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Long-Term Debt
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt (8) Long-Term Debt:

The activity in long-term debt is summarized as follows:

For the year ended

December 31, 2024

Principal

January 1,

Payments

New

December 31,

Interest Rate at

($ in millions)

2024

and Retirements

Borrowings

2024

December 31, 2024 (2)

  

Secured debt issued by Frontier

$

8,848

$

(412)

$

-

$

8,436

6.837%

Secured debt issued by subsidiaries

1,633

-

750

2,383

7.592%

Unsecured debt issued by subsidiaries

750 

-

-

750

6.899%

Principal outstanding

$

11,231

$

(412)

$

750

$

11,569

6.996%

  

  

  

  

  

  

Less: Debt issuance costs

(71)

(89)

Less: Current portion

(15)

  

(10)

Less: Debt premium / (discount)

(64)

  

(44)

Plus: Unamortized fair value adjustments (1)

165

125

Total Long-term debt

$

11,246

  

$

11,551

(1) Upon emergence, we adjusted the carrying value of our debt to fair value. The adjustment consisted of the elimination of the existing unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discounts and recording a balance of $236 million as a fair value adjustment. The fair value accounting adjustment is being amortized into interest expense using the effective interest method.

(2) The interest rates at December 31, 2024 represent a weighted average of multiple issuances. The Anticipated Repayment Date (“ARD”) of July 2028 is used for the Series 2023-1 Revenue Term Notes, classes A-2, B, and C, and the ARD of May 2031 is used for the Series 2024-1 Revenue Term Notes, classes A-2, B, and C, when calculating the weighted average.

Additional information regarding our senior unsecured debt, senior secured debt, and subsidiary debt at December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

December 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

Principal

Interest

Principal

Interest

($ in millions)

Outstanding

Rate

Outstanding

Rate

Secured debt issued by Frontier

Term loan due 10/8/2027

$

-

-

$

1,435 

9.220% (Variable)

Term loan due 7/1/2031

1,023

8.763% (Variable)

-

-

First lien notes due 10/15/2027

1,150

5.875%

1,150 

5.875%

First lien notes due 5/1/2028

1,550

5.000%

1,550 

5.000%

First lien notes due 5/15/2030

1,200

8.750%

1,200 

8.750%

First lien notes due 3/15/2031

750

8.625%

750 

8.625%

Second lien notes due 5/1/2029

1,000

6.750%

1,000 

6.750%

Second lien notes due 11/1/2029

750

5.875%

750 

5.875%

Second lien notes due 1/15/2030

1,000

6.000%

1,000 

6.000%

IDRB due 5/1/2030

13

6.200%

13 

6.200%

Total secured debt issued by Frontier

8,436

8,848 

Secured debt issued by subsidiaries

Debentures due 11/15/2031 (2)

47

8.500%

47 

8.500%

Series 2023-1 revenue term notes Class A-2 due 7/20/2028

1,119

6.600%

1,119 

6.600%

Series 2023-1 revenue term notes Class B due 7/20/2028

155

8.300%

155 

8.300%

Series 2023-1 revenue term notes class C due 7/20/2028

312

11.500%

312 

11.500%

Series 2024-1 revenue term notes Class A-2 due 5/20/2031

530

6.190%

-

-

Series 2024-1 revenue term notes Class B due 5/30/2031

73

7.020%

-

-

Series 2024-1 revenue term notes Class C due 5/20/2031

147

11.160%

-

-

Total secured debt issued by subsidiaries

2,383

1,633 

Unsecured debt issued by subsidiaries

Debentures due 5/15/2027

200

6.750%

200 

6.750%

Debentures due 2/1/2028

300

6.860%

300 

6.860%

Debentures due 2/15/2028

200

6.730%

200 

6.730%

Debentures due 10/15/2029

50

8.400%

50 

8.400%

Total unsecured debt issued by subsidiaries

750

750 

Principal outstanding

$

11,569

6.996% (1)

$

11,231 

7.103% (1)

(1) Interest rate represents a weighted average of the stated interest rates of multiple issuances. The ARD of July 2028 is used for the

Series 2023-1 Revenue Term Notes, classes A-2 B, and C, and the ARD of May 2031 is used for the Series 2024-1 Revenue Term

Notes, classes A-2, B, and C, when calculating the weighted average.

