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Bank Note Payable, Term Loans Payable and Senior Notes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Bank Note Payable, Term Note Payable and Private Placements  
Bank Note Payable, Term Note Payable and Private Placements

4.   Bank Note Payable, Term Note Payable and Private Placements

JPM Term Loan

On August 2, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender (“JPMorgan”), and the other lending institutions party thereto (the “JPM Credit Agreement”), which provides a single unsecured bridge loan in the aggregate principal amount of $150 million (the “JPM Term Loan”). On December 24, 2020 the Company repaid a $50 million portion of the JPM Term Loan with a portion of the proceeds from the December 23, 2020 sale of its Durham, North Carolina property, and $100 million remained fully advanced and outstanding under the JPM Term Loan. On June 4, 2021, the Company repaid the remaining $100 million outstanding on the loan, which had been scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021, and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs.

Although the interest rate on the JPM Term Loan was variable under the JPM Credit Agreement, the Company fixed the LIBOR-based rate on a portion of the JPM Term Loan by entering into interest rate swap transactions. On March 7, 2019, the Company entered into ISDA Master Agreements with various financial institutions to hedge a $100 million portion of the future LIBOR-based rate risk under the JPM Credit Agreement. Effective March 29, 2019, the Company fixed the LIBOR-based rate at 2.44% per annum on a $100 million portion of the JPM Term Loan until November 30, 2021. On June 4, 2021, the Company paid approximately $1.2 million to terminate the interest rate swap, which was scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021.

BMO Term Loan

On September 27, 2018, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with the lending institutions party thereto and Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (the “BMO Credit Agreement”). Subsequent to December 31, 2022, on February 10, 2023, the BMO Credit Agreement was amended. See Note 11 in these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosure regarding the amendment. Unless otherwise indicated, all of the information in this description of the BMO Term Loan is as of December 31, 2022. The BMO Credit Agreement provides for a single, unsecured term loan borrowing in the initial amount of $220 million (the “BMO Term Loan”), of which $165 million remained fully advanced and outstanding as of December 31, 2022. The BMO Term Loan initially consisted of a $55 million tranche A term loan and a $165 million tranche B term loan. On June 4, 2021, the Company repaid the tranche A term loan that was scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021, and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs. The repayment was made with a portion of the proceeds from the May 27, 2021 sales of three properties located in Atlanta, Georgia. The $165 million tranche B term loan matures on January 31, 2024. The BMO Credit Agreement also includes an accordion feature that allows up to $100 million of additional loans, subject to receipt of lender commitments and satisfaction of certain customary conditions.

As of December 31, 2022, the BMO Term Loan bears interest at either (i) a number of basis points over LIBOR depending on the Company’s credit rating (165 basis points over LIBOR at December 31, 2022) or (ii) a number of basis points over the base rate depending on the Company’s credit rating (65 basis points over the base rate at December 31, 2022). The margin over LIBOR rate or base rate is determined based on the Company’s credit rating pursuant to the following grid:

Credit

LIBOR Rate

Base Rate

Level

    

Rating

    

Margin

    

Margin

 

I

A-

/

A3

(or higher)

85.0

bps

bps

II

BBB+

/

Baa1

90.0

bps

bps

III

BBB

/

Baa2

100.0

bps

bps

IV

BBB-

/

Baa3

125.0

bps

25.0

bps

V

<BBB-

/

Baa3

165.0

bps

65.0

bps

For purposes of the BMO Term Loan, base rate means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the bank’s prime rate for such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%, and (iii) the one month LIBOR based rate for such day plus 1.00%. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service was Ba1.

