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LONG-TERM DEBT | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
LONG-TERM DEBT |
LONG-TERM DEBT | 8. LONG-TERM DEBT 2023 CoBank Credit Facility On July 13, 2023, the Company, along with certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors, entered into a new Credit Agreement with CoBank, ACB and a syndicate of other lenders (as may be amended from time to time, the “2023 CoBank Credit Facility”). The 2023 CoBank Credit Facility provides for a five-year $170 million revolving credit facility (the “2023 CoBank Revolving Loan”) and a six-year $130 million term loan facility (the “2023 CoBank Term Loan”). The Company may use (i) up to $25 million under the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility for letters of credit, and (ii) up to $20 million under a swingline sub-facility. Upon the closing of the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility, the Company drew all of the 2023 CoBank Term Loan and approximately $13.6 million of the 2023 CoBank Revolving Loan. These borrowings were used to repay $139.5 million of debt outstanding under the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility at close. The 2023 CoBank Term Loan must be repaid in quarterly principal payments in the amounts set forth below, with the outstanding principal balance maturing on July 13, 2029. The 2023 CoBank Revolving Loan may be repaid at any time on or prior to its maturity on July 13, 2028. All amounts outstanding under the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility will be due and payable upon the earlier of the maturity date or the acceleration of the loans and commitments upon an event of default. ​
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2023 CoBank Term Loan Quarterly Payment Dates | 2023 CoBank Term Loan Quarterly Repayments
December 31, 2023 – June 30, 2025 | $812,500 (2.5% per annum)
December 31, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | $1,625,000 (5% per annum)
December 31, 2026 – June 30, 2029 | $2,437,500 (7.5% per annum)
​ Amounts borrowed under the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (SOFR) plus an applicable margin ranging between 2.00% to 3.75% for the 2023 CoBank Term Loan or 1.75% to 3.50% for Revolving Loans or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.00% to 2.75% for the Term Loan or 0.75% to 2.50% for the 2023 CoBank Revolving Loans. Swingline loans will bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable margin for base rate loans. The base rate is equal to the higher of (i) 1.00% plus the one-month SOFR rate (ii) the federal funds effective rate (as defined in the 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement) plus 0.50% per annum; and (iii) the prime rate (as defined in the 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement). The applicable margin is determined based on the ratio (as further defined in the 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement) of the Company’s indebtedness to EBITDA. Under the terms of the 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement, the Company must also pay a fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.50% on the average daily unused portion of the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility over each calendar quarter. The 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement contains a financial covenant (as further defined in the 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement) that imposes a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA, as well as customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants limiting additional indebtedness, liens, guaranties, mergers and consolidations, substantial asset sales, investments and loans, sale and leasebacks, transactions with affiliates and fundamental changes. The Total Net Leverage Ratio is measured each fiscal quarter and is required to be less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.0. The 2023 CoBank Credit Agreement provides for events of default customary for credit facilities of this type, including but not limited to non-payment, defaults on other debt, misrepresentation, breach of covenants, representations and warranties, insolvency and bankruptcy. The Company capitalized $4.2 million of fees associated with the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility which are being amortized over the life of the debt and $3.8 million were unamortized as of December 31, 2023. The Company had $129.2 million outstanding under the 2023 CoBank Term Loan as of December 31, 2023. Under the 2023 CoBank Revolving Loan, the Company had $33.6 million outstanding and $136.4 million of availability as of December 31, 2023. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2023. In October 2023, the Company entered a two year, forward starting 1-month floating to fixed SOFR interest rate swap agreement. The swap was effective November 13, 2023 in a non-amortizing notional amount of $50.0 million, has a fixed SOFR rate of 4.896% and matures on November 13, 2025. 2019 CoBank Credit Facility On April 10, 2019, the Company entered into a credit facility, with CoBank, ACB and a syndicate of other lenders (as amended, the “2019 CoBank Credit Facility”). The 2019 CoBank Credit Facility provided for a $200 million revolving credit facility that included (i) up to $75 million for standby or trade letters of credit and (ii) up to $10 million under a swingline sub-facility. In connection with the execution of the 2023 CoBank Credit Facility, as defined above, outstanding borrowings under the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility were repaid in full. Amounts borrowed under the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility bore interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either (i) the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin ranging between 1.25% to 2.25% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.25%. Swingline loans bore interest at the base rate plus the applicable margin for base rate loans. The base rate was equal to the higher of (i) 1.00% plus the higher of (x) LIBOR for an interest period of one month and (y) LIBOR for an interest period of one week; (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility) plus 