LONG-TERM DEBT

On June 19, 2018, the Company issued and sold $200,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.00% senior notes due 2044 and $55,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.25% senior notes due 2054. On July 9, 2018, the Company redeemed all $250,200 of the 2020 bonds.

Long-term debt is as follows:



	September 29, 2018			December 30, 2017
5.00% senior unsecured notes due 2044(a)	$	450,000		$	250,000
5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2054(b)	305,000			250,000
Unamortized discount on 5.00% and 5.25% senior unsecured notes (a)(b)	(21,547		)	(4,312		)
6.625% senior unsecured notes due 2020(c)	—			250,200
Unamortized premium on 6.625 senior unsecured notes (c)	—			2,545
Revolving credit agreement (d)	—			—
IDR Bonds(e)	8,500			8,500
Other notes	3,199			4,033
Debt issuance costs	(8,138		)	(6,112		)
Long-term debt	737,014			754,854
Less current installments of long-term debt	829			966
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	$	736,185		$	753,888

(a)

The 5.00% senior unsecured notes due 2044 include an aggregate principal amount of $450,000 on which interest is paid and an unamortized discount balance of $13,992 at September 29, 2018. The notes bear interest at 5.000% per annum and are due on October 1, 2044. The discount is amortized and recognized as interest expense as interest payments are made over the term of the notes. The notes may be repurchased prior to maturity in whole, or in part, at any time at 100% of their principal amount plus a make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest. These notes are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Company.

(9) LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued)

(b)

The 5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2054 include an aggregate principal amount of $305,000 on which interest is paid and an unamortized discount balance of $7,555 at September 29, 2018. The notes bear interest at 5.250% per annum and are due on October 1, 2054. The discount is amortized and recognized as interest expense as interest payments are made over the term of the notes. The notes may be repurchased prior to maturity in whole, or in part, at any time at 100% of their principal amount plus a make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest. These notes are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Company.

(c)

On June 11, 2018, the Company notified the holders of the 2020 bonds of its plan to redeem all of these bonds. On July 9, 2018, the Company redeemed all $250,200 of the 2020 bonds at a make-whole redemption price equal to approximately $266,000 plus approximately $3,600 of accrued and unpaid interest on the notes from April 20, 2018 to July 8, 2018. The Company recognized $14,820 of redemption related expenses, including the recognition of the unamortized premium, in the third quarter of 2018.

(d)

On October 18, 2017, the Company amended and restated its revolving credit facility with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The credit facility provides for $600,000 of committed unsecured revolving credit loans. The Company may increase the credit facility by up to an additional $200,000 at any time, subject to lenders increasing the amount of their commitments. This amendment extends the maturity date of the credit facility from October 17, 2019 to October 18, 2022 and increases the available borrowings in foreign currencies from $200 million to $400 million. The interest rate on the borrowings will be, at the Company's option, either:


(i)	LIBOR (based on a 1, 2, 3 or 6 month interest period, as selected by the Company) plus 100 to 162.5 basis points, depending on the credit rating of the Company's senior debt published by Standard & Poor's Rating Services and Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or;


(ii)	the higher of


•	the prime lending rate,


•	the Federal Funds rate plus 50 basis points, and


•	LIBOR (based on a 1 month interest period) plus 100 basis points,

plus, in each case, 0 to 62.5 basis points, depending on the credit rating of the Company's senior debt published by Standard & Poor's Rating Services and Mood's Investors Service, Inc.

At September 29, 2018, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility has a maturity date of October 18, 2022 and contains certain financial covenants that may limit additional borrowing capability under the agreement. At September 29, 2018, the Company had the ability to borrow $585,350 under this facility, after consideration of standby letters of credit of $14,650 associated with certain insurance obligations. We also maintain certain short-term bank lines of credit totaling $123,613, $120,312 of which was unused at September 29, 2018.


(e)	The Industrial Development Revenue Bonds were issued to finance the construction of a manufacturing facility in Jasper, Tennessee. Variable interest is payable until final maturity on June 1, 2025. The effective interest rates at September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 were 2.96% and 2.00%, respectively.

(9) LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued)

The lending agreements include certain maintenance covenants, including financial leverage and interest coverage. The Company was in compliance with all financial debt covenants at September 29, 2018. The minimum aggregate maturities of long-term debt for 2018 is $242 and each of the five years following 2018 are: $815, $814, $813, $514 and $0.

The obligations arising under the 5.00% senior unsecured notes due 2044, the 5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2054, and the revolving credit facility are guaranteed by the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries PiRod, Inc., Valmont Coatings, Inc., Valmont Newmark, Inc., and Valmont Queensland Pty. Ltd.