Debt

Balance Sheet and Income Statement Summary

Debt consists of the following amounts as of (in thousands):



	December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Current portion of Senior Credit Facility—Working Capital Line ^{(1) (2)}	$	29,000	$	22,500
Current portion of Senior Credit Facility—Acquisition Line⁽²⁾	22,287		5,306
Current portion of Note Payable - Pacific Summit Energy	15,501		—
Convertible subordinated notes to affiliate	6,582		—
Total current debt	73,370		27,806
Long-term portion of Senior Credit Facility—Acquisition Line ⁽¹⁾	—		14,592
Subordinated Debt	5,000		—
Convertible subordinated notes to affiliate	—		6,339
Total long-term debt	5,000		20,931
Total debt	$	78,370	$	48,737


(1)	As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had $29.6 million and $21.5 million in letters of credit issued, respectively.


(2)	As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the weighted average interest rate on the current portion of our Senior Credit Facility was 4.93% and 3.90%, respectively.

(3)

On October 5, 2016, RAC issued to the Company an irrevocable commitment to convert the CenStar Note and the Oasis Note into shares of Class B common stock on January 8, 2017 and January 31, 2017, respectively. RAC assigned the CenStar Note and Oasis Note to Retailco on January 4, 2017, and on January 8, 2017 and January 31, 2017, the CenStar Note and Oasis Note were converted into 134,731 and 383,090 shares of Class B common stock, respectively.

Deferred financing costs were $0.4 million and $0.7 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, representing capitalized financing costs in connection with the amendment and restatement of our Senior Credit Facility on July 8, 2015. Of these amounts, $0.4 million and $0.5 million is recorded in other current assets in the combined and consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and zero and $0.2 million is recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, based on the terms of the Senior Credit Facility.

Interest expense consists of the following components for the periods indicated (in thousands):



	Years Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Interest incurred on Senior Credit Facility⁽¹⁾	$	1,730	$	1,144	$	418
Accretion related to Earnouts ⁽²⁾	5,059		—		—
Commitment fees	180		160		144
Letters of credit fees	704		357		385
Amortization of deferred financing costs⁽³⁾	668		412		631
Interest incurred on convertible subordinated notes to affiliate⁽⁴⁾	518		207		—
Interest expense	$	8,859	$	2,280	$	1,578

(1) Includes interest expense attributed to other revolving credit facilities prior to the IPO.

(2) Includes accretion related to the Provider Earnout of $0.1 million and the Major Earnout of $4.9 million for the year ended December 31,

2016.


(3)	Write offs of deferred financing costs included in the above amortization were $0.1 million in connection with the amended and restated Senior Credit Facility on July 8, 2015, $0.3 million upon extinguishment of the Seventh Amended Credit Facility and $0.1 million in connection with the execution of the Seventh Amended Credit Facility for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(4) Includes amortization of the discount on the convertible subordinated notes to affiliates of $0.2 million and less than $0.1 million for the

years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Prior to the IPO - Working Capital Facility

The working capital facility was $150 million in 2012 under the Fifth Amended Credit Agreement and was later amended to $70 million on December 17, 2012 under the Sixth Amended Credit Agreement. On July 31, 2013, and in conjunction with the Seventh Amended Credit Agreement, the working capital facility was increased to $80 million.

The working capital facility was available for use by Spark Energy Ventures and its affiliates to finance the working capital requirements related to the purchase and sale of natural gas, electricity, and other commodity products not related to the retail natural gas and asset optimization and retail electricity businesses of the Company. The working capital facility was drawn upon and repaid on a monthly basis to fund working capital needs. Portions of the borrowings were used to fund equity distributions to the sole member of the Company to fund unrelated operations of an affiliate under the common control of the sole member prior to the IPO. The total amounts outstanding under the facility as of December 31, 2013 and through the IPO date included $29.0 million that was retained and paid off by an affiliate in connection with the IPO.

Further, through the issuance of letters of credit, the Company was able to secure payment to suppliers. No obligation is recorded for such outstanding letters of credit unless they are drawn upon by the suppliers and in the event a supplier draws on a letter of credit, repayment is due by the earlier of demand by the bank or at the expiration of the applicable Credit Agreement. Under the working capital facility, the Company paid a fee with respect to each letter of credit issued and outstanding.

