debt consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
Long-term debt
Senior Unsecured Notes due through 2045, interest at 2.8% to 4.0% (net of debt issuance costs of $1,491 and $1,586 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively), swapped $100,000 to variable interest rates of 2.0% to 3.2%	$	693,424	$	692,975
Other borrowings due through 2023, interest up to 8.0%	10,823		10,860
	704,247		703,835
Less current portion	111		131
Long-term debt, less current portion	704,136		703,704
Short-term debt
Amounts due banks, interest at 31.8% (29.0% in 2016)	2,020		1,758
Current portion long-term debt	111		131
Total short-term debt	2,131		1,889
Total debt	$	706,267	$	705,593

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the fair value of long-term debt, including the current portion, was approximately $687,428 and $669,209, respectively, which was determined using available market information and methodologies requiring judgment. Since judgment is required in interpreting market information, the fair value of the debt is not necessarily the amount which could be realized in a current market exchange.

Senior Unsecured Notes

On April 1, 2015, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it issued senior unsecured notes (the "2015 Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $350,000 through a private placement. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes. The 2015 Notes, as shown in the table below, have original maturities ranging from 10 to 30 years with a weighted average effective interest rate of 3.5%, excluding accretion of original issuance costs, and an initial average tenure of 19 years. Interest is payable semi-annually. The 2015 Notes contain certain affirmative and negative covenants. As of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.

The maturity and interest rates of the 2015 Notes are as follows:



	Amount		Maturity Date	Interest Rate
Series A	$	100,000	August 20, 2025	3.15	%
Series B	100,000		August 20, 2030	3.35	%
Series C	50,000		April 1, 2035	3.61	%
Series D	100,000		April 1, 2045	4.02	%

On October 20, 2016 the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it issued senior unsecured notes (the "2016 Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $350,000 through a private placement. The proceeds are being used for general corporate purposes. The 2016 Notes, as shown in the table below, have original maturities ranging from 12 to 25 years with a weighted average effective interest rate of 3.1%, excluding accretion of original issuance costs, and an initial average tenure of 18 years. Interest is payable semi-annually. The 2016 Notes contain certain affirmative and negative covenants. As of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants.

The maturity and interest rates of the 2016 Notes are as follows:



	Amount		Maturity Date	Interest Rate
Series A	$	100,000	October 20, 2028	2.75	%
Series B	100,000		October 20, 2033	3.03	%
Series C	100,000		October 20, 2037	3.27	%
Series D	50,000		October 20, 2041	3.52	%

The Company's total weighted average effective interest rate and weighted average term, inclusive of the 2015 Notes and 2016 Notes, is 3.3% and 18 years, respectively.

Revolving Credit Agreement

The Company has a line of credit totaling $400,000 through the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement has a five-year term and may be increased, subject to certain conditions, by an additional amount up to $100,000. The interest rate on borrowings is based on either the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or the prime rate, plus a spread based on the Company’s leverage ratio, at the Company’s election. The Company amended and restated the Credit Agreement on June 30, 2017, extending the maturity of the line of credit to June 30, 2022. The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative, negative and financial covenants for credit facilities of this type, including limitations on the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to liens, investments, distributions, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions of assets, transactions with affiliates, a fixed charges coverage ratio and total leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants and had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

Other

Maturities of long-term debt, including payments under capital leases and amounts due banks, for the five years succeeding December 31, 2017 are $2,132 in 2018, $111 in 2019, $108 in 2020, $110 in 2021, $107 in 2022 and $710,607 thereafter. Total interest paid was $23,820 in 2017, $15,332 in 2016 and $5,631 in 2015. The difference between interest paid and interest expense is due to the accrual of interest associated with the Senior Unsecured Notes and adjustments to the forward contract discussed in Note 14.