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Long-Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

4. Long-Term Debt

Our long-term debt as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):


	2011		2010
7-1/8% senior notes due 2017	$	250,000	$	250,000
8-7/8% senior notes due 2020 ¹		221,873		221,624
7-7/8% senior notes due 2022 ¹		247,902		—
Bank Borrowings		—		—

Long-Term Debt ¹	$	719,775	$	471,624

(1)	Amounts are shown net of debt discount

The maturities on our long-term debt are $250.0 million in 2017, $225.0 million in 2020 and $250.0 million in 2022.

We have capitalized interest on our unproved properties in the amount of $7.7 million, $7.4 million and $6.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Bank Borrowings. In May 2011, we renewed and extended our $500 million credit facility with a syndicate of ten banks through May 12, 2016, which may be increased by up to $200 million to a maximum aggregate facility amount of $700 million, subject to additional lender commitments and other terms of the credit agreement. During the May renewal, our borrowing base, as determined by our bank syndicate, was increased from $300 million to $400 million, and we elected to keep the commitment amount, which represents the limit on our borrowings without unanimous lender consent, at $300 million. In November 2011, in conjunction with our regularly scheduled borrowing base redetermination which occurs every six months, our borrowing base was reaffirmed at $400 million and we again elected to keep our commitment amount $300 million. The borrowing base subsequently decreased at the end of November 2011 to $325 million, in accordance with the terms of our credit facility, when we issued $250.0 million of 7-7/8% senior notes senior notes due in 2022.

At December 31, 2011 and 2010 we had no borrowings under our credit facility. The interest rate on our credit facility is either (a) the lead bank’s prime plus an applicable margin or (b) Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin. However with respect to (a), if the lead bank’s prime rate is not higher than each of the federal funds rate plus ¹/2%, and the adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 1%, the greatest of these three rates will then apply. The applicable margins vary depending on the level of outstanding debt with escalating rates of 50 to 150 basis points above the Alternative Base Rate and escalating rates of 150 to 250 basis points for Eurodollar rate loans. The commitment fee associated with the unfunded portion of the borrowing base is set at 50 basis points. At December 31, 2011, the lead bank’s prime rate was 3.25%.

The terms of our credit facility include, among other restrictions, a limitation on the level of cash dividends (not to exceed $15.0 million in any fiscal year), a remaining aggregate limitation on purchases of our stock of $50.0 million, requirements as to maintenance of certain minimum financial ratios (principally pertaining to adjusted working capital ratios and EBITDAX) and limitations on incurring other debt. Since inception, no cash dividends have been declared on our common stock. As of December 31, 2011 we were in compliance with the provisions of this agreement. The credit facility is secured by our domestic oil and natural gas properties. Under the terms of the credit facility, we can increase the commitment amount to the total amount of the borrowing base with unanimous consent of the bank group as it might change from time to time.

Interest expense on the credit facility, including commitment fees and amortization of debt issuance costs, totaled $2.4 million in 2011, $1.9 million in 2010, and $5.2 million in 2009. The amount of commitment fees included in interest expense, net was $1.5 million in 2011, $1.4 million in 2010 and $0.7 million in 2009.

Senior Notes Due 2022. These notes consist of $250 million of 7-7/8% senior notes issued at 99.156% of par, which equates to an effective yield to maturity of 8%. The notes were issued on November 30, 2011 with an original discount of $2.1 million and will mature on March 1, 2022. The original discount of $2.1 million is recorded in “Long-Term Debt” on our consolidated balance sheet and will be amortized over the life of the note. The notes are senior unsecured obligations that rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness, are effectively subordinated to all our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including borrowing under our bank credit facility, and will rank senior to any future subordinated indebtedness of Swift Energy. Payment of interest on these notes is payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 and will commence on March 1, 2012. On or after March 1, 2017, we may redeem some or all of these notes, with certain restrictions, at a redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, of 103.938% of principal, declining in twelve-month intervals to 100% in 2020 and thereafter. In addition, prior to March 1, 2015, we may redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the notes with the net proceeds of qualified offerings of our equity at a redemption price of 107.875% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We incurred approximately $4.8 million of debt issuance costs related to these notes, which is included in “Other Long–Term Assets” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and will be amortized to interest expense, net over the life of the notes using the effective interest method. In the event of certain changes in control of Swift Energy, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of the notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. The terms of these notes include, among other restrictions, a limitation on how much of our own common stock we may repurchase. We were in compliance with the provisions of the indenture governing these senior notes as of December 31, 2011.

