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Debt
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Debt
The following table summarizes our outstanding debt:
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021Interest RateMaturitySecurity
(in thousands)
2021 RBL Facility$— $— 
variable rates 9.5% (2022) and 5.3% (2021)
August 26, 2025
Mortgage on 90% of Present Value of proven oil and gas reserves and lien on certain other assets
2022 ABL Facility— n/a
variable rates 8.3% (2022)
June 5, 2025Personal property assets, other than excluded accounts
2026 Notes400,000 400,000 
7.0%
February 15, 2026Unsecured
Long-Term Debt - Principal Amount400,000 400,000 
Less: Debt Issuance Costs(4,265)(5,434)
Long-Term Debt, net$395,735 $394,566 
Deferred Financing Costs
We incurred legal and bank fees related to the issuance of debt. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, debt issuance costs for the 2021 RBL Facility and the 2022 ABL Facility (each as defined below) reported in “other noncurrent assets” on the balance sheet were approximately $4 million and $5 million, net of amortization, respectively. In 2021, we expensed $3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the modification of the 2017 RBL Facility and also incurred approximately $4 million of legal and bank fees related to the issuance of the 2021 RBL Facility. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, debt issuance costs, net of amortization, for the unsecured notes due February 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) reported in “Long-Term Debt, net” on the balance sheet were approximately $4 million and $5 million, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the amortization expense for the 2021 RBL Facility, 2022 ABL Facility, the 2017 RBL Facility and the 2026 Notes combined, was approximately $2 million, $4 million, and $5 million, respectively. The amortization of debt issuance costs is presented in “interest expense” on the consolidated statements of operations.
Fair Value
Our debt is recorded at the carrying amount on the balance sheets. The carrying amounts of the 2021 RBL Facility and the 2022 ABL Facility approximate fair value because the interest rates are variable and reflect market rates. The fair value of the 2026 Notes was approximately $369 million and $400 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
2021 RBL Facility
On August 26, 2021, Berry Corp, as a guarantor, together with Berry LLC, as the borrower, entered into a credit agreement that provided for a revolving loan with up to $500 million of commitments, subject to a reserve borrowing base (as amended by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment and the Third Amendment, each as defined below, the “2021 RBL Facility”). Our initial borrowing base is $200 million. The 2021 RBL Facility provides a letter of credit subfacility for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed $20 million. Issuances of letters of credit reduce the borrowing availability for revolving loans under the 2021 RBL Facility on a dollar for dollar basis. The 2021 RBL Facility matures on August 26, 2025, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the 2021 RBL Facility terms. Borrowing base redeterminations generally become effective each May and November, although the borrower and the lenders may each make one interim redetermination between scheduled redeterminations. In December 2021, we completed the first scheduled semi-annual borrowing base redetermination and entered into that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment”), which resulted in a reaffirmed borrowing base at $200 million and changes to the hedging covenants in respect of the exclusion of short puts or similar derivatives in the calculation of minimum and maximum hedging requirements.
In May 2022, Berry Corp., as a guarantor, and Berry LLC, as the borrower, entered into that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement and Limited Consent and Waiver (the “Second Amendment”) pursuant to which, among other things, the requisite lenders under the 2021 RBL Facility (i) consented to certain dividends and distributions and to certain investments made by Berry LLC in C&J and/or C&J Management, in each case, as further described therein, (ii) waived certain minimum hedging requirements for the time periods described therein, (iii) waived any breach, default or event of default which may have arisen as a result of any of the foregoing, (iv) amended the restricted payments covenant to give us additional flexibility to make restricted payments, subject to satisfaction of certain leverage and availability conditions and other conditions described below and in the Second Amendment and (v) amended the minimum hedging covenant to not, until October 1, 2022, require hedges for any full calendar month from and after January 1, 2025, as further described in the Second Amendment. In May 2022, we also completed our semi-annual borrowing base redetermination and entered into the Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”), which among other things (1) increased the borrowing base from $200 million to $250 million; (2) established the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amounts (as defined in the 2021 RBL Facility) at $200 million initially; and (3) converted all outstanding Eurodollar Loans (into Term Benchmark Loans (each as defined in the 2021 RBL Facility) with an initial interest period of one-month’s duration and otherwise give effect to the transition from the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) to the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) by replacing the adjusted LIBOR rate with the term SOFR rate for one, three or six months plus 0.1% (subject to a floor of 0.5%).
In December 2022, we completed our scheduled semi-annual borrowing base redetermination, which resulted in a reaffirmed borrowing base at $250 million and $200 million elected commitment amount.