(2) $47 million principal amount in remaining debt of our subsidiary Frontier Southwest Incorporated, which was defeased, in

connection with the closing of the August 2023 securitization transaction.

As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate maturities of long-term debt for each of the next five years and thereafter as follows:

Principal

($ in millions)

Payments

    

2025

$

10 

2026

$

10 

2027

$

1,360 

2028

$

3,646 

2029

$

1,810 

Thereafter

$

4,733 

Credit Facilities and Term Loans

Revolving Facility

Subject to customary exceptions and thresholds, the security package under the Revolving Facility includes pledges of the equity interests in certain of our subsidiaries, which is currently limited to certain specified pledged entities and substantially all personal property of Frontier Video, which same assets also secure our First Lien Notes. The Revolving Facility is guaranteed by the same subsidiaries that guarantee the First Lien Notes. After giving effect to approximately $265 million of letters of credit outstanding, we had $660 million of available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility as of December 31, 2024.

The Revolving Facility includes customary negative covenants for loan agreements of this type, including covenants limiting Frontier and our restricted subsidiaries’ (other than certain covenants therein which are limited to subsidiary guarantors) ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, make investments, loans or advances, engage in mergers, consolidations, sales of assets and acquisitions, pay dividends and distributions and make payments in respect of certain material payment subordinated indebtedness, in each case subject to customary exceptions for loan agreements of this type.

The Revolving Facility also includes certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, and events of default, including, but not limited to, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, certain events under ERISA, change of control or damage to a material portion of the collateral.

On May 22, 2024, Frontier Communications Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Frontier (“Frontier Holdings”), entered into an amendment (the “2024 Credit Agreement Amendment”) to its existing credit agreement that governs its Revolving Facility which, among other things, (i) increased the aggregate amount of certain additional obligations permitted to be outstanding, including first lien debt, and securitization and receivables facilities, and non-loan party debt, from $2,500 million to $5,500 million; provided that at least 40% of the net available cash from the first $1,915 million in securitization and receivables facilities received after May 22, 2024 (excluding net available cash received from drawings with respect to $500 million of commitments of variable funding notes) is applied to prepay the Borrower’s existing term loans and other applicable indebtedness, and 100% of the net available cash from securitization and receivables facilities in excess thereof (up to the cap of $5,500 million) shall be applied to prepay the Borrower’s existing term loans and other applicable indebtedness; (ii) limited future securitizations and receivables facilities to assets located in Texas and/or Florida; and (iii) amended the financial maintenance covenant for the benefit of the Revolving Facility by, commencing with the period ending June 30, 2024, (a) including outstanding securitization and receivables facilities in the calculation of indebtedness and (b) increasing the maximum financial maintenance covenant leverage ratio thereunder to 5.25:1.00, with a step-down to 4.75:1.00 commencing with the period ending March 31, 2027, and continuing thereafter. The 2024 Credit Agreement Amendment became effective on July 1, 2024, when $402 million of net available cash from the securitization closing on such date was applied to prepay existing term loans.

On July 30, 2024, Frontier Holdings entered into a further amendment to its existing credit agreement that governs its Revolving Facility, pursuant to which $50 million of revolving credit commitments of a terminating lender were replaced by $75 million of commitments from a new lender, increasing overall capacity from $900 million to $925 million. The maturity date of the Revolving Facility will be the earliest of (a) April 30, 2028, (b) 91 days prior to the maturity of the term loan facility, (c) unless such notes have been repaid and/or redeemed in full, the date that is 91 days prior to the stated maturity date of our 5.875% First Lien Notes due 2027, and (d) unless such notes have been repaid and/or redeemed in full, the date that is 91 days prior to the stated maturity date of our 5.000% First Lien Notes due 2028.

Term Loan Facility

On January 14, 2025, Frontier Holdings entered into an amendment to its existing Term Loan Facility, which, among other things, (x) further lowered the margin over adjusted Term SOFR with respect to the Term Loan from 3.50% to 2.50% and (y) further lowered the margin over the alternative base rate with respect to the Term loan from 2.50% to 1.50%. On July 1, 2024, Frontier Holdings entered into an amendment to the Term Loan Facility which, among other things, extended the maturity date of $1.025 billion of the Term Loan to July 1, 2031 and eliminated the credit spread adjustment previously applicable to the Term Loan.

