Long-Term Debt | Note 6. Long ‑Term Debt Long-term debt on September 30, 2015, consisted of $1.15 billion face value of 6.125% senior notes (the “6.125% Notes,” consisting of $850 million in Original 6.125% Notes and $300 million in Additional 6.125% Notes (defined below), which were issued at a premium to face value of approximately $2.3 million) maturing on January 15, 2023, and $600 million principal amount of 7.75% senior notes (the “7.75% Notes,” consisting of $400 million in Original 7.75% Notes (defined below) and $200 million in Additional 7.75% Notes (defined below), which were issued at a discount to face value of approximately $7.0 million), maturing on June 15, 2021. As of September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company’s long ‑term debt consisted of the following: Amount Outstanding (in thousands) as of September 30, December 31, Interest Rate Maturity date 2015 2014 Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Variable June 30, 2019 $ — $ — 7.75% Notes 7.75% June 15, 2021 6.125% Notes 6.125% January 15, 2023 Unamortized discount on Additional 7.75% Notes Unamortized premium on Additional 6.125% Notes Total long-term debt $ $ The components of interest expense are (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2015 2014 2015 2014 Interest on Senior Notes $ $ $ $ Interest expense and commitment fees on credit agreement Amortization of debt issuance costs Amortization of discount on Additional 7.75% Notes Amortization of premium on Additional 6.125% Notes Total interest expense $ $ $ $ Credit Facility Previous Credit Agreement: On May 31, 2013, we and our subsidiaries, SEP Holdings III, LLC (“SEP III”), SN Marquis LLC (“SN Marquis”) and SN Cotulla Assets, LLC (“SN Cotulla”), collectively, as the borrowers, entered into a revolving credit facility represented by a $500 million Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Royal Bank of Canada as the administrative agent, Capital One, National Association as the syndication agent and RBC Capital Markets as sole lead arranger and sole book runner and each of the other lenders party thereto (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was to mature on May 31, 2018. On May 12, 2014, the Company borrowed $100 million under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Company used proceeds from the issuance of the Original 6.125% Notes to repay the $100 million outstanding. Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement : On June 30, 2014, the Company, each of SEP III, SN Marquis, SN Cotulla, SN Operating LLC (“SN Operating”), SN TMS, LLC (“SN TMS”), and SN Catarina, LLC (“SN Catarina” and together with SEP III, SN Marquis, SN Cotulla, SN Operating and SN TMS, collectively, the “Guarantors” and the Guarantors and the Company collectively, the “Loan Parties”), entered into a revolving credit facility represented by a $1.5 billion Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Royal Bank of Canada as the administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), Capital One, National Association as the syndication agent, Compass Bank and SunTrust Bank as documentation agents, RBC Capital Markets as sole lead arranger and sole book runner and the lenders party thereto (the “Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”). The Company has elected an aggregate elected commitment amount under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $300 million. Additionally, the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit, limited to an aggregate amount of the lesser of $80 million and the total availability thereunder. As of September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings and no letters of credit outstanding under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Availability under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is at all times subject to customary conditions and the then applicable borrowing base and aggregate elected commitment amount. The borrowing base under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was set at $362.5 million upon issuance of the Additional 6.125% Notes and was increased to $650 million in connection with the October 1, 2014 redetermination. However, the Company’s aggregate elected commitment amount remained $300 million and the Company retained the ability to increase the aggregate elected commitment up to the $650 million approved borrowing base upon written notice from the Company and compliance with certain conditions, including the consent of any lender whose elected commitment is increased. On March 31, 2015, pursuant to an amendment of the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the borrowing base under such agreement was changed to $550 million, with the aggregate elected commitment amount of $300 million remaining unchanged. The borrowing base was reduced as a result of several factors that included the decrease in reserve value from the decline in commodity prices along with the reduction in reserves in connection with the Palmetto disposition discussed above partially offset by underlying new reserve growth through drilling. All of the aggregate elected commitment was available for future revolver borrowings as of September 30, 2015. The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement matures on June 30, 2019. The borrowing base under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement can be subsequently re-determined up or down by the lenders based on, among other things, their evaluation of the Company’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ oil and natural gas reserves. Redeterminations of the borrowing base are scheduled to occur semi-annually on or before April 1 and October 1 of each year. The borrowing base is also subject to (i) automatic reduction by 25% of the amount of any increase in