Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:



	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(thousands)
Asset-based revolving credit facility	$	—		$	—
Asset-based credit facility term loan	50,000			50,000
Term loan	45,000			—
6.375% senior notes	—			299,990
Unamortized premium on 6.375% senior notes	—			1,215
5.625% senior notes due 2024	350,000			—
Deferred financing costs	(7,371		)	(6,616		)
Long-term debt	$	437,629		$	344,589

At December 31, 2016, the maturities for the aggregate amount of long-term debt outstanding were as follows (in thousands):



2017	$	—
2018	—
2019	—
2020	—
2021	—
Thereafter	445,000

Asset-Based Credit Facility

On May 15, 2015, Boise Cascade and its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., as borrowers, and Boise Cascade Wood Products Holdings Corp., Chester Wood Products LLC, and Moncure Plywood LLC, as guarantors, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Amended Agreement) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent, and the banks named therein as lenders. The Amended Agreement includes a $350 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility) maturing on April 30, 2020 and a $50.0 million term loan (ABL Term Loan) maturing on May 1, 2022. Interest on borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and ABL Term Loan are payable monthly. Borrowings under the Amended Agreement are constrained by a borrowing base formula dependent upon levels of eligible receivables and inventory reduced by outstanding borrowings and letters of credit (Availability). On February 11, 2016, we entered into the second amendment to the Amended Agreement so that the LIBOR rate for the ABL Term Loan is determined and adjusted on a monthly basis rather than a daily basis. On June 30, 2016, we entered into a joinder and revolver increase agreement that increased the aggregate revolving commitments from $350 million to $370 million. Also on June 30, 2016, we entered into the third amendment to the Amended Agreement to make certain modifications to the definition of eligible accounts in the Amended Agreement to increase the concentration limit related to certain accounts owed to the borrowers for purposes of determining borrowing base. Furthermore, on December 8, 2016, we entered into the fourth amendment to the Amended Agreement to increase our ability to issue other unsecured indebtedness to $100 million from $25 million provided that we are in compliance with certain financial covenants after giving effect to the debt incurrence on a pro forma basis.

The Amended Agreement is secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of our assets, except for property and equipment. The proceeds of borrowings under the agreement are available for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The Amended Agreement contains customary nonfinancial covenants, including a negative pledge covenant and restrictions on new indebtedness, investments, distributions to equity holders, asset sales, and affiliate transactions, the scope of which are dependent on the Availability existing from time to time. The Amended Agreement also contains a requirement that we meet a 1:1 fixed-charge coverage ratio (FCCR), applicable only if Availability falls below 10% of the aggregate revolving lending commitments (or $37 million). Availability exceeded the minimum threshold amounts required for testing of the FCCR at all times since entering into the Amended Agreement, and Availability at December 31, 2016, was $297.2 million.

The Amended Agreement generally permits dividends only if certain conditions are met, including complying with either (i) pro forma Excess Availability (as defined in the Amended Agreement) equal to or exceeding 25% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments (as defined in the Amended Agreement) or (ii) (x) pro forma Excess Availability equal to or exceeding 15% of the aggregate Revolver Commitment and (y) a fixed-charge coverage ratio of 1:1 on a pro forma basis.

Revolving Credit Facility

Interest rates under the Revolving Credit Facility are based, at our election, on either LIBOR or a base rate, as defined in the Amended Agreement, plus a spread over the index elected that ranges from 1.25% to 1.75% for loans based on LIBOR and from 0.25% to 0.75% for loans based on the base rate. The spread is determined on the basis of a pricing grid that results in a higher spread as average quarterly Availability declines. Letters of credit are subject to a fronting fee payable to the issuing bank and a fee payable to the lenders equal to the LIBOR margin rate. In addition, we are required to pay an unused commitment fee at a rate ranging from 0.25% to 0.375% per annum (based on facility utilization) of the average unused portion of the lending commitments.