Subject to certain exceptions and thresholds, the security package under the Term Loan Facility includes pledges of the equity interests in certain of our subsidiaries, which as of the issue date is limited to certain specified pledged entities and substantially all personal property of Frontier Video Services Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Frontier Video”), which same assets also secure the First Lien Notes (as defined below). The Term Loan Facility is guaranteed by the same subsidiaries that guarantee the First Lien Notes.

The Term Loan Facility includes customary negative covenants for loan agreements of this type, including covenants limiting Frontier and our restricted subsidiaries’ (other than certain covenants therein which are limited to subsidiary guarantors) ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, make investments, loans or advances, engage in mergers, consolidations, sales of assets and acquisitions, pay dividends and distributions and make payments in respect of certain material payment subordinated indebtedness, in each case subject to customary exceptions for loan agreements of this type.

The Term Loan Facility also includes certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including, but not limited to, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, certain events under ERISA, upon the conversion date, unstayed judgments in favor of a third-party involving an aggregate liability in excess of a certain threshold, change of control, upon the conversion date, specified governmental actions having a material adverse effect or condemnation or damage to a material portion of the collateral.

Warehouse Facilities

On December 31, 2024 (the “Warehouse Effective Date”), Frontier Tampa Bay FL Fiber 1 LLC (the “Borrower”) and Frontier SPE FL Guarantor LLC, as guarantor (the “Warehouse Guarantor”), each a subsidiary of Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (the “Parent”), entered into a credit agreement (the “Warehouse Credit Agreement”) with certain lenders that establishes and governs certain credit facilities (the “Warehouse Facilities”). The Warehouse Facilities include:

A delayed draw term loan facility (the “DDTL Facility”) of $1.5 billion, less commitments reserved for letters of credit (the “Maximum DDTL Amount”). The DDTL Facility is available from the Warehouse Effective Date until the earlier of the full draw of the Maximum DDTL Amount or the third anniversary of the Warehouse Effective Date (such earlier date, the “DDTL Commitment Expiration Date”). To draw amounts under the DDTL Facility, the Borrower must comply with a total leverage ratio of no more than 6.75:1.00 and a debt service coverage ratio of at least 2.00:1.00. Additionally, no defaults or other specified conditions may be continuing, and all conditions precedent for each extension of credit must be satisfied. The Borrower must repay all outstanding amounts under the DDTL Facility due on the fifth anniversary of the Warehouse Effective Date. The interest rate for the DDTL Facility is either, at the sole discretion of the Warehouse Borrower, for Base Rate Loans, (a) the highest of (i) the “U.S. Prime Lending Rate” published by the Wall Street Journal, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as agreed to in good faith by the parties to the Warehouse Credit Agreement) plus 0.50%, and (iii) one-month Term SOFR plus 1.00% per annum, plus (b) 0.75%, with step-ups from and after the third anniversary, or, for SOFR Loans, Term SOFR plus 1.75%, with step-ups from and after the third anniversary. Optional prepayments are allowed without fees or penalties, subject to notice requirements. A portion of the DDTL Facility, up to $200 million, is reserved as a letter of credit sublimit.

An incremental term loan facility (the “Incremental Term Loan”) under which the Warehouse Borrower has the right to increase the commitments under the DDTL Facility by up to $750 million after the DDTL Commitment Expiration Date. No lender is required to increase its commitment. The Warehouse Borrower must comply with all representations and warranties, and the terms of any Incremental Term Loan must be identical to those of the DDTL Facilities, including maturity, priority of liens, prepayment terms, and pricing.

In the event of default, an additional 2.00% per annum will be applied to overdue amounts. Fees include commitment fees on undrawn portions, letter of credit fees, and fronting fees. The Warehouse Facilities are secured by first-priority pledges of equity interests and security interests in substantially all owned tangible and intangible assets of the Warehouse Borrower and its guarantors, which consist of the Warehouse Borrower’s fiber network assets and associated customer contracts in certain neighborhoods in the Tampa, Florida area.