0.50% per annum; and (iii) the Prime Rate (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility). The applicable margin was determined based on the Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility). Under the terms of the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility, the Company also paid a commitment fee ranging from 0.150% to 0.375% of the average daily unused portion of the 2019 CoBank Credit Facility over each calendar quarter. Letter of Credit Facility On November 14, 2022, the Company entered into a General Agreement of Indemnity to issue performance Standby Letters of Credit on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2023, $31.6 million of Standby Letters of Credit had been issued under this agreement. Alaska Credit Facility On July 22, 2021, Alaska Communications entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Alaska Credit Facility”) with Fifth Third Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and a syndicate of lenders to provide a $35.0 million revolving facility (the “Alaska Revolving Facility”) and a $210.0 million initial term loan facility (the “Alaska Term Loan”). On December 23, 2022, Alaska Communications entered into a First Amendment Agreement (the “ACS Amendment”). The ACS Amendment amends the Alaska Credit Facility to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment from $35.0 million to $75.0 million and Term Loan Commitment from $210.0 million to $230.0 million. As a part of the transaction, the Term Loan commitment was fully funded as the outstanding Revolving Credit Commitment balance was transferred. As of December 31, 2023, Alaska Communications had drawn $35.0 million on its Revolving Credit Commitment and had $40.0 million available to draw. The Term Loan balance was $228.6 million and principal payments commenced in the fourth quarter of 2023. Both facilities mature on July 22, 2026. In addition to the above changes, the ACS Amendment replaced the calculation of interest from an applicable margin applied to LIBOR with the same applicable margin applied to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus a 10-basis point adjustment. The Company capitalized $7.3 million of fees associated with the Alaska Credit Facility which are being amortized over the life of the debt and $3.9 million were unamortized as of December 31, 2023. The Alaska Credit Facility also provides for incremental facilities up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of $70.0 million and Alaska Communications’ trailing twelve-month Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Alaska Credit Facility). The key terms and conditions of the Alaska Credit Facility include the following:
| ● | Amounts outstanding bear an interest rate of the forward-looking SOFR rate with a one-month interest period, plus the SOFR Spread Adjustment of 10 basis points, plus a margin ranging from 3.00% to 4.00% based on Alaska Communications’ Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or an alternate base rate may be selected at a margin that is 1% lower than the counterpart SOFR margin;
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| ● | Principal repayments are due quarterly and commenced in the fourth quarter of 2023 in quarterly amounts as follows: from the fourth quarter of 2023 through the third quarter of 2024, $1.4 million; and from the fourth quarter of 2024 through the third quarter of 2026, $2.9 million. The remaining unpaid balance is due on the final maturity date;
| ● | Alaska Communications is required to maintain financial ratios as defined in the Alaska Credit Facility, including (a) a maximum Consolidated Net Total Leverage Ratio of 4.00 to 1, stepping down to 3.75 to 1 beginning with the second quarter of 2024; and (b) a minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1; and
| ● | The Alaska Credit Facility is non-recourse to the Company and is secured by substantially all of the personal property and certain material real property owned by Alaska Communications.
Alaska Communication’s interest rate swap, which had been designated as a cash flow hedge with an interest rate of 1.6735%, expired on June 30, 2022. In November 2023, Alaska Communications entered two forward starting 1-month floating to fixed SOFR interest rate swap agreements. The total non-amortizing notional amount of the agreements is $200.0 million, with fixed SOFR rates of 4.8695% and 4.8980% and both agreements mature on June 30, 2025. Alaska Term Facility On June 15, 2022, Alaska Communications Systems Holdings, the parent company of Alaska Communications, entered into a secured lending arrangement with Bristol Bay Industrial, LLC (the “Alaska Term Facility”). The Alaska Term Facility provides for a secured delayed draw term loan in an aggregate principal amount of up to $7.5 million and the proceeds may be used to pay certain invoices from a contractor for work performed in connection with a fiber build. Interest on the Alaska Term Facility accrues at a fixed rate of 4.0% and is payable commencing on March 31, 2023. Scheduled quarterly payments of principal commenced on March 31, 2023. The Alaska Term Facility matures on June 30, 2024. The Alaska Term Facility contains events of default customary for facilities of this type. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $6.0 million outstanding and no available borrowings under the Alaska Term Facility. FirstNet Receivables Credit Facility On March 26, 2020, Commnet Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Commnet Wireless, entered into a receivables credit facility with the Company, Commnet Wireless, and CoBank, ACB (the “Receivables Credit Facility”). The Receivables Credit Facility provides for a senior secured delayed draw term loan in an aggregate principal amount of up to $75.0 million and the proceeds may be used to acquire certain receivables from Commnet Wireless. The receivables to be financed and sold under the Receivables Credit Facility, which provide the loan security, relate to the obligations of AT&T under the FirstNet Agreement. On December 19, 2023, CoBank amended the Receivables Credit Facility and extended the delayed draw period to December 31, 2024. The maturity date for each loan will be set by CoBank and will match the weighted average maturity