At both December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $5.9 million and $5.6 million, respectively, of letters of credit outstanding. These letters of credit and borrowings, if any, reduce Availability under the Revolving Credit Facility by an equivalent amount. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the minimum and maximum borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were zero and $101.5 million, respectively, and the average interest rate on borrowings was approximately 1.72%.

ABL Term Loan

The ABL Term Loan was provided by institutions within the Farm Credit system. Borrowings under the ABL Term Loan may be repaid from time to time at the discretion of the borrowers without premium or penalty. However, any principal amount of ABL Term Loan repaid, may not be subsequently re-borrowed.

Interest rates under the ABL Term Loan are based, at our election, on either LIBOR or a base rate, as defined in the Amended Agreement, plus a spread over the index elected that ranges from 1.75% to 2.25% for LIBOR rate loans and from 0.75% to 1.25% for base rate loans, both dependent on the amount of Average Excess Availability (as defined in the Amended Agreement). During the year ended December 31, 2016, the average interest rate on the ABL Term Loan was approximately 2.23%.

We have received and expect to continue receiving patronage credits under the ABL Term Loan. Patronage credits are distributions of profits from banks in the Farm Credit system, which are cooperatives that are required to distribute profits to their members. Patronage distributions, which are generally made in cash, are received in the year after they are earned. Patronage credits are recorded as a reduction to interest expense in the year earned. After giving effect to expected patronage distributions, the effective net interest rate on the ABL Term Loan was approximately 1.5%.

Term Loan

On March 30, 2016 (Closing Date), Boise Cascade and its principal operating subsidiaries, Boise Cascade Wood Products, L.L.C., and Boise Cascade Building Materials Distribution, L.L.C., as borrowers, and the guarantors party thereto, entered into a term loan agreement (Term Loan Agreement) with American AgCredit, PCA, as administrative agent and sole lead arranger, and other banks in the Farm Credit system named therein as lenders. The Term Loan Agreement was for a $75.0 million secured term loan (Term Loan). The outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan amortizes and is payable in equal installments of $10 million per year on each of the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth anniversaries of the Closing Date. The remaining principal balance is due and payable on March 30, 2026. The Term Loan may be repaid from time to time at the discretion of the borrowers without premium or penalty. However, any principal amount of the Term Loan repaid may not be subsequently re-borrowed, except as discussed below. Interest on our Term Loan is payable monthly.

On December 8, 2016, we entered into the first amendment to the Term Loan Agreement which allows us to prepay the Term Loan and subsequently reborrow amounts prepaid on or before December 31, 2018. The option to reborrow applicable prepaid principal amounts expires on December 31, 2019. Reborrowings may be made in up to three instances in minimum amounts of $10 million each. In addition, amounts prepaid and eligible for reborrowing are subject to an unused line fee of 0.325% per annum times the average daily amount of the unused commitments. Subsequent to our entry into the first amendment, we prepaid $30 million of the Term Loan, which became available to reborrow pursuant to the first amendment. This prepayment satisfied our principal obligations due on the sixth, seventh, and eighth anniversaries of the Closing Date.

Pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement, the borrowers are required to maintain, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, a Capitalization Ratio lower than 60%, a Consolidated Net Worth greater than $350 million, and Available Liquidity greater than $100 million (each as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). In addition, under the Term Loan Agreement, and subject to certain exceptions, the borrowers may not, among other things, (i) incur indebtedness, (ii) incur liens, (iii) make junior payments, (iv) make certain investments, and (v) under certain circumstances, make capital expenditures in excess of $50 million during four consecutive quarters. The Term Loan Agreement also includes customary representations of the borrowers and provides for certain events of default customary for similar facilities.

Interest rates under the Term Loan Agreement are based, at our election, on either the LIBOR or a base rate, as defined in the Term Loan Agreement, plus a spread over the index. The applicable spread for the Term Loan ranges from 1.875% to 2.125% for LIBOR rate loans, and 0.875% to 1.125% for base rate loans, both dependent on our Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). The Term Loan was issued by three institutions within the Farm Credit system and will be eligible for patronage credits. During the period for which the Term Loan was outstanding, the average interest rate on the Term Loan was approximately 2.37%. We expect to receive patronage credits under the Term Loan. After giving effect to expected patronage distributions, the effective average net interest rate on the Term Loan was approximately 1.6%.