Fiber Network Revenue Term Notes

On July 1, 2024, Frontier Issuer LLC (“Frontier Issuer”), the Company’s limited-purpose, bankruptcy remote, subsidiary completed the issuance of $750 million aggregate principal amount of secured fiber network revenue term notes consisting of $530 million 6.19% Series 2024-1, Class A-2 term notes, $73 million 7.02% Series 2024-1, Class B term notes and $147 million 11.16% Series 2024-1, Class C term notes, each with an anticipated repayment term of seven years (collectively, the “Fiber Term Notes”). Collectively, the Fiber Term Notes have a weighted average yield of approximately 7.4%. The Fiber Term Notes are secured by certain of Frontier’s fiber assets and associated customer contracts in the North Texas area, in addition to those in the Dallas Metropolitan area contributed in the Series 2023-1 Notes offering. The assets of Frontier Issuer, AssetCo and the other securitization entities are available to satisfy only the obligations owed under the Fiber Term Notes and are not available to any other creditors of the Company or its affiliates. The Fiber Term Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of August 8, 2023 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Series 2023-1 Supplement thereto, dated as of August 8, 2023 (the “Series 2023-1 Supplement”), in each case entered into by and among the Issuer, Frontier Dallas TX Fiber 1 LLC (“AssetCo”) and Citibank, N.A. as the indenture trustee (the “Trustee”).

The table below sets forth the material terms of Fiber Term Notes as of December 31, 2024:

Security

Issue Date

Amount Outstanding

Interest Rate (1)

Anticipated Repayment Date

Final Maturity Date

Series 2023-1, Class A-2 term notes

August 8, 2023

$

1,119,000,000 

6.60%

July 20, 2028

August 20, 2053

Series 2023-1, Class B term notes

August 8, 2023

$

155,000,000 

8.30%

July 20, 2028

August 20, 2053

Series 2023-1, Class C term notes

August 8, 2023

$

312,000,000 

11.50%

July 20, 2028

August 20, 2053

Series 2024-1, Class A-2 term notes

July 1, 2024

$

530,000,000 

6.19%

May 20, 2031

June 20, 2054

Series 2024-1, Class B term notes

July 1, 2024

$

73,000,000 

7.02%

May 20, 2031

June 20, 2054

Series 2024-1, Class C term notes

July 1, 2024

$

147,000,000 

11.16%

May 20, 2031

June 20, 2054

(1) If Frontier Issuer has not repaid or refinanced any Class of Notes of a Series of Fiber Term Notes prior to the ARD, additional interest will accrue thereon in an amount equal to the greater of (i) 5.00% per annum and (ii) the excess amount, if any, by which the sum of the following exceeds the interest rate for such note: (A) the yield to maturity (adjusted to a “mortgage-equivalent basis” pursuant to the standards and practices of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) on the ARD for such note of the United States Treasury Security having a remaining term closest to 10 years plus (B) 5.00% plus (C) the post-ARD note spread applicable to such Note.

While the Fiber Term Notes are outstanding, scheduled payments of interest are required to be made on the Notes on a monthly basis. From and after the ARD, principal payments will also be required to be made on the Notes on a monthly basis. No principal payments will be due on the Fiber Term Notes prior to the ARD, unless certain rapid amortization or acceleration triggers are activated.

 

The Fiber Term Notes are subject to a series of covenants and restrictions customary for transactions of this type. These covenants and restrictions include (i) that Frontier Issuer maintains a liquidity reserve account to be used to make required payments in respect of the Notes, (ii) provisions relating to optional and mandatory prepayments, including specified make-whole payments in the case of certain optional prepayments of the Fiber Term Notes prior to the monthly payment date in July 2026, (iii) certain indemnification payments in the event, among other things, that  the transfers of the assets pledged as collateral for the Fiber Term Notes are in stated ways defective or ineffective and (iv) covenants relating to recordkeeping, access to information and similar matters. As provided in the Base Indenture, the Fiber Term Notes are also subject to rapid amortization in the event of a failure to maintain a stated debt service coverage ratio. A rapid amortization may be cured if the debt service coverage ratio exceeds a certain threshold for a certain period of time, upon which cure, regular amortization, if any, will resume. The Fiber Term Notes are also subject to certain customary events of default, including events relating to non-payment of required interest, principal or other amounts due on or with respect to the Fiber Term Notes, failure to comply with covenants within certain time frames, certain bankruptcy events, breaches of specified representations and warranties, failure of security interests to be effective and certain judgments.

