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Long-Term Debt | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |
Long-Term Debt | Long-Term Debt Long-term debt consists of the following:
| March 31, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
| (In thousands)
2016 Revolving Credit Facility (1) | $ | 100,000 |  |  | $ | 75,000 |
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 (the “5.0% Notes”) | 289,273 |  |  | 289,273 |
6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2027 (the “6.125% Notes”) | 250,000 |  |  | 250,000 |
Mortgage notes to finance companies-fixed rate, bearing interest from 3.51% to 7.03% | 232,822 |  |  | 199,972 |
Mortgage notes to finance companies-variable rate, bearing interest at 1.50 to 2.90 percentage points above one-month or three-month LIBOR | 195,428 |  |  | 219,719 |
Debt issuance costs | (12,769 | ) |  | (13,208 | )
Other | 3,860 |  |  | 3,947 |
Total debt | $ | 1,058,614 |  |  | $ | 1,024,703 |
Less current maturities | (53,957 | ) |  | (61,314 | )
Long-term debt | $ | 1,004,657 |  |  | $ | 963,389 |
(1) | The interest rate on the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) was 225 basis points above LIBOR at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
2016 Credit Facilities On November 30, 2016, Sonic entered into an amended and restated syndicated revolving credit facility (the “2016 Revolving Credit Facility”) and amended and restated syndicated new and used vehicle floor plan credit facilities (the “2016 Floor Plan Facilities” and, together with the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility, the “2016 Credit Facilities”), which are scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021. Availability under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility is calculated as the lesser of $250.0 million or a borrowing base calculated based on certain eligible assets, less the aggregate face amount of any outstanding letters of credit under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility (the “2016 Revolving Borrowing Base”). The 2016 Revolving Credit Facility may be increased at Sonic’s option up to $300.0 million upon satisfaction of certain conditions. As of March 31, 2018, the 2016 Revolving Borrowing Base was approximately $215.4 million based on balances as of such date. As of March 31, 2018, Sonic had approximately $100.0 million of outstanding borrowings and approximately $16.4 million in outstanding letters of credit under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility, resulting in total borrowing availability of approximately $99.0 million under the 2016 Revolving Credit Facility. The 2016 Floor Plan Facilities are comprised of a new vehicle revolving floor plan facility (the “2016 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility”) and a used vehicle revolving floor plan facility (the “2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility”), subject to a borrowing base, in a combined amount up to $1.015 billion. We may, under certain conditions, request an increase in the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities to a maximum borrowing limit of up to $1.265 billion, which shall be allocated between the 2016 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility and the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility as we request, with no more than 30% of the aggregate commitments allocated to the commitments under the 2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility. Outstanding obligations under the 2016 Floor Plan Facilities are guaranteed by us and certain of our subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets. The amounts outstanding under the 2016 Credit Facilities bear interest at variable rates based on specified percentages above LIBOR. We agreed under the 2016 Credit Facilities not to pledge any assets to any third party (other than those explicitly allowed under the amended terms of the 2016 Credit Facilities), including other lenders, subject to certain stated exceptions, including floor plan financing arrangements. In addition, the 2016 Credit Facilities contain certain negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit indebtedness, liens, the payment of dividends, capital expenditures and material dispositions and acquisitions of assets as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. Specifically, the 2016 Credit Facilities permit cash dividends on our Class A and Class B Common Stock so long as no event of default (as defined in the 2016 Credit Facilities) has occurred and is continuing and provided that we remain in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2016 Credit Facilities. 5.0% Notes On May 9, 2013, Sonic issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior subordinated 5.0% Notes, which are scheduled to mature on May 15, 2023. The 5.0% Notes were issued at a price of 100.0% of the principal amount thereof. The 5.0% Notes are guaranteed by Sonic’s domestic operating subsidiaries. Interest on the 5.0% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year. On September 30, 2016, Sonic repurchased approximately $10.7 million of the outstanding 5.0% Notes for approximately $10.6 million in cash, plus accrued and unpaid interest related thereto. The indenture governing the 5.0% Notes contains certain specified restrictive covenants. Sonic has agreed not to pledge any assets to any third-party lender of senior subordinated debt except under certain limited circumstances. Sonic also has agreed to certain other limitations or prohibitions concerning the incurrence of other indebtedness, guarantees, liens, certain types of investments, certain transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, issuance of preferred stock, cash dividends to stockholders, distributions, redemptions and the sale, assignment, lease, conveyance or disposal of certain assets. Specifically, the indenture governing the 5.0% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B Common Stock in excess of $0.10 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B Common Stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 5.0% Notes. Sonic was in compliance with all restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the 5.0% Notes as of March 31, 2018. 