of the certain receivables financed. Interest on the loans accrue at a fixed annual interest rate to be quoted by CoBank. The Receivables Credit Facility contains customary events of termination, representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for facilities of this type. As of December 31, 2023, Commnet Wireless had $46.5 million outstanding, of which $7.1 million was current, and $15.0 million of availability under the Receivables Credit Facility. Commnet Wireless capitalized $0.8 million in fees associated with the Receivables Credit Facility which are being amortized over the life of the debt and $0.5 million were unamortized as of December 31, 2023. GTT Credit Facilities On October 12, 2022, GTT received approval from Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited for a $2.9 million term facility and a $5.7 million overdraft facility (the “GTT Credit Facilities”) subject to the approval from the Minister of Finance at the Bank of Guyana, which was received on March 31, 2023. The GTT Credit Facilities are secured by real estate assets and carry a fixed interest rate of 7.5% which will be reviewed by the bank from time to time and subject to change at the bank’s discretion. The term facility is repayable over five years in equal monthly installments of principal and interest, commencing one month after funds are advanced. The overdraft facility will expire on October 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, $4.5 million was outstanding under the overdraft facility and there were no outstanding amounts under the term facility. Sacred Wind Term Debt In connection with the Sacred Wind acquisition completed on November 7, 2022, the Company assumed $31.6 million of term debt (the “Sacred Wind Term Debt”) with the United States of America acting through the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”). The loan agreements are dated as of October 23, 2006 and March 17, 2016. RUS provides financial assistance in the form of loans under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to furnish or improve telecommunications and/or broadband services in rural areas. The Sacred Wind Term Debt is secured by substantially all assets of Sacred Wind and an underlying mortgage to the United States of America. These mortgage notes are to be repaid in equal monthly installments covering principal and interest beginning after date of issue and expiring by 2035. The Sacred Wind Term Debt contains certain restrictions on the declaration or payment of dividends, redemption of capital stock or investment in affiliated companies without the consent by the RUS noteholders. The agreements also contain a financial covenant which Sacred Wind was not in compliance with as of December 31, 2021. Sacred Wind submitted a corrective action plan to comply with the financial covenant as of December 31, 2025. On May 5, 2022, Sacred Wind’s corrective action plan was accepted by the RUS. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with that corrective action plan. As of December 31, 2023, $28.2 million was outstanding under the Sacred Wind Term Debt. Of that amount, $3.4 million was current and $24.8 million was long term. The mortgage notes carry fixed interest rates ranging from 0.88% to 5.0%. Viya Debt The Company, and certain of its subsidiaries, have entered into a $60.0 million loan agreement (the “Viya Debt”) with Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (“RTFC”). The Viya Debt agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants (including limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sale of assets and liens) and a financial covenant that limits the maximum ratio of indebtedness to annual operating cash flow to 3.5 to 1.0 (the “Net Leverage Ratio”). This covenant is tested on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year. Interest is paid quarterly at a fixed rate of 4.0% per annum and principal repayment is not required until maturity on July 1, 2026. Prepayment of the Viya Debt may be subject to a fee under certain circumstances. The debt is secured by certain assets of the Viya subsidiaries and is guaranteed by us. The Company paid a fee of $0.9 million in 2016 to lock the interest rate at 4% per annum over the term of the Viya Debt. The fee was recorded as a reduction to the Viya Debt carrying amount and is being amortized over the life of the loan. As of December 31, 2023, $60.0 million of the Viya Debt remained outstanding and $0.2 million of the rate lock fee was unamortized. On May 5, 2022, RTFC agreed to amend the Net Leverage Ratio to 7.0 to 1.0 through the maturity date of July 1, 2026. The Ratio is tested annually, and the Company was in compliance with the Net Leverage Ratio as of December 31, 2023. One Communications Debt The Company had an outstanding loan from HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited (the “One Communications Debt”) which matured and was repaid in full on December 22, 2022. This loan bore interest at the one-month LIBOR plus a margin ranging between 2.5% to 2.75% per annum paid quarterly. Debt Maturity The table below summarizes the annual maturities of the Company’s debt instruments (amounts in thousands).
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​ | US | ​ | International | ​ | Corporate and | ​ | Total | Receivable
​ | Telecom | ​ | Telecom | ​ | Other | ​ | Debt | Credit Facility
2024 | $ | 16,538 | ​ | $ | 4,502 | ​ | $ | 3,250 | ​ | $ | 24,290 | $ | 7,110
2025 | ​ | 14,969 | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | 4,875 | ​ | ​ | 19,844 | ​ | 7,428
2026 | ​ | 248,469 | ​ | ​ | 60,000 | ​ | ​ | 8,125 | ​ | ​ | 316,594 | ​ | 7,761
2027 | ​ | 3,723 | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | 9,750 | ​ | ​ | 13,473 | ​ | 8,111
2028 | ​ | 3,858 | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | 136,807 | ​ | ​ | 140,665 | ​ | 8,478
Thereafter | ​ | 10,191 | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | — | ​ | ​ | 10,191 | ​ | 7,650
Total | ​ | 297,748 | ​ | ​ | 64,502 | ​ | ​ | 162,807 | ​ | ​ | 525,057 | ​ | 46,538
Debt Discounts | ​ | (4,142) | ​ | ​ | (247) | ​ | ​ | (3,798) | ​ | ​ | (8,187) | ​ | (485)
Book Value | $ | 293,606 | ​ | $ | 64,255 | ​ | $ | 159,009 | ​ | $ | 516,870 | $ | 46,053
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