Long-Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 consists of the following (in thousands):

	2021
2026 Senior Notes	$	305,000
2028 Senior Notes	500,000
Total Notes	805,000
Less: Deferred issuance costs	(12,960)
Total long-term debt	$	792,040

At December 31, 2021, future principal payments for debt were as follows (in thousands):

	Total
Fiscal year:
2022	$	—
2023	—
2024	—
2025	—
2026	305,000
Thereafter	500,000
	$	805,000

Interest expense was $14.3 million, $75.8 million, and $43.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The $75.8 million interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes a loss on extinguishment of $38.0 million for the redemption of all of its outstanding $650.0 million 6.0% Senior Notes in 2020.

2026 Senior Notes

On October 7, 2021, Consensus issued $305.0 million of senior notes due in 2026 (the “2026 Senior Notes”), in a private placement offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. Consensus received proceeds of $301.2 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts, commissions and offering expenses. The 2026 6.0% Senior Notes are presented as long-term debt, net of deferred issuance costs, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021. The 2026 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2022.

The 2026 Senior Notes mature on October 15, 2026, and are senior unsecured obligations of the Company which are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s existing and future domestic direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”). If Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. or any of its restricted subsidiaries acquires or creates a domestic restricted subsidiary, other than an Insignificant Subsidiary (as defined in the indenture pursuant to which the 2026 Senior Notes were issued (the “2026 Indenture”)), after the issue date, or any Insignificant Subsidiary ceases to fit within the definition of Insignificant Subsidiary, such restricted subsidiary is required to unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis, the Company’s obligations under the 2026 Senior Notes.

The Company may redeem some or all of the 2026 Senior Notes at any time on or after October 15, 2023 at specified redemption prices plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding the redemption date. Before October 15, 2023, and following certain equity offerings, the Company also may redeem up to 40% of the 2026 Senior Notes at a price equal to 106.0% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding the redemption date. The Company may make such redemption only if, after such redemption, at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Notes remains outstanding. In addition, at any time prior to October 15, 2023, the Company may redeem some or all of the 2026 Senior Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, plus an applicable “make-whole” premium.

The Indenture contains covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to (i) pay dividends or make distributions on the Company’s common stock; (ii) make certain restricted payments; (iii) create liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions; (iv) enter into transactions with affiliates; (v) merge or consolidate with another company; and (vi) transfer and sell assets. These covenants contain certain exceptions. Restricted payments are applicable only if Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries designated as restricted subsidiaries has a net leverage ratio of greater than 3.0 to 1.0. In addition, if such net leverage ratio is in excess of 3.0 to 1.0, the restriction on restricted payments is subject to various exceptions, including the total aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) 50.0% of EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ended immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available. The Company is in compliance with its debt covenants as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the estimated fair value of the 2026 Senior Notes was approximately $316.1 million and was based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes for the 2026 Senior Notes which are Level 1 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

The following table provides additional information related to our 2026 Senior Notes (in thousands):

	2021
Principal amount of 2026 Senior Notes	$	305,000
Less: Debt issuance costs	(4,582)
Net carrying amount of 2026 Senior Notes	$	300,418

2028 Senior Notes

On October 7, 2021, Consensus issued $500.0 million of 6.5% senior notes due in 2028 (the “2028 Senior Notes”), in a private placement offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. In exchange for the equity interest in the Company, Consensus issued the 2028 Senior Notes to Ziff Davis (see Note 20 - Related Party Transactions). Ziff Davis then exchanged the 2028 Senior Notes with lenders under its credit agreement (or their affiliates) in exchange for extinguishment of a similar amount indebtedness under such credit agreement for a total amount of $483.8 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts, commissions and offering expenses. The 2028 Senior Notes were presented as long-term debt, net of deferred issuance costs, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021. The 2028 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.5% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2022.

The 2028 Senior Notes mature on October 15, 2028, and are senior unsecured obligations of the Company which are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s existing and future domestic direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”). If Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. or any of its restricted subsidiaries acquires or creates a domestic restricted subsidiary, other than an Insignificant Subsidiary (as defined in the indenture pursuant to which the 2028 Senior Notes were issued (the “2028 Indenture”)), after the issue date, or any Insignificant Subsidiary ceases to fit within the definition of Insignificant Subsidiary, such restricted subsidiary is required to unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis, the Company’s obligations under the 2028 Senior Notes.

The Company may redeem some or all of the 2028 Senior Notes at any time on or after October 15, 2026 at specified redemption prices plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding the redemption date.

The Indenture contains covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to (i) pay dividends or make distributions on the Company’s common stock; (ii) make certain restricted payments; (iii) create liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions; (iv) enter into transactions with affiliates; (v) merge or consolidate with another company; and (vi) transfer and sell assets . These covenants contain certain exceptions. Restricted payments are applicable only if Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries designated as restricted subsidiaries has a net leverage ratio of greater than 3.0 to 1.0. In addition, if such net leverage ratio is in excess of 3.0 to 1.0, the restriction on restricted payments is subject to various exceptions, including the total aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) 50.0% of EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period ended immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available. The Company is in compliance with its debt covenants as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the estimated fair value of the 2028 Senior Notes was approximately $521.2 million and was based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes for the 2028 Senior Notes which are Level 1 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

The following table provides additional information related to our 2028 Senior Notes (in thousands):

	2021
Principal amount of 2028 Senior Notes	$	500,000
Less: Debt issuance costs	(8,378)
Net carrying amount of 2028 Senior Notes	$	491,622

2025 Senior Notes

On June 27, 2017, J2 Cloud Services, LLC (“J2 Cloud”) and J2 Cloud Co-Obligor, Inc. (the “Co-Issuer” and together with J2 Cloud, the “Issuers”), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, completed the issuance and sale of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of their 6.0% senior notes due in 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”) in a private placement offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company received proceeds of $636.5 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts, commissions and offering expenses. The 6.0% Senior Notes bore interest at a rate of 6.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

On October 7, 2020, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding $650.0 million 2025 Senior Notes for $694.6 million, including an early redemption premium of $29.2 million and accrued and unpaid interest of $15.4 million. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of $38.0 million which is recorded in interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.