If the outstanding principal balance of the revolving loans and the aggregate face amount of all letters of credit under the 2021 RBL Facility exceeds the borrowing base at any time as a result of a redetermination of the borrowing base, we have the option within 30 days to take any of the following actions, either individually or in combination: make a lump sum payment curing the deficiency, deliver reserve engineering reports and mortgages covering additional oil and gas properties sufficient in certain lenders’ opinion to increase the borrowing base and cure the deficiency or begin making equal monthly principal payments that will cure the deficiency within the next six-month period. Upon certain adjustments to the borrowing base other than a result of a redetermination, we are required to make a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the amount by which the outstanding principal balance of the revolving loans and the aggregate face amount of all letters of credit under the 2021 RBL Facility exceeds the borrowing base. In addition, the 2021 RBL Facility provides that if there are any outstanding borrowings and the consolidated cash balance exceeds $20 million at the end of each calendar week, such excess amounts shall be used to prepay borrowings under the credit agreement. Otherwise, any unpaid principal will be due at maturity.
The outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan bear interest at a rate equal to either (i) a customary base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.0% to 3.0% per annum, and (ii) a customary benchmark rate plus an
applicable margin ranging from 3.0% to 4.0% per annum, and in each case depending on levels of borrowing base utilization. In addition, we must pay the lenders a quarterly commitment fee of 0.5% on the average daily unused amount of the borrowing availability under the 2021 RBL Facility. We have the right to prepay any borrowings under the 2021 RBL Facility with prior notice at any time without a prepayment penalty.
The 2021 RBL Facility requires us to maintain on a consolidated basis as of each quarter-end (i) a leverage ratio of not more than 3.0 to 1.0 and (ii) a current ratio of not less than 1.0 to 1.0. As of December 31, 2022, our leverage ratio and current ratio were 1.2 to 1.0 and 1.7 to 1.0, respectively. In addition, the 2021 RBL Facility currently provides that, to the extent we incur unsecured indebtedness, including any amounts raised in the future, the borrowing base will be reduced by an amount equal to 25% of the amount of such unsecured debt. We were in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2021 RBL Facility as of December 31, 2022.
The 2021 RBL Facility contains usual and customary events of default and remedies for credit facilities of a similar nature. The 2021 RBL Facility also places restrictions on the borrower and its restricted subsidiaries with respect to additional indebtedness, liens, dividends and other payments to shareholders, repurchases or redemptions of our common stock, redemptions of the borrower’s senior notes, investments, acquisitions, mergers, asset dispositions, transactions with affiliates, hedging transactions and other matters.
From and after August 26, 2022, the 2021 RBL Facility permits us to repurchase certain indebtedness so long as both before and after giving pro forma effect to such repurchase, no default or event of default exists, availability is equal to or greater than 20% of the borrowing base and our pro forma leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.0 to 1.0. The 2021 RBL Facility also permits us to make restricted payments so long as both before and after giving pro forma effect to such distribution, no default or event of default exists, availability exceeds 75% of the borrowing base, and our pro forma leverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0. In addition, we can make other restricted payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed 100% of Free Cash Flow (as defined under the 2021 RBL Facility) for the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to such distribution so long as, in addition to other conditions and limitations as described in the 2021 RBL Facility, both before and after giving pro forma effect to such distribution, no default or event of default exists, availability is greater than 20% of the borrowing base and our pro forma leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.0 to 1.0.
We can repurchase equity or make other distributions to our equity holders in an amount equal to (i) 100% of Free Cash Flow (as defined under the 2021 RBL Facility) for the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to such repurchase or distribution minus (ii) the amount of certain investments made, so long as, in addition to other conditions and limitations as described in the 2021 RBL Facility, availability is equal to or greater than 20% of the elected commitments or borrowing base, whichever is in effect, and our pro forma leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.0 to 1.0.
Berry LLC is the borrower on the 2021 RBL Facility and Berry Corp. is the guarantor. Each future subsidiary of Berry Corp., with certain exceptions, is required to guarantee our obligations and obligations of the other guarantors under the 2021 RBL Facility and under certain hedging transactions and banking services arrangements (the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The lenders under the 2021 RBL Facility hold a mortgage on at least 90% of the present value of our proven oil and gas reserves. The obligations of Berry LLC and the guarantors are also secured by liens on substantially all of our personal property, subject to customary exceptions.
As of December 31, 2022, we had no borrowings outstanding, $7 million in letters of credit outstanding, and approximately $193 million of available borrowings capacity under the 2021 RBL Facility.