Under the Sixth Amended Credit Agreement, the Company was able to elect to have loans under the working credit facility bear interest either (i) at a Eurodollar-based rate plus a margin ranging from 3.00% to 3.75% depending on the Company’s consolidated funded indebtedness ratio then in effect, or (ii) at a base rate loan plus a margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.75% depending on the Company’s consolidated funded indebtedness ratio then in effect. The Company also paid a nonutilization fee equal to 0.50% per annum.

Under the Seventh Amended Credit Agreement, the Company was able to elect to have loans under the working capital facility bear interest (i) at a Eurodollar-based rate plus a margin ranging from 3.00% to 3.25%, depending on the Spark Energy Ventures’ aggregate amount outstanding then in effect, (ii) at a base rate loan plus a margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.25%, depending on Spark Energy Ventures’ aggregate amount outstanding then in effect or (iii) a cost of funds rate loan plus a margin ranging from 2.50% to 2.75%, depending on Spark Energy Ventures’ aggregate amount outstanding then in effect. Each working capital loan made as a result of a drawing under a letter of credit bears interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date funded at a floating rate per annum equal to the cost of funds rate plus the applicable margin until such loan has been outstanding for more than two business days and, thereafter, bears interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof at a floating rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin, plus 2.00% per annum. The Company also paid a commitment fee equal to 0.50% per annum.

Prior to the IPO - NuDevco Note

NuDevco Retail Holdings transferred Spark HoldCo units to the Company for the $50,000 NuDevco Note, and the limited liability company agreement of Spark HoldCo was amended and restated to admit Spark Energy, Inc. as its sole managing member. This promissory note was repaid in connection with proceeds from the IPO.

Senior Credit Facility Executed at the IPO

Concurrently with the closing of the IPO, the Company entered into a new $70.0 million Senior Credit Facility, which was originally set to mature on August 1, 2016. If no event of default has occurred, the Company has the right, subject to approval by the administrative agent and each issuing bank, to increase the commitments under the Senior Credit Facility up to $120.0 million. The Company borrowed approximately $10.0 million under the Senior Credit Facility at the closing of the IPO to repay in full the outstanding indebtedness under the Seventh Amended Credit Agreement that SEG and SE agreed to be responsible for pursuant to an interborrower agreement between SEG, SE and an affiliate. The remaining $29.0 million of indebtedness outstanding under the Seventh Amended Credit Agreement at the IPO date was paid down by our affiliate with its own funds concurrent with the closing of the IPO pursuant to the terms of the interborrower agreement. Following this repayment, the Seventh Amended Credit Agreement was terminated. The Company had $15.0 million in letters of credit issued under the Senior Credit Facility at inception.

On July 8, 2015, the Company as guarantor, and Spark HoldCo (the “Borrower," and together with the subsidiaries of Spark HoldCo, the “Co-Borrowers”) amended and restated the Senior Credit Facility to include a senior secured revolving working capital facility of $60.0 million ("Working Capital Line") and a secured revolving line of credit of $25.0 million ("Acquisition Line") to be used specifically for the financing of up to 75% of the cost of acquisitions with the remainder to be financed by the Company either through cash on hand, equity contributions or the issuance of subordinated debt and extended the maturity date. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on July 8, 2017. Borrowings under the Acquisition Line will be repaid 25% per year with the remaining 50% due at maturity. The outstanding balances under the Working Capital Line and the Acquisition Line are classified as current debt as of December 31, 2016.

Senior Credit Facility

The Company, as guarantor, and Spark HoldCo (the “Borrower,” and together with Spark Energy, LLC, Spark Energy Gas, LLC, CenStar Energy Corp, CenStar Operating Company, LLC, Oasis, Oasis Power, LLC, Electricity Maine, LLC, Electricity N.H., LLC, and Provider Power Mass, LLC, each a subsidiary of Spark HoldCo, the “Co-Borrowers”) are party to a senior secured revolving credit facility (“Senior Credit Facility”), which includes a senior secured revolving working capital facility up to $82.5 million ("Working Capital Line") and a secured revolving line of credit of $25.0 million ("Acquisition Line") to be used specifically for the financing of up to 75% of the cost of acquisitions with the remainder to be financed by the Company either through cash on hand or the issuance of subordinated debt or equity.