Interest expense on the 7-7/8% senior notes due 2022, including amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount, totaled $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Senior Notes Due 2020. These notes consist of $225 million of 8-7/8% senior notes issued at 98.389% of par, which equates to an effective yield to maturity of 9-1/8%. The notes were issued on November 25, 2009 with an original discount of $3.6 million and will mature on January 15, 2020. The original discount of $3.6 million is recorded in “Long-Term Debt” on our consolidated balance sheets and will be amortized over the life of the note. The notes are senior unsecured obligations that rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness, are effectively subordinated to all our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including borrowing under our bank credit facility, and will rank senior to any future subordinated indebtedness of Swift Energy. Payment of interest on these notes is payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 and commenced on November 25, 2009. On or after January 15, 2015, we may redeem some or all of these notes, with certain restrictions, at a redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, of 104.438% of principal, declining in twelve-month intervals to 100% in 2018 and thereafter. In addition, prior to January 15, 2013, we may redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the notes with the net proceeds of qualified offerings of our equity at a redemption price of 108.875% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We incurred approximately $5.0 million of debt issuance costs related to these notes, which is included in “Other Long–Term Assets” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and will be amortized to interest expense, net over the life of the notes using the effective interest method. In the event of certain changes in control of Swift Energy, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of the notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. The terms of these notes include, among other restrictions, a limitation on how much of our own common stock we may repurchase. We were in compliance with the provisions of the indenture governing these senior notes as of December 31, 2011.

Interest expense on the 8-7/8% senior notes due 2020, including amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount, totaled $20.6 million, $20.5 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Senior Notes Due 2017. These notes consist of $250.0 million of 7-1/8% senior notes due 2017, which were issued on June 1, 2007 at 100% of the principal amount and will mature on June 1, 2017. The notes are senior unsecured obligations that rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness, are effectively subordinated to all our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including borrowing under our bank credit facility, and will rank senior to any future subordinated indebtedness of Swift Energy. Payment of interest on these notes is payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1, and commenced on December 1, 2007. On or after June 1, 2012, we may redeem some or all of these notes, with certain restrictions, at a redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, of 103.563% of principal, declining in twelve-month intervals to 100% in 2015 and thereafter. We incurred approximately $4.2 million of debt issuance costs related to these notes, which is included in “Other Long-Term Assets” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and will be amortized to interest expense, net over the life of the notes using the effective interest method. In the event of certain changes in control of Swift Energy, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of the notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. The terms of these notes include, among other restrictions, a limitation on how much of our own common stock we may repurchase. We were in compliance with the provisions of the indenture governing these senior notes as of December 31, 2011.

Interest expense on the 7-1/8% senior notes due 2017, including amortization of debt issuance costs, totaled $18.2 million, $18.4 million and $18.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Senior Notes Due 2011. These notes consisted of $150.0 million of 7-5/8% senior subordinated notes due July 2011, which were issued on June 23, 2004 and which were fully redeemed as of December 10, 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we recorded a charge of $4.0 million related to the redemption of these notes. The costs were comprised of approximately $2.9 million of premium paid to redeem the notes, and $1.1 million to write-off unamortized debt issuance costs. Interest expense on the 7-5/8% senior notes due 2011, including amortization of debt issuance costs totaled $11.4 million in 2009.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

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