2022 ABL Facility
On August 9, 2022, C&J and C&J Management, which are the two entities that constitute the well servicing and abandonment segment referred to as CJWS, as borrowers, entered into a credit agreement with Tri Counties Bank, as lender, that provides for a revolving loan facility, subject to satisfaction of customary conditions precedent to borrowing, of up to the lesser of (x) $15 million and (y) the borrowing base (“the “2022 ABL Facility”). The
“borrowing base” is an amount equal to 80% percent of the balance due on eligible accounts receivable, subject to reserves that Tri Counties Bank may implement in its reasonable discretion. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the revolving loans under the 2022 ABL Facility accrues at a per annum rate equal to 1.25% in excess of The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate. The “Wall Street Journal Prime Rate” is the variable rate of interest, on a per annum basis, which is announced and/or published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal from time to time as its “Prime Rate”. The rate will be redetermined whenever The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate changes. Interest is due quarterly, in arrears, starting on September 30, 2022 and will continue to be due and payable in arrears on the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter. On June 5, 2025 the entire unpaid principal balance of the revolving loans under the 2022 ABL Facility, and all unpaid interest thereon, will be due and payable. The 2022 ABL Facility provides a letter of credit sub-facility for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7.5 million.
The 2022 ABL Facility requires CJWS to comply with the following financial covenants (i) maintain on a consolidated basis a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of no greater than 1.5 to 1.0 at any time; (ii) reduce the amount of revolving advances outstanding under the 2022 ABL Facility to not more than 90% of the lesser of (a) the maximum revolving advance amount, or (b) the borrowing base, as of Tri Counties Bank’s close of business on the last day of each fiscal quarter; and (iii) maintain net income before taxes of not less than $1.00 as of each fiscal year end. As of December 31, 2022, CJWS had a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of 0.2 to 1.0, no advances outstanding, and net income for fiscal year end 2022 was $15 million.
The 2022 ABL Facility contains usual and customary events of default and remedies for credit facilities of a similar nature. The 2022 ABL Facility also places restrictions on CJWS with respect to additional indebtedness, liens, dividends and other distributions, investments, acquisitions, mergers, asset dispositions and other matters. CJWS’s obligations under the 2022 ABL Facility are not guaranteed by Berry Corp. or Berry LLC and Berry Corp. and Berry LLC do not and are not required to provide any credit support for such obligations. CJWS was in compliance with all financial covenants under the 2022 ABL Facility as of December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2022, CJWS had no borrowings and $2 million letters of credit outstanding with $13 million of available borrowing capacity under the 2022 ABL Facility.
2017 RBL Facility
On July 31, 2017, we entered into a credit agreement that provided for a revolving loan with up to $1.5 billion of commitment, subject to a reserve borrowing base (“2017 RBL Facility”). On August 26, 2021, we cancelled the 2017 RBL Facility agreement, which had a borrowing base of $200 million and there were no borrowings outstanding at the time of cancellation.
Senior Unsecured Notes
In February 2018, Berry LLC completed a private issuance of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.0% senior unsecured notes due February 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), which resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $391 million after deducting expenses and the initial purchasers’ discount.
The 2026 Notes are Berry LLC’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other senior indebtedness and senior to any of our subordinated indebtedness. The 2026 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Berry Corp. and will also be guaranteed by certain of our future subsidiaries; C&J Management and C&J are not guarantors. The 2026 Notes and related guarantees are effectively subordinated to all of our secured indebtedness (including all borrowings and other obligations under our 2021 RBL Facility) to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of any subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 2026 Notes, including the obligations of C&J Management and C&J under the 2022 ABL Facility.
Berry LLC may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the 2026 Notes at any time. If we experience certain kinds of changes of control, holders of the 2026 Notes may have the right to require us to repurchase their notes at 101% of the principal amount of the 2026 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any
The indenture governing the 2026 Notes contains restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to, among other things:
•incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue certain types of preferred stock;
•pay dividends on capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire our capital stock or subordinated indebtedness;
•transfer, sell or dispose of assets;
•make investments;
•create certain liens securing indebtedness;
•enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other payments from our restricted subsidiaries to us;
•consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and
•engage in transactions with affiliates.
The indenture governing the 2026 Notes contains customary events of default, including, among others, (a) non-payment; (b) non-compliance with covenants (in some cases, subject to grace periods); (c) payment default under, or acceleration events affecting, material indebtedness and (d) bankruptcy or insolvency events involving us or certain of our subsidiaries. We were in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2022.
Debt Repurchase Program
In February 2020, our Board of Directors adopted a program to spend up to $75 million for the opportunistic repurchase of our 2026 Notes. The manner, timing and amount of any purchases will be determined based on our evaluation of market conditions, compliance with outstanding agreements and other factors, may be commenced or suspended at any time without notice and does not obligate Berry Corp. to purchase the 2026 Notes during any period or at all. We have not yet repurchased any notes under this program.