Long-term debt

Credit Agreement

On June 4, 2012, the Company entered into a senior revolving credit agreement, as subsequently amended, (the “Credit Agreement”) with certain financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and an Issuing Lender, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent and PNC Bank, National Association, BMO Harris Bank N.A. and Fifth Third Bank, as Co-Documentation Agents. The Credit Agreement provides for a senior revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $199,000, multicurrency borrowings up to a $50,000 sublimit and swingline loans up to a $10,000 sublimit. The Credit Agreement also includes an incremental loans feature that will allow the Company to increase the senior revolving credit facility by an aggregate principal amount of up to $15,000. This feature is subject to lenders providing incremental commitments for such increase, provided that no default or event of default exists, and the Company being in pro forma compliance with the existing financial covenants, both before and after giving effect to the increase, and subject to other standard conditions. The Credit Agreement is collateralized by a substantial portion of the Company’s operating equipment with a net book value at September 30, 2016 of $132,178.

The Company’s Credit Agreement matures on June 2, 2017 and the Company is in discussions with lenders to finalize a successor credit facility with substantially similar terms as the current Credit Agreement.

On June 24, 2016, the Company entered into the seventh amendment to the Credit Agreement which modified the Credit Agreement to allow for the sale of the vessel known as the Reem Island and provided for the collateral release to effect the sale. The reduction in the collateral pool resulted in a reduction in the size of the Credit Facility, from $210,000 to $199,000. In addition, the net cash proceeds of the sale of the Reem Island, $10,000, were applied to the revolving loans outstanding.

On June 30, 2016 the Company entered into the eighth amendment (the “Eighth Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement which increased the margin applicable to interest rates, letters of credit and commitment fees thereunder. Depending on the Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement and further described below), borrowings under the revolving credit facility will bear interest at the option of the Company at either the LIBOR rate plus a margin between 1.50% and 3.50% or a base rate plus a margin between 0.50% and 2.50%.

In addition, the Eighth Amendment modifies the consolidated total leverage covenant contained in the Credit Agreement and adds a maximum capital expenditures covenant. The Company may not permit the consolidated total leverage ratio to be greater than (i) 5.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2016, (ii) 4.75 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2016 and (iii) 4.50 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter ending thereafter. Further, the Company and its subsidiaries may not allow its aggregate capital expenditures to exceed (i) $105,000 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 and (ii) $45,000 during any fiscal year thereafter.

Last, the Eighth Amendment requires the Company and its subsidiaries party to the Credit Agreement to pledge their respective inventory as security for the revolving credit facility.

The Credit Agreement contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants customary for financings of this type. The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default (including non-payment of principal or interest on any material debt and breaches of covenants) as well as events of default relating to certain actions by the Company’s surety bonding provider. The Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.00.

The obligations of Great Lakes under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis, by each existing and subsequently acquired or formed material direct and indirect domestic subsidiary of the Company. During a year, the Company frequently borrows and repays amounts under its revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had $60,000 of borrowings on the revolver and $68,893 of letters of credit outstanding, resulting in $70,107 of availability under the Credit Agreement. At September 30, 2016, the Company was in compliance with its various financial covenants under the Credit Agreement.

Term loan facility

On November 4, 2014, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility consisting of a term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $50,000 (the “Term Loan Facility”) pursuant to a Loan and Security Agreement, as subsequently amended, (the “Loan Agreement”) by and among the lenders party thereto from time to time and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent. The Company borrowed an aggregate principal amount of $47,360 in 2014 and an additional $2,640 in 2015. The proceeds from the Term Loan Facility will be used for the working capital and general corporate purposes of the Company, including to repay borrowings under the Credit Agreement made to finance the construction of the Company’s dual mode articulated tug/barge trailing suction hopper dredge (the “ATB”).

The Term Loan Facility has a term of 5 years. The borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.655% per annum. If an event of default occurs under the Loan Agreement, the interest rate will increase by 2.00% per annum during the continuance of such event of default.

The Term Loan Facility provides for monthly amortization payments, payable in arrears, which commenced on December 4, 2014, at an annual amount of (i) approximately 10% of the principal amount of the Term Loan Facility during the first two years of the term, (ii) approximately 20% of the principal amount of the Term Loan Facility during the third and fourth years of the term, and (iii) approximately 25% of the principal amount of the Term Loan Facility during the final year of the term, with the remainder due on the maturity date of the facility. In addition, the Company has usual and customary mandatory prepayment provisions and may optionally prepay the Term Loan Facility in whole or in part at any time, subject to a minimum prepayment amount.

The Loan Agreement includes representations, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for financings of this type and includes the same financial covenants that are currently set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Term Loan Facility is collateralized by a portion of the Company’s operating equipment with a net book value at September 30, 2016 of $47,975.

Senior notes

The Company has outstanding $275,000 of 7.375% senior notes due February 2019. There is an optional redemption on all notes. The redemption prices are 103.7% in 2015, 101.8% in 2016 and 100% in any year following, until the notes mature in 2019. Interest is paid semi-annually and principal is due at maturity.

Other

The Company enters into note arrangements to finance certain vessels and ancillary equipment. During the first quarter of 2015, the Company financed the $15,569 acquisition of a vessel previously under an operating lease with a note bearing interest at 5.75% to maturity in 2023. The current portion of all equipment notes is $2,442. The long term portion is $15,275 and is included in notes payable or other long term liabilities.