6.125% Notes On March 10, 2017, Sonic issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior subordinated 6.125% Notes, which are scheduled to mature on March 15, 2027. The 6.125% Notes were issued at a price of 100.0% of the principal amount thereof. Sonic used the net proceeds from the issuance of the 6.125% Notes to repurchase all of its then outstanding 7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 on March 27, 2017. Remaining proceeds from the issuance of the 6.125% Notes were used for general corporate purposes. The 6.125% Notes are guaranteed by Sonic’s domestic operating subsidiaries. Interest on the 6.125% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year. Sonic may redeem the 6.125% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after March 15, 2022. The indenture governing the 6.125% Notes contains certain specified restrictive covenants. Sonic has agreed not to pledge any assets to any third-party lender of senior subordinated debt except under certain limited circumstances. Sonic also has agreed to certain other limitations or prohibitions concerning the incurrence of other indebtedness, guarantees, liens, certain types of investments, certain transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, issuance of preferred stock, cash dividends to stockholders, distributions, redemptions and the sale, assignment, lease, conveyance or disposal of certain assets. Specifically, the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B Common Stock in excess of $0.12 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B Common Stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes. Sonic was in compliance with all restrictive covenants in the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes as of March 31, 2018. Mortgage Notes During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Sonic obtained approximately $21.0 million in mortgage financing related to two of its operating locations. As of March 31, 2018, the weighted average interest rate was 4.39% and the total outstanding mortgage principal balance was approximately $428.2 million. These mortgage notes require monthly payments of principal and interest through their respective maturities, are secured by the underlying properties and contain certain cross-default provisions. Maturity dates for these mortgage notes range between 2018 and 2033. Covenants Under the 2016 Credit Facilities, Sonic agreed not to pledge any assets to any third party (other than those explicitly allowed under the amended terms of the 2016 Credit Facilities), including other lenders, subject to certain stated exceptions, including floor plan financing arrangements. In addition, the 2016 Credit Facilities contain certain negative covenants, including covenants which could restrict or prohibit the payment of dividends, capital expenditures and material dispositions of assets, as well as other customary covenants and default provisions. Sonic was in compliance with the covenants under the 2016 Credit Facilities as of March 31, 2018. Financial covenants include required specified ratios (as each is defined in the 2016 Credit Facilities) of:
| Covenant
| Minimum Consolidated Liquidity Ratio |  | Minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio |  | Maximum Consolidated Total Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio
Required ratio | 1.05 |  |  | 1.20 |  |  | 5.75 |
March 31, 2018 actual | 1.09 |  |  | 1.70 |  |  | 4.90 |
The 2016 Credit Facilities contain events of default, including cross defaults to other material indebtedness, change of control events and other events of default customary for syndicated commercial credit facilities. Upon the future occurrence of an event of default, Sonic could be required to immediately repay all outstanding amounts under the 2016 Credit Facilities. After giving effect to the applicable restrictions on the payment of dividends under its debt agreements, as of March 31, 2018, Sonic had approximately $127.4 million of net income and retained earnings free of such restrictions. Sonic was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under its debt agreements as of March 31, 2018. In addition, many of Sonic’s facility leases are governed by a guarantee agreement between the landlord and Sonic that contains financial and operating covenants. The financial covenants under the guarantee agreement are identical to those under the 2016 Credit Facilities with the exception of one financial covenant related to the ratio of EBTDAR to Rent (as defined in the guarantee agreement) with a required ratio of no less than 1.50 to 1.00. As of March 31, 2018, the ratio was 3.82 to 1.00. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Sonic has interest rate cap agreements designated as hedging instruments to limit its exposure to increases in LIBOR rates above certain levels. Under the terms of these interest rate caps, interest rates reset monthly. The fair value of these interest rate cap positions at March 31, 2018 was a net asset of approximately $6.7 million, with approximately $6.1 million included in other assets and approximately $0.6 million included in other current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, Sonic terminated all its previously outstanding interest rate cash flow swap agreements for net cash proceeds of approximately $4.8 million, which will be amortized into income as a reduction of interest expense, other, net on a ratable basis over the original term of these agreements (through July 1, 2020). The fair value of the outstanding interest rate swap and interest rate cap positions at December 31, 2017 was a net asset of approximately $4.7 million, with approximately $5.1 million included in other assets and approximately $0.9 million included in other current assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, offset partially by approximately $1.0 million included in other accrued liabilities and approximately $0.3 million included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Under the terms of the interest rate cap agreements, Sonic will receive and pay interest based on the following:
Notional Amount |  | Pay Rate (1) |  | Receive Rate (2) |  | Start Date |  | End Date
(In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | September 1, 2017 |  | June 30, 2018
$ | 375.0 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2018 |  | June 30, 2019
$ | 375.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2018 |  | June 30, 2019
$ | 312.5 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2019 |  | June 30, 2020
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2019 |  | June 30, 2020
$ | 225.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2020 |  | June 30, 2021
$ | 150.0 |  |  | 2.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2020 |  | July 1, 2021
$ | 250.0 |  |  | 3.000% |  | one-month LIBOR |  | July 1, 2021 |  | July 1, 2022
(1) | Under these interest rate cap agreements, no payment to or from the counterparty will occur unless the stated receive rate exceeds the stated pay rate, in which case a net payment to Sonic from the counterparty based on the spread between the receive rate and the pay rate will be recognized as a reduction of interest expense, other, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
(2) | The one-month LIBOR rate was approximately 1.883% at March 31, 2018.
The interest rate caps are designated as cash flow hedges, and the changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and are disclosed in the supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The incremental interest expense (the difference between interest paid and interest received) related to interest rate cap and interest rate swaps was approximately $0.1 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and is included in interest expense, other, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income, and the interest paid amount is disclosed in the supplemental disclosures of cash flow information in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The estimated net benefit expected to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into results of operations during the next 12 months is approximately $1.0 million.

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