11. Debt

Credit Agreement

On December 1, 2017 we entered into a credit and guaranty agreement for a new $255.0 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $225.0 million secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility (“the Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Agreement”). We and each of our existing domestic subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement (the “Guarantors”). The Credit Agreement is secured by a security interest in substantially all existing and after-acquired real and personal property (subject to certain exceptions and exclusions) of us and the Guarantors.

On December 1, 2017 we borrowed the entire $225.0 million Term Loan Facility. The proceeds of the Term Loan Facility were used along with cash on hand and shares of CryoLife common stock to (i) fund the previously announced acquisition of JOTEC and its subsidiaries (the “Acquisition”), (ii) pay certain fees and expenses related to the Acquisition and the Credit Agreement and (iii) pay the outstanding balance of our existing credit facility under the Amended Debt Agreement. The Revolving Credit Facility is undrawn following the Acquisition and may be used for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions permitted under the Credit Agreement, and other general corporate purposes pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

Loans under the Term Loan Facility are repayable on a quarterly basis according to the amortization provisions set forth in the Credit Agreement. We have the right to prepay loans under the Credit Agreement in whole or in part at any time. Amounts repaid in respect of loans under the Term Loan Facility may not be reborrowed. Amounts repaid in respect of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility may be reborrowed. All outstanding principal and interest in respect of (i) the Term Loan Facility must be repaid on or before December 1, 2024 and (ii) the Revolving Credit Facility must be repaid on or before December 1, 2022.

In October 2018 we finalized an amendment to the Credit Agreement to reprice, resulting in a reduction in the interest rate margins over base rates on the Term Loan Facility. The loans under the Term Loan Facility bear interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either, the base rate plus a margin of 2.25%, or LIBOR plus a margin of 3.25%. Prior to the repricing, the optional floating annual rate was equal to either, the base rate plus a margin of 3.00%, or LIBOR plus a margin of 4.00%. The loans under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at our option, at a floating annual rate equal to either the base rate plus a margin of between 3.00% and 3.25%, depending on our consolidated leverage ratio, or LIBOR plus a margin of between 4.00% and 4.25%, depending on our consolidated leverage ratio. While a payment or bankruptcy event of default exists, we are obligated to pay a per annum default rate of interest of 2.00% in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable with respect to the overdue principal amount of any loans outstanding and overdue interest payments and other overdue fees and amounts. As of December 31, 2018 the aggregate interest rate was 6.05%. We were obligated to pay an unused commitment fee equal to 0.50% of the un-utilized portion of the revolving loans. In addition, we are also obligated to pay other customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type.

The Credit Agreement contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit our ability, and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, grant liens, incur debt, dispose of assets, make loans and investments, make acquisitions, make certain restricted payments, merge or consolidate, change their business or accounting or reporting practices, in each case subject to customary exceptions for a credit facility of this size and type. In addition, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, when the principal amount of loans outstanding thereunder is in excess of 25% of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Credit Agreement requires us to comply with a specified maximum first lien net leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement prohibits the payment of certain restricted payments, including cash dividends.

The Credit Agreement includes certain customary events of default that include, among other things, non-payment of principal, interest or fees, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, breach of covenants, cross-default to certain material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency and change of control. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the lenders may declare all outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and may exercise the other rights and remedies provided under the Credit Agreement and related loan documents.

Government Supported Bank Debt

In June 2015, JOTEC GmbH obtained two loans of Sparkasse Zollernalb, which are government sponsored by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau Bank (KFW). Both KFW loans have a term of 9 years and the interest rates are 2.45% and 1.4%.

Previous Debt Agreement

In connection with the closing of the On-X acquisition on January 20, 2016 we and certain of our subsidiaries entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Previous Debt Agreement”). The designated credit parties were Healthcare Financial Solutions, LLC; Fifth Third Bank; and Citizens Bank, National Association, collectively. The Previous Debt Agreement restated a prior credit agreement and provided us with a senior secured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $95.0 million, which included a $75.0 million term loan and a $20.0 million revolving credit facility (including a $4.0 million letter of credit sub-facility and a $3.0 million swing-line sub-facility).

Borrowings under the Previous Debt Agreement were secured by substantially all of our real and personal property. As of November 30, 2017 the aggregate interest rate was 3.99% when the outstanding balance, $68.7 million, was repaid in the closing of the Term Loan Facility. We also incurred an unused commitment fee equal to 0.50% of the un-utilized portion of the revolving loans and other customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type.

The short-term and long-term balances of our term loans are as follows (in thousands):


	As of December 31,
	2018		2017
Term loan balance	$	222,750	$	225,000
2.45% Sparkasse Zollernalb (KFW Loan 1)		1,318		1,657
1.4% Sparkasse Zollernalb (KFW Loan 2)		1,885		2,312
Total loan Balance		225,953		228,969
Less unamortized loan origination costs		(9,072)		(10,015)
Total borrowed		216,881		218,954
Less short-term loan balance		(1,160)		(718)
Long-term loan balance	$	215,721	$	218,236

At December 31, 2018 the aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the next five years is as follows (in thousands):


	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023		Thereafter		Total
Maturities	$	2,726	$	2,791	$	2,791	$	2,791	$	2,791	$	212,063	$	225,953

Our aggregate maturity schedule is subject to change due to a provision within the Credit Agreement that requires us to make annual prepayments based on an excess cash flow calculation.

Interest

Total interest expense was $15.8 million, $4.9 million, and $3.0 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Interest expense includes interest on debt and uncertain tax positions in all periods.