Although the interest rate on the BMO Term Loan is variable under the BMO Credit Agreement, the Company fixed the base LIBOR interest rate by entering into interest rate swap transactions. On August 26, 2013, the Company entered into an ISDA Master Agreement with Bank of Montreal that fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the BMO Term Loan at 2.32% per annum, which matured on August 26, 2020. On February 20, 2019, the Company entered into ISDA Master Agreements with a group of banks that fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the BMO Term Loan at 2.39% per annum for the period beginning on August 26, 2020 and ending January 31, 2024. Accordingly, based upon the Company’s credit rating, as of December 31, 2022, the effective interest rate on the BMO Term Loan was 4.04% per annum. On June 4, 2021, the Company paid approximately $0.6 million to terminate the portion of the interest rate swap on the tranche A term loan, which was scheduled to mature on November 30, 2021.

The BMO Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, changes in business, certain restricted payments, the requirement to have subsidiaries provide a guaranty in the event that they incur recourse indebtedness and transactions with affiliates. The BMO Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum tangible net worth, a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum secured leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a maximum unencumbered leverage ratio, and minimum unsecured interest coverage. The BMO Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default with corresponding grace periods, including failure to pay any principal or interest when due, certain cross defaults and a change in control of the Company (as defined in the BMO Credit Agreement). In the event of a default by the Company, the administrative agent may, and at the request of the requisite number of lenders shall, declare all obligations under the BMO Credit Agreement immediately due and payable, terminate the lenders’ commitments to make loans under the BMO Credit Agreement, and enforce any and all rights of the lenders or administrative agent under the BMO Credit Agreement and related documents. For certain events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency, and receivership, the commitments of lenders will be automatically terminated and all outstanding obligations of the Company will become immediately due and payable. The Company was in compliance with the BMO Term Loan financial covenants as of December 31, 2022.

BofA Revolver

On January 10, 2022, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “BofA Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, a letter of credit issuer and a lender (“BofA”), and the other lending institutions party thereto, for a new revolving line of credit for borrowings, at the Company’s election, of up to $217.5 (the “BofA Revolver”). On February 10, 2022, the Company increased its BofA Revolver availability by $20.0 million to $237.5 million as part of the accordion feature that is available to increase borrowing capacity. Borrowings made under the BofA Revolver may be revolving loans or letters of credit, the combined sum of which may not exceed $237.5 million outstanding at any time. Subsequent to December 31, 2022, on February 10, 2023, the BofA Credit Agreement was amended. See Note 11 in these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosure regarding the amendment. Unless otherwise indicated, all of the information in this description of the BofA Revolver is as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, there were borrowings of $48.0 million drawn and outstanding under the BofA Revolver. Borrowings made pursuant to the BofA Revolver may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time to time until the maturity date on January 12, 2024. The Company has the right to request an extension of the maturity date, subject to acceptance by the lenders and satisfaction of certain other customary conditions. The BofA Revolver includes an accordion feature that allows the Company to request an increase in borrowing capacity to an amount not exceeding $750 million in the aggregate, subject to receipt of lender commitments and satisfaction of certain customary conditions.

As of December 31, 2022, borrowings under the BofA Revolver bear interest at a margin over either (i) the daily simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus an adjustment of 0.11448%, or (ii) one, three or six month term SOFR, plus a corresponding adjustment of 0.11448%, 0.26161% or 0.42826%, respectively. In addition, under certain circumstances, such as if SOFR is not able to be determined, the BofA Revolver will instead bear interest at a margin over a specified base rate. The margin over SOFR or, if applicable, the base rate varies depending on the Company’s

leverage ratio (1.750% over SOFR and 0.750% over the base rate at December 31, 2022). The Company is also obligated to pay an annual facility fee and, if applicable, letter of credit fees in amounts that are also based on the Company’s leverage ratio. The facility fee is assessed against the aggregate amount of lender commitments regardless of usage (0.350% at December 31, 2022). The actual amount of the facility fee, any letter of credit fees, and the margin over SOFR or the base rate is determined based on the per annum percentages in the following grids:

Level

Leverage Ratio

Daily SOFR Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans and Letter of Credit Fees