On June 1, 2016, the Company and the Co-Borrowers entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Senior Credit Facility to, among other things, increase the Working Capital Line from $60.0 million to $82.5 million in accordance with the Co-Borrowers' right to increase under the existing terms of the Senior Credit Facility. Amendment No. 3 also provides for the addition of new lenders and re-allocates working capital and revolving commitments among existing and new lenders. Amendment No. 3 also provides for additional representations of the Co-Borrowers and additional protections of the lenders of the Senior Credit Facility.

On August 1, 2016, the Company and the Co-Borrowers entered into Amendment No. 4 to the Senior Credit Facility to, among other things, amend the provisions under the Acquisition Line to allow for the Provider Companies acquisition. Amendment No. 4 also raises the minimum availability under the Working Capital Line to $40.0 million. In addition, Amendment No. 4 designates Major Energy Companies as "unrestricted subsidiaries" upon the closing of such acquisition on August 23, 2016. Refer to Note 3 "Acquisitions" for further discussion.

On September 30, 2016, the Company and the Co-Borrowers elected to reduce the capacity of the Working Capital Line from $82.5 million to $60.0 million. At year-end, we elected up to the $70.0 million level. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on July 8, 2017. Borrowings under the Acquisition Line will be repaid 25% per year with the remainder due at maturity. The outstanding balances under the Working Capital Line and the Acquisition Line are classified as current debt as of December 31, 2016.

At our election, the interest rate under the Working Capital Line is generally determined by reference to:


•	the Eurodollar-based rate plus an applicable margin of up to 3.00% per annum (based upon the prevailing utilization); or


•	the alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of up to 2.00% per annum (based upon the prevailing utilization). The alternate base rate is equal to the highest of (i) Société Générale's prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum, or (iii) the reference Eurodollar rate plus 1.00%; or


•	the rate quoted by Société Générale as its cost of funds for the requested credit plus up to 2.50% per annum, (based upon the prevailing utilization).

The interest rate is generally reduced by 25 basis points if utilization under the Working Capital Line is below fifty percent.

Borrowings under the Acquisition Line are generally determined by reference to:


•	the Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin of up to 3.75% per annum (based upon the prevailing utilization); or


•	the alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of up to 2.75% per annum (based upon the prevailing utilization). The alternate base rate is equal to the highest of (i) Société Générale's prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum, or (iii) the reference Eurodollar rate plus 1.00%.

The Co-Borrowers pay an annual commitment fee of 0.375% or 0.50% on the unused portion of the Working Capital Line depending upon the unused capacity and 0.50% on the unused portion of the Acquisition Line. The lending syndicate under the Senior Credit Facility is entitled to several additional fees including an upfront fee, annual agency fee, and fronting fees based on a percentage of the face amount of letters of credit payable to any syndicate member that issues a letter a credit.

The Company has the ability to elect the availability under the Working Capital Line between $40.0 million to $82.5 million. On September 30, 2016, the Company and the Co-Borrowers elected to reduce the capacity of the Working Capital Line from $82.5 million to $60.0 million. At year-end, we elected up to the $70 million level. Availability under the working capital line will be subject to borrowing base limitations. The borrowing base is calculated primarily based on 80% to 90% of the value of eligible accounts receivable and unbilled product sales (depending on the credit quality of the counterparties) and inventory and other working capital assets. The Co-Borrowers must generally seek approval of the agent or the lenders for permitted acquisitions to be financed under the Acquisition Line.

The Senior Credit Facility is secured by pledges of the equity of the portion of Spark HoldCo owned by the Company and of the equity of Spark HoldCo’s subsidiaries (excluding the Major Energy Companies) and the Co-Borrowers’ present and future subsidiaries, all of the Co-Borrowers’ and their subsidiaries’ present and future property and assets, including accounts receivable, inventory and liquid investments, and control agreements relating to bank accounts. The Major Energy Companies are excluded from the definition of "Borrowers" under the Senior Credit Facility. Accordingly, we do not factor in their working capital into our working capital covenants.

The Senior Credit Facility also contains covenants that, among other things, require the maintenance of specified ratios or conditions as follows:


•	Minimum Net Working Capital. The Co-Borrowers must maintain minimum consolidated net working capital equal to the greater of $5.0 million or 15% of the elected availability under the Working Capital Line.


•	Minimum Adjusted Tangible Net Worth. The Co-Borrowers must maintain a minimum consolidated adjusted tangible net worth at all times equal to the net cash proceeds from equity issuances occurring after the date of the Senior Credit Facility plus the greater of (i) 20% of aggregate commitments under the Working Capital Line plus 33% of borrowings under the Acquisition Line and (ii) $18.0 million.

