On February 11, 2022, the Company issued $400.0 million of 5.375% unsecured senior notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2030 Notes, together with $100.0 million drawn under the Revolving Credit Line (as defined below), $250.0 million of Term A Loan (as defined below) and approximately $308.0 million of cash on hand, to redeem (the “Redemption”) the 2027 Notes, which had an outstanding principal balance of $1.0 billion, and to pay costs, fees and expenses associated with the Redemption and the Credit Agreement Amendment (as defined below).

Interest on the 2030 Notes accrues at the rate of 5.375% per annum, or $21.5 million, and is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15, beginning on August 15, 2022. The Company's obligations under the 2030 Notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by the same subsidiaries and affiliated professional contractors that guarantee the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below). The indenture under which the 2030 Notes are issued, among other things, limits the Company's ability to (1) incur liens and (2) enter into sale and lease-back transactions, and also limits the Company's ability to merge or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, in all cases, subject to a number of customary exceptions. Although the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the 2030 Notes, upon the occurrence of a change in control, the Company may be required to repurchase the 2030 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Also in connection with the Redemption, the Company amended its credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”, and such amendment, the "Credit Agreement Amendment"), concurrently with the issuance of the 2030 Notes. The Credit Agreement Amendment, among other things, (i) refinanced the prior unsecured revolving credit facility with a $450.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility, including a $37.5 million sub-facility for the issuance of letters of credit (the “Revolving Credit Line”), and a new $250.0 million term A loan facility (“Term A Loan”) and (ii) removed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement and appointed Bank of America, N.A. as the administrative agent for the lenders.

The Credit Agreement, as amended by the Credit Agreement Amendment (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) matures on February 11, 2027 and is guaranteed on an unsecured basis by substantially all of the Company's subsidiaries and affiliated professional contractors. At the Company's option, borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest at (i) the Alternate Base Rate (defined as the highest of (a) the prime rate as announced by Bank of America, N.A., (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") for an interest period of one month plus 1.00% with a 1.00% floor) plus an applicable margin rate of 0.50% for the first two fiscal quarters after the date of the Credit Agreement Amendment, and thereafter at an applicable margin rate ranging from 0.125% to 0.750% based on the Company's consolidated net leverage ratio or (ii) Term SOFR rate (calculated as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published on the applicable Reuters screen page plus a spread adjustment of 0.10%, 0.15% or 0.25% depending on if the Company selects a one-month, three-month or six-month interest period, respectively, for the applicable loan with a 0% floor), plus an applicable margin rate of 1.50% for the first two full fiscal quarters after the date of the Credit Agreement Amendment, and thereafter at an applicable margin rate ranging from 1.125% to 1.750% based on the Company's consolidated net leverage ratio. The Amended Credit Agreement also provides for other customary fees and charges, including an unused commitment fee with respect to the Revolving Credit Line ranging from 0.150% to 0.200% of the unused lending commitments under the Revolving Credit Line, based on the Company's consolidated net leverage ratio.

The Amended Credit Agreement contains customary covenants and restrictions, including covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio and to comply with laws, and restrictions on the ability to pay dividends, incur indebtedness or liens and make certain other distributions subject to baskets and exceptions, in each case, as specified therein. Failure to comply with these covenants would constitute an event of default under the Amended Credit Agreement, notwithstanding the ability of the Company to meet its debt service obligations. The Amended Credit Agreement includes various customary remedies for the lenders following an event of default, including the acceleration of repayment of outstanding amounts under the Amended Credit Agreement. In addition, the Company may increase the principal amount of the Revolving Credit Line or incur additional term loans under the Amended Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount such that on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such increase or additional term loans, the Company would be in compliance with the financial covenants, subject to the satisfaction of specified conditions and additional caps in the event that the Amended Credit Agreement is secured.

The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt was $611.2 million and $622.2 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and consisted of the following (in thousands):


	December 31, 2024
	Principal		Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs			Total
Senior notes	$	400,000	$	(3,638	)	$	396,362
Revolving credit line		—		(523	)		(523	)
Term A loan		215,625		(291	)		215,334
Total	$	615,625	$	(4,452	)	$	611,173


	December 31, 2023
	Principal		Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs			Total
Senior notes	$	400,000	$	(4,354	)	$	395,646
Revolving credit line		—		(1,006	)		(1,006	)
Term A loan		228,125		(559	)		227,566
Total	$	628,125	$	(5,919	)	$	622,206

The Company presents issuance costs related to long-term debt liabilities, other than revolving credit and term loan arrangements, as a direct deduction from the carrying value of that long-term debt. The Company had no outstanding letters of credit at December 31, 2024. At December 31, 2024, the Company had an available balance on its Amended Credit Agreement of $450.0 million.

The carrying values of the Company’s variable rate Revolving Credit Line and Term A Loan approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rates. The estimated fair value of the Company’s 2030 Notes was estimated using trading prices as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, as Level 2 inputs to estimate fair value for relevant periods and are summarized as follows (in thousands):

The Company’s finance lease obligations, primarily related to equipment used in its newborn hearing screen program, consist of the following (in thousands):


	December 31,
	2024			2023
Finance lease obligations	$	5,341		$	9,241
Less: Current portion		(1,795	)		(2,413	)
Long-term portion	$	3,546		$	6,828