Facility Fee

Base Rate Loans

I

< 35.00%

1.550%

0.300%

0.550%

II

35.00% -

< 40.00%

1.650%

0.300%

0.650%

III

40.00% -

< 45.00%

1.750%

0.350%

0.750%

IV

45.00% -

< 50.00%

1.950%

0.350%

0.950%

V

50.00% -

< 55.00%

2.150%

0.350%

1.150%

VI

55.00%

2.350%

0.400%

1.350%

In the event that the Company is assigned an investment grade credit rating, the Company has a one-time right to elect to convert to a different, credit-based pricing grid with the following per annum percentages:

Level

Credit Rating

Daily SOFR Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans and Letter of Credit Fees

Facility Fee

Base Rate Loans

I

A-/A3 (or higher)

0.725%

0.125%

0.000%

II

BBB+/Baa1

0.775%

0.150%

0.000%

III

BBB/Baa2

0.850%

0.200%

0.000%

IV

BBB-/Baa3

1.050%

0.250%

0.050%

V

<BBB-/Baa3

1.400%

0.300%

0.400%

Base rate means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the administrative agent as its “prime rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% (0.50%), (iii) term SOFR for one month plus 1.00% and (iv) 1.00%. If the base rate is being used because SOFR is not able to be determined, base rate is the greater of clauses (i), (ii) and (iv).

Based upon the Company’s credit rating, as of December 31, 2022, the interest rate on the BofA Revolver was 6.22% per annum. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the BofA Revolver through December 31, 2022 was approximately 2.52% per annum.

The BofA Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, changes in business, certain restricted payments, the requirement to have subsidiaries provide a guaranty in the event that they incur recourse indebtedness and transactions with affiliates. The BofA Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum tangible net worth, a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum

secured leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a maximum unencumbered leverage ratio and a minimum unsecured interest coverage ratio. The BofA Credit Agreement also restricts the Company’s ability to make dividend distributions that exceed of 95% of the Company’s good faith estimate of projected funds from operations for the applicable fiscal year; provided, however, that notwithstanding such restriction, the Company is permitted to make dividend distributions based on the Company’s good faith estimate of projected or estimated taxable income or otherwise as necessary to retain the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust, to meet the distribution requirements of Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code or to eliminate any income or excise taxes to which the Company would otherwise be subject. The Company was in compliance with the BofA Revolver financial covenants as of December 31, 2022.

The BofA Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default with corresponding grace periods, including failure to pay any principal or interest when due, failure to comply with the provisions of the BofA Credit Agreement, certain cross defaults and a change in control of the Company (as defined in the BofA Credit Agreement). In the event of a default by the Company, BofA, in its capacity as administrative agent, may, and at the request of the requisite number of lenders shall, declare all obligations under the BofA Credit Agreement immediately due and payable and enforce any and all rights of the lenders or BofA under the BofA Credit Agreement and related documents. For certain events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency, and receivership, all outstanding obligations of the Company will become immediately due and payable.

The Company may use the net proceeds of the BofA Revolver to finance the acquisition of real properties and for other permitted investments; to finance investments associated with Sponsored REITs, to refinance or retire indebtedness and for working capital and other general business purposes, in each case to the extent permitted under the BofA Credit Agreement.

Former BofA Credit Facility

On July 21, 2016, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “BofA First Amendment”), and on October 18, 2017, the Company entered into a Second Amendment (the “BofA Second Amendment”), to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 29, 2014 among the Company, the lending institutions party thereto and BofA, as administrative agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender (as amended by the BofA First Amendment and the BofA Second Amendment, the “Former BofA Credit Facility”) that continued an existing unsecured revolving line of credit (the “Former BofA Revolver”) and an existing term loan (the “Former BofA Term Loan”). Effective simultaneously with the closing of the BofA Credit Agreement on January 10, 2022, the Company delivered a notice to BofA terminating the aggregate lender commitments under the Former BofA Revolver in their entirety.

For purposes of the Former BofA Credit Facility, base rate meant, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of: (i) the bank’s prime rate for such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%, and (iii) the one month LIBOR based rate for such day plus 1.00%. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service was Ba1.