•

Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Spark Energy, Inc. must maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00 (1.25 to 1.00 commencing March 31, 2017). The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is defined as the ratio of (a) Adjusted EBITDA to (b) the sum of consolidated interest expense (other than interest paid-in-kind in respect of any Subordinated Debt), letter of credit fees, commitment fees, acquisition earn-out payments, distributions and scheduled amortization payments.


•	Maximum Total Leverage Ratio. Spark Energy, Inc. must maintain a ratio of total indebtedness (excluding the Working Capital Facility and qualifying subordinated debt) to Adjusted EBITDA of a maximum of 2.50 to 1.00.

The Senior Credit Facility contains various negative covenants that limit the Company’s ability to, among other things, do any of the following:


•	incur certain additional indebtedness;


•	grant certain liens;


•	engage in certain asset dispositions;


•	merge or consolidate;


•	make certain payments, distributions, investments, acquisitions or loans; or


•	enter into transactions with affiliates.

Spark Energy, Inc. is entitled to pay cash dividends to the holders of the Class A common stock, and Spark HoldCo will be entitled to make cash distributions to NuDevco Retail and Retailco (or their successor in interest) so long as: (a) no default exists or would result from such a payment; (b) the Co- Borrowers are in pro forma compliance with all financial covenants before and after giving effect to such payment and (c) the outstanding amount of all loans and letters of credit does not exceed the borrowing base limits. Spark HoldCo’s inability to satisfy certain financial covenants or the existence of an event of default, if not cured or waived, under the Senior Credit Facility could prevent the Company from paying dividends to holders of the Class A common stock.

The Senior Credit Facility contains certain customary representations and warranties and events of default. Events of default include, among other things, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults and cross-acceleration to certain indebtedness, change in control in which affiliates of W. Keith Maxwell III own less than 40% of the outstanding voting interests in the Company, certain events of bankruptcy, certain events under ERISA, material judgments in excess of $5.0 million, certain events with respect to material contracts, actual or asserted failure of any guaranty or security document supporting the Senior Credit Facility to be in full force and effect and changes of control. If such an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the facility and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.

In addition, the Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative covenants that are customary for credit facilities of this type. The covenants include delivery of financial statements, including any filings made with the SEC, maintenance of property and insurance, payment of taxes and obligations, material compliance with laws, inspection of property, books and records and audits, use of proceeds, payments to bank blocked accounts, notice of defaults and certain other customary matters.

Convertible Subordinated Notes to Affiliate

In connection with the financing of the CenStar acquisition, the Company, together with Spark HoldCo, issued the CenStar Note to RAC for $2.1 million on July 8, 2015. The CenStar Note matures on July 8, 2020, and bears interest at an annual rate of 5%, payable semiannually. The Company has the right to pay interest in kind at its option. The CenStar Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (and a related unit of Spark HoldCo) at a conversion price of $16.57 per share. RAC may not exercise conversion rights for the first eighteen months after the CenStar Note is issued. The CenStar Note is subject to automatic conversion upon a sale of the Company. The CenStar Note is subordinated in certain respects to the Senior Credit Facility pursuant to a subordination agreement. The Company may pay interest and prepay principal so long as the Company is in compliance with its covenants; is not in default under the Senior Credit Facility and has minimum availability of $5.0 million under its borrowing base under the Senior Credit Facility. Shares of Class A common stock resulting from the conversion of the shares of Class B common stock issued as a result of the conversion right under the CenStar Note will be entitled to registration rights identical to the registration rights currently held by NuDevco Retail and Retailco on shares of Class A common stock it receives upon conversion of its existing shares of Class B common stock. On October 5, 2016, RAC issued to the Company an irrevocable commitment to convert the CenStar Note into 134,731 shares of Class B common stock. RAC assigned the CenStar Note to Retailco on January 4, 2017, and on January 8, 2017, the CenStar Note was converted into 134,731 shares of Class B common stock. Please see Note 17 "Subsequent Events."