the Company’s high yield debt, (ii) interim redetermination at the election of the Company once between each scheduled redetermination, (iii) interim redetermination at the election of the administrative agent at the direction of a majority of the credit exposures or, if none, the elected commitments of the lenders once between each scheduled re-determination and (iv) if the required lenders so direct in connection with asset sales and swap terminations involving more than 10% of the value of the proved developed oil and gas properties included in the most recent reserve report, reduction in an amount equal to the borrowing base value, as determined by the administrative agent in its reasonable judgment, of the assets so sold and swaps so terminated. The Company’s obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of its existing and future subsidiaries not designated as “unrestricted subsidiaries,” including a first priority lien on all ownership interests in existing and future subsidiaries not designated as “unrestricted subsidiaries.” The obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by all of the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries not designated as ‘‘unrestricted subsidiaries.’’ At the Company’s election, borrowings under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement may be made on an alternate base rate or an adjusted eurodollar rate basis, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin varies from 0.50% to 1.50% for alternate base rate borrowings and from 1.50% to 2.50% for eurodollar borrowings, depending on the utilization of the borrowing base. Furthermore, the Company is also required to pay a commitment fee on the unused committed amount at a rate varying from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum, depending on the utilization of the elected commitment. The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants and events of default that limit the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur indebtedness, make restricted payments, grant liens, consolidate or merge, dispose of certain assets, make certain investments, engage in transactions with affiliates, hedge transactions and make certain acquisitions. The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also provides for cross default between the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the other debt (including debt under the 6.125% Notes and the 7.75% Notes) and obligations in respect of hedging agreements (on a mark-to-market basis), of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $10 million. Furthermore, the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require the Company to satisfy the following tests: (i) current assets plus undrawn borrowing capacity on the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to current liabilities of at least 1.0 to 1.0 at all times, and (ii) senior secured debt to consolidated last twelve months (“LTM”) EBITDA of not greater than 2.25 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter On July 20, 2015, the Company, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the other agents and lenders party thereto entered into the Third Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Third Amendment”) which amended the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among other things, to (a) permit one or more of the Loan Parties to (i) make direct and indirect investments of up to $10 million in an unrestricted subsidiary in connection with a joint venture to develop a midstream facility and (ii) enter into and perform certain commercial and financial support agreements with such joint venture and the other party to such joint venture on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (b) permits the Loan Parties to (i) acquire an undivided interest in a midstream facility, (ii) make up to $80 million of direct and indirect investments in an unrestricted subsidiary in connection with a joint venture to develop, own and operate midstream assets to be entered into by such unrestricted subsidiary, (iii) enter into and perform midstream services agreements with the other party to such joint venture on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (iv) enter into and perform financial support agreements with such joint venture and the other party to such joint venture on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (v) if the Loan Party that acquires such undivided interest in a midstream facility so elects, exchange such undivided interest in whole or in part for equity interests in such joint venture in an amount equal to the lesser of (X) 2% of the equity interests in such joint venture and (Y) equity interests having a value no greater than $5 million, as determined by the Company in good faith at such time and (vi) retain and grant security interests over any such equity interests so acquired, (c) permits the Loan Parties to (i) dispose of certain midstream assets to an unrestricted subsidiary, (ii) dispose of such midstream assets or equity interests in such unrestricted subsidiary in exchange for consideration, up to 25% by value of which may include equity interests in the transferee and payment-in-kind notes issued by the transferee or, if equity interests in such transferee are not publicly traded, its parent entity that has issued publicly traded equity interests, (iii) retain such equity interests and payment-in-kind notes, (iv) retain joint and several liability in connection with such midstream assets to the extent required under the terms of the lease under which they were acquired and (v) enter into midstream services agreements with such transferee on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (d) eliminate the covenant requiring that the Borrower maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated net interest expense of not less than 2.25 to 1.0, (e) adjust the limits on the Loan Parties entering into swap agreements relative to expected production from proved developed producing reserves and total proved reserves and permit the Loan Parties, within stated limits, to enter into swap agreements in connection with the contemplated acquisition of proved developed producing reserves and total proved reserves and (f) provide for other technical amendments. On September 29, 2015, the Company, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the other agents and lenders party thereto entered into the Fourth Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”) which amended the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among other things, to (a) permit one or more lenders in addition to Royal Bank of Canada to act as issuing bank upon agreement with such lenders, (b) increase the letter of credit sublimit to $80 million, (c) permit the Loan Parties to enter into and perform certain commercial and financial support agreements in connection with one of the joint ventures to develop a midstream facility permitted by the Third Amendment, (d) substitute references to Catarina Midstream, LLC (“Catarina Midstream”) in place of references to the “DW Midstream Unrestricted Subsidiary” and update the organizational chart and subsidiary list in the schedules to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to reflect Catarina Midstream’s existence and status as an unrestricted subsidiary until such time as it is disposed of in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, (e) permit the disposition of units in SPP by a Loan Party to Catarina Midstream, (f) permit certain repurchases of equity interests in the Company by the Loan Parties and (g) provide for other technical amendments, clarifications and corrections. Subsequent to quarter end, on October 30, 2015, the Company, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the other agents and lenders party thereto entered into the Fifth Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”) to modify certain representations, covenants, exhibits and schedules and to waive any existing breaches of, and any resulting defaults or events of default with respect to certain covenants of the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, all as further discussed in Note 18, “Subsequent Events.” From time to time, the agents, arrangers, book runners and lenders under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and their affiliates have provided, and may provide in the future, investment banking, commercial lending, hedging and financial advisory services to the Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. As of September 30, 2015, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. 7.75% Senior Notes Due 2021 On June 13, 2013, we completed a private offering of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.75% senior notes that will mature on June 15, 2021 (the “Original 7.75% Notes”). Interest is payable on each June 15 and December 15. We received net proceeds from this offering of approximately $388 million, after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and offering expenses, which we used to repay outstanding indebtedness under our credit facilities. The Original 7.75% Notes are senior unsecured obligations and are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by, with certain exceptions, substantially all of our existing and future subsidiaries. On September 18, 2013, we issued an additional $200 million in aggregate principal amount of our 7.75% senior notes due 2021 (the “Additional 7.75% Notes” and, together with the Original 7.75% Notes, the 7.75% Notes) in a private offering at an issue price of 96.5% of the principal amount of the Additional 7.75% Notes. We received net proceeds of approximately $188.8 million (after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and offering expenses of $4.2 million) from the sale of the Additional 7.75% Notes. The Company also received cash for accrued interest from June 13, 2013 through the date of issuance of $4.1 million, for total net proceeds of $192.9 million from the sale of the Additional 7.75% Notes. The Additional 7.75% Notes were issued under the same indenture as the Original 7.75% Notes, and are therefore treated as a single class of debt securities under the indenture. We used the net proceeds from the offering to partially fund the Wycross acquisition completed in October 2013, a portion of the 2013 and 2014 capital budgets and for general corporate purposes. The 7.75% Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The 7.75% Notes rank senior in right of payment to our future subordinated indebtedness. The 7.75% Notes are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future secured debt (including under our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The 7.75% Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (except for customary release provisions) on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by the subsidiary guarantors party to the indenture governing the 7.75% Notes. To the extent set forth in the indenture governing the 7.75% Notes, certain of our subsidiaries will be required to fully and unconditionally guarantee the 7.75% Notes on a joint and several senior unsecured basis in the future. The indenture governing the 7.75% Notes, among other things, restricts our ability and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to: (i) incur, assume, or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue certain types of equity securities; (ii) pay distributions on, purchase or redeem subordinated debt; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (v) create or incur liens on their assets; (vi) sell