As of December 31, 2021, and during 2022, there were no borrowings under the Former BofA Revolver. The weighted average interest rate on all amounts outstanding on the Former BofA Revolver during the year ended December 31, 2021 was approximately 1.33% per annum.

Former BofA Term Loan Highlights

The Former BofA Term Loan was repaid in its entirety on September 6, 2022.
The original principal amount of the BofA Term Loan was $400 million. On September 30, 2021, the Company repaid a $90 million portion and on October 25, 2021, the Company repaid a $200 million portion of the Former BofA Term Loan and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.7 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs. On September 6, 2022, the Company prepaid the remaining $110 million balance of the Former BofA Term Loan in full and incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million related to unamortized deferred financing costs. As of December 31, 2022, there was no balance outstanding under the Former BofA Term Loan.
If the Company had not prepaid the Former BofA Term Loan on September 6, 2022, the Former BofA Term Loan would have matured by its own terms on January 12, 2023.

The Former BofA Term Loan bore interest at either (i) a margin over LIBOR depending on the Company’s credit rating (1.75% over LIBOR at the date of repayment on September 6, 2022) or (ii) a margin over the base rate depending on the Company’s credit rating (0.75% over the base rate at the date of repayment on September 6, 2022).

The interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan was variable through the date of prepayment on September 6, 2022. Previously the Company had fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan by entering into interest rate swap transactions. On July 22, 2016, the Company entered into ISDA Master Agreements with a group of banks that fixed the base LIBOR interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan at 1.12% per annum for the period beginning on September 27, 2017 and ended on September 27, 2021. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the Former BofA Term Loan through the date of repayment on September 6, 2022, was approximately 2.65% per annum. Based upon the Company’s credit rating, as of December 31, 2021, the interest rate on the Former BofA Term Loan was 1.84% per annum. The weighted average variable interest rate on all amounts outstanding under the Former BofA Term Loan after the expiration of the interest rate swaps, on September 27, 2021, during the period from September 28 through December 31, 2021, was approximately 1.85% per annum.

Senior Notes

On October 24, 2017, the Company entered into a note purchase agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with the various purchasers named therein (the “Purchasers”) in connection with a private placement of senior unsecured notes. Under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to sell to the Purchasers an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 of senior unsecured notes consisting of (i) Series A Senior Notes due December 20, 2024 in an aggregate principal amount of $116 million (the “Series A Notes”) and (ii) Series B Senior Notes due December 20, 2027 in an aggregate principal amount of $84 million (the “Series B Notes,” and, together with the Series A Notes, the “Senior Notes”). On December 20, 2017, the Senior Notes were funded and the proceeds were used to reduce the outstanding balance of the Former BofA Revolver.

The Senior Notes bear interest depending on the Company’s credit rating. As of December 31, 2021, the Series A Notes bear interest at 4.49% per annum and the Series B Notes bear interest at 4.76% per annum.

The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary financial covenants, including a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum secured leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, and a maximum unencumbered leverage ratio. The Note Purchase Agreement also contains restrictive covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enter into transactions with affiliates, merge, consolidate, create liens, make certain restricted payments, enter into certain agreements or prepay certain indebtedness. Such financial and restrictive covenants are substantially similar to the corresponding covenants contained in the BofA Credit Agreement and the BMO Credit Agreement. The Senior Notes financial covenants require, among other things, the maintenance of a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.50; a maximum leverage ratio and an unsecured leverage ratio of no more than 60% (65% if there were a significant acquisition for a short period of time). In addition, the Note Purchase Agreement provides that the Note Purchase Agreement will automatically incorporate additional financial and other specified covenants (such as limitations on investments and distributions) that are effective from time to time under the existing credit agreements, other material indebtedness or certain other private placements of debt of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary events of default, including payment defaults, cross defaults with certain other indebtedness, breaches of covenants and bankruptcy events. In the case of an event of default, the Purchasers may, among other remedies, accelerate the payment of all obligations. The Company was in compliance with the Senior Notes financial covenants as of December 31, 2021.