In connection with the financing of the Oasis acquisition, the Company, together with Spark HoldCo, issued the Oasis Note to RAC for $5.0 million on July 31, 2015. The Oasis Note matures on July 31, 2020, and bears interest at an annual rate of 5%, payable semiannually. The Company has the right to pay-in-kind any interest at its option. The Oasis Note is convertible into shares of the Company's Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (and a related unit of Spark HoldCo) at a conversion price of $14.00 per share. RAC may not exercise conversion rights for the first eighteen months after the Oasis Note is issued. The Oasis Note is subject to automatic conversion upon a sale of the Company. The Oasis Note is subordinated in certain respects to the Senior Credit Facility pursuant to a subordination agreement. The Company may pay interest and prepay principal so long as the Company is in compliance with its covenants; is not in default under the Senior Credit Facility and has minimum availability of $5.0 million under its borrowing base under the Senior Credit Facility. Shares of Class A common stock resulting from the conversion of the shares of Class B common stock issued as a result of the conversion right under the Oasis Note will be entitled to registration rights identical to the registration rights currently held by NuDevco Retail and Retailco on shares of Class A common stock it receives upon conversion of its existing shares of Class B common stock. On October 5, 2016, RAC issued to the Company an irrevocable commitment to convert the Oasis Note into 383,090 shares of Class B common stock. RAC assigned the Oasis Note to Retailco on January 4, 2017, and on January 31, 2017 the Oasis Note was converted into 383,090 shares of Class B common stock. Please see Note 17 "Subsequent Events."

The conversion rate of $14.00 per share for the Oasis Note was fixed as of the date of the execution of the Oasis acquisition agreement on May 12, 2015. Due to a rise in the price of our common stock from May 12, 2015 to the closing of Oasis acquisition on July 31, 2015, the conversion rate of $14.00 per share was below the market price per share of Class A common stock of $16.21 on the issuance date of the Oasis Note on July 31, 2015. As a result, the Company assessed the Oasis Note for a beneficial conversion feature. Due to this conversion feature being "in-the-money" upon issuance, we recognized a beneficial conversion feature based on its intrinsic value of $0.8 million as a discount to the Oasis Note and as additional paid-in capital. This discount was amortized as interest expense under the effective interest method over the life of the Oasis Note through December 31, 2016.

Subordinated Debt Facility

On December 27, 2016, we and Spark HoldCo jointly issued to Retailco, an entity owned by our Founder, a 5%

subordinated note in the principal amount of up to $25.0 million. The subordinated note allows the Company and

Spark HoldCo to draw advances in increments of no less than $1.0 million per advance up to the maximum principal amount of the subordinated note. The subordinated note matures approximately 3 ½ years following the date of issuance, and advances thereunder accrue interest at 5% per annum from the date of the advance. The Company has the right to capitalize interest payments under the subordinated note. The subordinated note is subordinated in certain respects to the Company's Senior Credit Facility pursuant to a subordination agreement. The Company may pay interest and prepay principal on the subordinated note so long as it is in compliance with its covenants under the Senior Credit Facility, is not in default under the Senior Credit Facility and has minimum availability of $5.0 million under the borrowing base under the Senior Credit Facility. Payment of principal and interest under the subordinated note is accelerated upon the occurrence of certain change of control or sale transactions. As of December 31, 2016, there were $5.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the subordinated note.

Pacific Summit Energy LLC

The Major Energy Companies acquired by the Company are party to three trade credit arrangements with Pacific Summit Energy LLC (“Pacific Summit”), which consist of purchase agreements, operating agreements relating to purchasing terms, security agreements, lockbox agreements and guarantees, providing for the exclusive supply of gas and electricity on credit by Pacific Summit to the Major Energy Companies for resale to end users.

Under these arrangements, when the costs that Pacific Summit has paid to procure and deliver the gas and electricity exceed the payments that the Major Energy Companies have made attributable to the gas and electricity purchased, the Major Energy Companies incur interest on the difference. The operating agreements also allow Pacific Summit to provide credit support. Each form of borrowing incurs interest at the floating 90-day LIBOR rate plus 300 basis points (except for certain credit support guaranties that do not bear interest). In connection with these arrangements, the Major Companies have granted first liens to Pacific Summit on a substantial portion of the Major Companies’ assets, including present and future accounts receivable, inventory, liquid assets, and control agreements relating to bank accounts. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had aggregate outstanding amounts payable under these arrangements of approximately $15.5 million, bearing an interest rate of approximately 4.0%. The Company was also the beneficiary under various credit support guarantees issued by Pacific Summit under these arrangements as of such date. On September 27, 2016, we notified Pacific Summit of our election to trigger the expiration of these arrangements as of March 31, 2017, at the end of the primary term.