Note 13 - Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

13. Debt

Credit Facilities – At March 31, 2024, we had $2.0 billion of credit available under our revolving credit facility (the Facility), which is designated for general corporate purposes and supports the issuance of commercial paper. Credit facility withdrawals totaled $0 during the three months ended  March 31, 2024. Commitment fees and interest rates payable under the Facility are similar to fees and rates available to comparably rated, investment-grade borrowers. The Facility allows for borrowings at floating rates based on Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), plus a spread, depending upon credit ratings for our senior unsecured debt. The Facility, set to expire May 20, 2027, requires UPC to maintain an adjusted debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) coverage ratio.

The definition of debt used for purposes of calculating the adjusted debt-to-EBITDA coverage ratio includes, among other things, certain credit arrangements, finance leases, guarantees, unfunded and vested pension benefits under Title IV of ERISA, and unamortized debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs. At  March 31, 2024 , the Company was in compliance with the adjusted debt-to-EBITDA coverage ratio, which allows us to carry up to $44.5 billion of debt (as defined in the Facility), and we had $33.7 billion of debt (as defined in the Facility) outstanding at that date. The Facility does not include any other financial restrictions, credit rating triggers (other than rating-dependent pricing), or any other provision that could require us to post collateral. The Facility also includes a $150  million cross-default provision and a change-of-control provision.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we issued $298 million and repaid $0 of commercial paper with maturities ranging from 29 to 57 days, and at March 31, 2024, we had $298 million of commercial paper with a weighted average interest rate of 5.4% outstanding. Our revolving credit facility supports our outstanding commercial paper balances, and, unless we change the terms of our commercial paper program, our aggregate issuance of commercial paper will not exceed the amount of borrowings available under the Facility.

Shelf Registration Statement and Significant New Borrowings – We filed an automatic shelf registration statement with the SEC that became effective on February 13, 2024. The Board of Directors authorized the issuance of up to $9.0 billion of debt securities, replacing the prior Board authorization in February 2022, which had $5.6 billion of authority remaining. Under our shelf registration, we may issue, from time to time, any combination of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or warrants for debt securities or preferred stock in one or more offerings.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we did not issue any debt securities under this registration statement. At March 31, 2024, we had remaining authority from the Board of Directors to issue up to $9.0 billion of debt securities under our shelf registration.

Receivables Securitization Facility – As of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, we recorded $400 million and $0, respectively, of borrowings under our Receivables Facility as secured debt. (See further discussion in the "Receivables Securitization Facility" section of Note 9).