Secured Fiber Network Revenue Variable Funding Notes

On July 1, 2024, Frontier Holdings amended its Secured Fiber Network Revenue Variable Funding Notes, Series 2023-2, Class A-1 facility (the “VFN Amendment”) to reduce the available Variable Funding Notes commitment amount to $0, with the ability to increase the commitment amount up to $500 million in the future upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, and to extend the maturity date to June 2028.

In connection with entering into the DDTL Facility, the Company permanently reduced the Series 2023-2 Class A-1 Notes Maximum Principal Amount to $0, correspondingly reduced the Variable Funding Notes commitment amount to $0 and terminated the Series 2023-2 Class A-1 Note Purchase Agreement, in each case effective as of December 31, 2024.

Defeasance of Notes

During 2023, the Company extinguished $53 million of notes issued by its subsidiary Frontier Southwest Incorporated and transferred assets to an escrow account to pay the future interest and principal on the remaining $47 million of notes, which remain on the Company’s balance sheet as outstanding debt and restricted assets.

Senior Secured Notes

First Lien Notes due 2031

On March 8, 2023, our consolidated subsidiary Frontier Communications Holdings, LLC (“Frontier Holdings”) issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% first lien secured notes due 2031 (the “First Lien Notes due 2031”) in an offering pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund capital investments and operating costs arising from our fiber build and expansion of our fiber customer base, and for general corporate purposes.

The First Lien Notes due 2031 are secured by a first-priority lien, subject to permitted liens, by all the assets that secure the issuer’s obligations under its senior secured credit facilities and existing senior secured notes. The First Lien Notes due 2031 were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 8, 2023, by and among Frontier Holdings, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent.

First Lien Notes due 2030

On May 12, 2022, our consolidated subsidiary Frontier Communications Holdings, LLC (“Frontier Holdings”) issued $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 8.750% First Lien Secured Notes due 2030 (the “First Lien Notes due 2030”) in an offering pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund capital investments and operating costs arising from our fiber build and expansion of our fiber customer base, and for general corporate purposes.

The First Lien Notes due 2030 are secured by a first-priority lien, subject to permitted liens, by all the assets that secure the issuer’s obligations under its senior secured credit facilities and existing senior secured notes. The First Lien Notes due 2030 were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of May 12, 2022, by and among Frontier Holdings, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent.

Second Lien Notes due 2030

On October 13, 2021, New Frontier Issuer issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.000% Second Lien Secured Notes due 2030 (the “Second Lien Notes due 2030”) in an offering pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund capital investments and operating costs arising from our fiber build and expansion of our fiber customer base, and for general corporate purposes.

The Second Lien Notes due 2030 were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 13, 2021 (the “Second Lien 2030 Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent.

Second Lien Notes due May 2029

In connection with the DIP financing, on November 25, 2020, Old Frontier issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.750% Second Lien Secured Notes due May 1, 2029 (the “Second Lien Notes due May 2029”).

The Second Lien Notes due May 2029 were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 25, 2020 (the “Second Lien May 2029 Indenture”), by and among Old Frontier, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent.

On the Effective Date, in accordance with the Second Lien May 2029 Indenture and the Plan, New Frontier Issuer entered into a supplemental indenture with Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and assumed the obligations under the Second Lien Notes due May 2029 and the Second Lien May 2029 Indenture.

Second Lien Notes due November 2029 or “Takeback Notes”

On April 30, 2021, New Frontier Issuer issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Second Lien Secured Notes due November 2029 (the “Second Lien Notes due November 2029” or the “Takeback Notes”) pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 30, 2021 (the “Takeback Notes Indenture”), by and among New Frontier Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent. At Old Frontier’s direction, the Takeback Notes were issued to holders of claims arising under, derived from, based on, or related to the unsecured notes issued by Old Frontier in partial satisfaction of such claims.

