Short-term and Long-term Borrowings

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Short-term and Long-term Borrowings

Short-term and Long-term Borrowings

On June 11, 2019, Cal Water completed the sale and issuance of $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds (the bonds) in a private placement. The bonds consist of $100.0 million of 3.40% bonds, series VVV, maturing June 11, 2029; $100.0 million of 4.07% bonds, series WWW, maturing June 11, 2049; and $200.0 million of 4.17% bonds, series YYY, maturing June 11, 2059. Interest on the bonds will accrue semi-annually and be payable in arrears. The bonds will rank equally with all of Cal Water’s other First Mortgage Bonds and will be secured by liens on Cal Water’s properties, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens. Cal Water used the net proceeds from the sale of the bonds to pay down outstanding short-term borrowings and to redeem $300.0 million of bond series UUU. The bonds were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

On March 29, 2019, the Company and Cal Water entered into certain syndicated credit agreements, which provide for unsecured revolving credit facilities of up to an initial aggregate amount of $550.0 million for a term of five years. The revolving credit facilities amend, expand, and replace the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ prior credit facilities originally entered into on May 10, 2015. The new credit facilities extended the terms until March 29, 2024, and increased Cal Water’s unsecured revolving line of credit. The Company and subsidiaries that it designates may borrow up to $150.0 million under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Cal Water may borrow up to $400.0 million under its revolving credit facility. All borrowings must be repaid within 24 months unless a different period is required or authorized by the CPUC. Additionally, the credit facilities may be increased by up to an incremental $150.0 million under the Cal Water facility and $50.0 million under the Company facility, subject in each case to certain conditions. The proceeds from the revolving credit facilities may be used for working capital purposes, including the short-term financing of capital projects. Borrowings under the credit facilities typically have maturities varying between one and six months and will bear interest annually at a rate equal to (i) the base rate or (ii) the Eurodollar rate, plus an applicable margin of 0.650% to 0.875%, depending on the Company and its subsidiaries’ consolidated total capitalization ratio.

Both short-term unsecured credit agreements contain affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for credit facilities of this type including, among other things, limitations and prohibitions relating to additional indebtedness, liens, mergers, and asset sales. Also, these unsecured credit agreements contain financial covenants governing the Company and its subsidiaries’ consolidated total capitalization ratio and interest coverage ratio.

The outstanding borrowings on the Company line of credit were $55.1 million as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. There were $100.0 million and $10.0 million of borrowings on the Cal Water line of credit as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The average borrowing rate for borrowings on the Company and Cal Water lines of credit during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 3.38% compared to 2.88% for the same period last year.