assets; (vii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets; (vii) restrict distributions or other payments from the Company’s restricted subsidiaries; and (ix) designate subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. We have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 7.75% Notes at any time on or after June 15, 2017 at the applicable redemption prices specified in the indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may also redeem the 7.75% Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus a make whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date, at any time prior to June 15, 2017. In addition, we may redeem up to 35% of the 7.75% Notes prior to June 15, 2016 under certain circumstances with an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings at the redemption price specified in the indenture. We may also be required to repurchase the 7.75% Notes upon a change of control or if we sell certain of our assets. On July 18, 2014, we completed an exchange offer of $600 million aggregate principal amount of the 7.75% Notes that had been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for an equal amount of the 7.75% Notes that had not been registered under the Securities Act. 6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023 On June 27, 2014, the Company completed a private offering of the Original 6.125% Notes. Interest is payable on each July 15 and January 15. The Company received net proceeds from this offering of approximately $829 million, after deducting initial purchasers’ discounts and offering expenses, which the Company used to repay all of the $100 million in borrowings outstanding under its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and to finance a portion of the purchase price of the Catarina acquisition. We used the remaining proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the remaining 2014 capital budget and for general corporate purposes. The Original 6.125% Notes are the senior unsecured obligations of the Company and are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by, with certain exceptions, substantially all of the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries. On September 12, 2014, we issued an additional $300 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6.125% senior notes due 2023 (the “Additional 6.125% Notes” and, together with the Original 6.125% Notes, the 6.125% Notes and, together with the 7.75% Notes, the “Senior Notes”) in a private offering at an issue price of 100.75% of the principal amount of the Additional 6.125% Notes. We received net proceeds of $295.9 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts, adding premiums to face value of $2.3 million and deducting offering expenses of $6.4 million. The Company also received cash for accrued interest from June 27, 2014 through the date of the issuance of $3.8 million, for total net proceeds of $299.7 million from the sale of the Additional 6.125% Notes. The Additional 6.125% Notes were issued under the same indenture as the Original 6.125% Notes, and are therefore treated as a single class of securities under the indenture. We used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the 2014 capital budget and intend to use the remainder of the net proceeds to fund a portion of the 2015 capital budget, and for general corporate purposes. The 6.125% Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The 6.125% Notes rank senior in right of payment to our future subordinated indebtedness. The 6.125% Notes are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future secured debt (including under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The 6.125% Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (except for customary release provisions) on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by the subsidiary guarantors party to the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes. To the extent set forth in the indenture governing the 6.125% Notes, certain of our subsidiaries will be required to fully and unconditionally guarantee the 6.125% Notes on a joint and several senior unsecured basis in the future. The indenture governing the 6.125% Notes, among other things, restricts our ability and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to: (i) incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue certain types of equity securities; (ii) pay distributions on, purchase or redeem shares or purchase or redeem subordinated debt; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (v) create or incur liens on their assets; (vi) sell assets; (vii) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets; (viii) restrict distributions or other payments from the Company’s restricted subsidiaries; and (ix) designate subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. We have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 6.125% Notes, at any time on or after July 15, 2018 at the applicable redemption prices specified in the indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company may also redeem the 6.125% Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus a make whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date, at any time prior to July 15, 2018. In addition, we may redeem up to 35% of the 6.125% Notes prior to July 15, 2017 under certain circumstances with an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings at the redemption price specified in the indenture. We may also be required to repurchase the 6.125% Notes upon a change of control or if we sell certain of our assets. On February 27, 2015, we completed an exchange offer of $1.15 billion aggregate principal amount of the 6.125% Notes that had been registered under the Securities Act for an equal amount of the 6.125% Notes that had not been registered under the Securities Act. |