The Second Lien Notes due 2030, the Second Lien Notes due May 2029 and the Takeback Notes are collectively referred to as the Second Lien Notes. The Second Lien 2030 Indenture, the Second Lien May 2029 Indenture and the Takeback Notes Indenture are collectively referred to as the Second Lien Notes Indentures. The Second Lien Notes and the First Lien Notes (as defined below) are referred to herein collectively as the “Notes”.

The Second Lien Notes are secured by a second-priority lien, subject to permitted liens, by all the assets that secure New Frontier Issuer’s obligations under the Term Loan Facility, the Revolving Facility, and the First Lien Notes (as defined below).

The Second Lien Notes Indentures contain customary negative covenants, subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, covenants related to incurring additional debt and issuing preferred stock; incurring or creating liens; redeeming and/or prepaying certain debt; paying dividends on stock or repurchasing stock; making certain investments; engaging in specified sales of assets; entering into transactions with affiliates; and engaging in consolidation, mergers and acquisitions. Certain of these covenants will be suspended during such time, if any, that the Second Lien Notes have investment grade ratings by at least two of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch. The Second Lien Notes Indentures also provides

for customary events of default which, if any of them occurs, would permit, or require the principal of and accrued interest on the Second Lien Notes to become or to be declared due and payable.

First Lien Notes

In connection with the DIP financing, (a) on October 8, 2020, Old Frontier issued $1,150 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% First Lien Secured Notes due October 15, 2027 (the “First Lien Notes due 2027”) and (b) on November 25, 2020, Old Frontier issued $1,550 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% First Lien Secured Notes due May 1, 2028 (the “First Lien Notes due 2028” and, together with the First Lien Notes due 2027, the “First Lien Notes”).

The First Lien Notes due 2027 were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 8, 2020 (the “2027 First Lien Indenture”), by and among Old Frontier, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as collateral agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. The First Lien Notes due 2028 were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 25, 2020 (the “2028 First Lien Indenture” and, together with the 2027 First Lien Indenture, the “First Lien Indentures”), by and among Old Frontier, the guarantors party thereto, the grantor party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., as collateral agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

On the Effective Date, in accordance with the Indentures and the Plan, New Frontier Issuer entered into supplemental indentures to the First Lien Indentures with Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and assumed the obligations under each series of the First Lien Notes and each of the First Lien Indentures.

The First Lien Notes are secured on a first-priority basis and pari passu with its senior secured credit facilities, subject to permitted liens and certain exceptions, by all the assets that secure our obligations under the Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Facility.

The First Lien Indentures contain customary negative covenants, subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications, including, without limitation, covenants related to incurring additional debt and issuing preferred stock; incurring or creating liens; redeeming and/or prepaying certain debt; paying dividends on our stock or repurchasing stock; making certain investments; engaging in specified sales of assets; entering into transactions with affiliates; and engaging in consolidation, mergers and acquisitions. Certain of these covenants will be suspended during such time, if any, that the First Lien Notes have investment grade ratings by at least two of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch. The First Lien Notes Indentures also provides for customary events of default which, if any of them occurs, would permit, or require the principal of and accrued interest on the First Lien Notes to become or to be declared due and payable.

Other Obligations

During 2018, we contributed real estate properties with an aggregate fair value of $37 million for the purpose of funding a portion of our contribution obligations to our qualified defined benefit pension plan. The pension plan obtained independent appraisals of the property and, based on these appraisals, the pension plan recorded the contributions at aggregate fair value of $37 million for 2019. We entered into a lease for the contributed properties. The properties are managed on behalf of the pension plan by an independent fiduciary, and the terms of the lease were negotiated with the fiduciary on an arm’s-length basis.

For properties contributed in 2018, leases have initial terms of 20 years at a combined average aggregate annual rent of approximately $5 million.

The contribution and leaseback of the properties were treated as financing transactions and, accordingly, we continue to depreciate the carrying value of the property in our financial statements and no gain or loss was recognized. An obligation of $52 million is included in our consolidated balance sheet within “Other liabilities” as of December 31, 2024 and the liability is reduced annually by a portion of the lease payments made to the pension plan. Under the new lease standard, liabilities for these finance transactions are included in our financing lease liabilities. Refer to Note 10 for additional details.