Proceeds from the Term Loan were used to partially finance the Acquisition. The Term Loan is secured by a first priority mortgage on the Acquired Facilities and a first priority security interest on the equipment and certain tangible personal property located therein. For additional information on the Acquired Facilities, see Note 5, Acquisitions.

2020 Notes

On October 22, 2012, Boise Cascade and its wholly owned subsidiary, Boise Cascade Finance Corporation (Boise Finance and together with Boise Cascade, the Co-issuers), issued $250 million of 6.375% senior notes due November 1, 2020 (2020 Notes) through a private placement that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act). Interest on our 2020 Notes was payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1. On March 28, 2013, Boise Finance was merged with and into Boise Cascade, with Boise Cascade as the surviving entity and sole issuer of the 2020 Notes.

On August 15, 2013, we issued an additional $50 million in aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes in a private offering that was exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The additional $50 million of 2020 Notes were priced at 103.5% of their principal amount plus accrued interest from May 1, 2013, and were issued as additional 2020 Notes under the related indenture dated as of October 22, 2012.

On May 8, 2013 and November 26, 2013, we completed an offer to exchange any and all of our $250 million and $50 million, respectively, outstanding 2020 Notes for a like principal amount of new 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 having substantially identical terms to those of the 2020 Notes. $250 million and $49,990,000 in aggregate principal amount (or 100% and 99.98%, respectively) of the outstanding 2020 Notes were tendered and accepted for exchange upon closing of the related exchange offers and were registered under the Securities Act.

In connection with the issuance of the $350 million of 5.625% senior notes due September 1, 2024 (2024 Notes) described below, we commenced a tender offer to purchase any and all of our $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes then outstanding. On August 29, 2016, we accepted for purchase an aggregate principal amount of $184.5 million of the 2020 Notes that were tendered. On November 1, 2016, we redeemed the remaining $115.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes outstanding and our obligations under the indenture, pursuant to which the 2020 Notes were issued, were satisfied and discharged. In connection with these transactions, we recognized a pre-tax loss on the extinguishment of debt of $14.3 million during 2016. The loss includes $11.3 million of debt extinguishment premium payments and $3.0 million for the net write-off of a portion of the unamortized deferred financing costs and unamortized premium related to the 2020 Notes.

2024 Notes

On August 29, 2016, Boise Cascade issued the 2024 Notes through a private placement that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The 2024 Notes mature on September 1, 2024 with interest payable semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1, commencing on March 1, 2017. The 2024 Notes are guaranteed by each of our existing and future direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries that is a guarantor under our Amended Agreement.

Following the sale of our 2024 Notes, as noted above, we used the net proceeds of the sale to repurchase or redeem any and all of the 2020 Notes, to pay fees and expenses related to the offering of the 2024 Notes and incurred in connection with the repurchase or redemption of the 2020 Notes, and for general corporate purposes.

The 2024 Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of the existing and future senior indebtedness of Boise Cascade Company and of the guarantors, senior to all of their existing and future subordinated indebtedness, effectively subordinated to all of their present and future senior secured indebtedness (including all borrowings with respect to our Amended Agreement to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness), and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 2024 Notes.

The terms of the indenture governing the 2024 Notes, among other things, limit the ability of Boise Cascade and our restricted subsidiaries to: incur additional debt; declare or pay dividends; redeem stock or make other distributions to stockholders; make investments; create liens on assets; consolidate, merge or transfer substantially all of their assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and sell or transfer certain assets.

The indenture governing the 2024 Notes provides for customary events of default and remedies.

Interest Rate Swaps

For information on interest rate swaps, see Interest Rate Risk and Interest Rate Swaps of Note 13, Financial Instrument Risk.

Cash Paid for Interest

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, cash payments for interest were $21.0 million, $20.6 million, and $20.2 million, respectively.