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DEBT
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Disclosure DEBT
The Company’s debt is detailed below:
 September 30,
2023		December 31,
2022
 (In thousands)
Unsecured bank credit facilities - variable rate, carrying amount$— 170,000 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(1,760)(1,546)
Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs(1,760)168,454 
Unsecured debt - fixed rate, carrying amount (1)
1,680,000 1,695,000 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(3,869)(3,741)
Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs1,676,131 1,691,259 
Secured debt - fixed rate, carrying amount (1)
— 2,041 
Unamortized debt issuance costs— (10)
Secured debt, net of debt issuance costs— 2,031 
Total debt, net of debt issuance costs$1,674,371 1,861,744 

(1)These loans have a fixed interest rate or an effectively fixed interest rate due to interest rate swaps.
Until January 10, 2023, EastGroup had $425,000,000 and $50,000,000 unsecured bank credit facilities with margins over London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) of 77.5 basis points, facility fees of 15 basis points and maturity dates of July 30, 2025. The Company amended and restated these credit facilities effective January 10, 2023, expanding the total capacity on its unsecured bank credit facilities from $475,000,000 to $675,000,000 and replacing LIBOR with SOFR as the benchmark interest rate.

The Company’s $625,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility, which was increased in January 2023 by $200,000,000 from $425,000,000, is with a group of 11 banks and has a maturity date of July 30, 2025. The credit facility contains options for two six-month extensions (at the Company's election) and an additional $125,000,000 accordion (with agreement by all parties). The interest rate on each tranche is reset on a monthly basis and as of September 30, 2023, was SOFR plus 76.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no variable rate borrowings on this unsecured bank credit facility and an interest rate of 6.094%. The Company has two standby letters of credit totaling $2,655,000 pledged on this facility, which reduces borrowing capacity under the credit facility.

The Company's $50,000,000 unsecured bank credit facility has a maturity date of July 30, 2025, or such later date as designated by the bank; the Company also has two six-month extensions available if the extension options in the $625,000,000 facility are exercised. The interest rate is reset on a daily basis and as of September 30, 2023, was SOFR plus 77.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of September 30, 2023, the interest rate was 6.185% with no outstanding balance.

For both facilities, the margin and facility fee are subject to changes in the Company's credit ratings. Although the Company’s current credit rating is Baa2, given the strength of the Company’s key credit metrics, initial pricing for the credit facilities is based on the BBB+/Baa1 credit ratings level. This favorable pricing level will be retained provided that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the applicable agreements, remains less than 32.5%. The $625,000,000 facility also includes a sustainability-linked pricing component pursuant to which the applicable interest margin is reduced by one basis point if the Company meets a certain sustainability performance target. This sustainability metric is evaluated annually and was achieved for the year ended December 31, 2022, which effectively reduced the margin on this unsecured bank credit facility during 2023 by one basis point from 77.5 to 76.5 basis points.

In January 2023, the Company closed a $100,000,000 senior unsecured term loan with a term of seven years and interest only payments, which bears interest at the annual rate of SOFR plus an applicable margin (1.35% as of September 30, 2023) based on the Company’s senior unsecured long-term debt rating. The Company also entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the loan’s SOFR rate component to a fixed interest rate for the entire term of the loan providing a total effectively fixed interest rate of 5.27%.

On March 31, 2023, EastGroup repaid a $65,000,000 senior unsecured term loan with a total effectively fixed interest rate of 2.31%. The loan, which was scheduled to mature on April 1, 2023, was repaid with no penalty.

In August 2023, the Company made a scheduled $50,000,000 principal repayment on its senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 3.80%.

In September 2023, EastGroup repaid a mortgage loan with a balance of $1,905,000, an interest rate of 3.85% and an original maturity date of November 30, 2026.

Also in September 2023, the Company closed on the refinance of a $100,000,000 senior unsecured term loan with five years remaining. The amended term loan provides for interest only payments currently at an interest rate of SOFR plus 95 basis points, based on the Company’s current credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio, which is a 45 basis point reduction in the credit spread compared to the original term loan. The Company has an interest rate swap agreement which converts the loan’s SOFR rate component to a fixed interest rate for the entire term of the loan, providing a total effectively fixed interest rate of 2.61%.
Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt, including Unsecured debt, net of debt issuance costs (not including Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs), as of September 30, 2023, are as follows: 
Years Ending December 31,(In thousands)
2023 - Remainder of year$— 
2024170,000 
2025145,000 
2026140,000 
2027175,000 
2028 and beyond1,050,000 
       Total$1,680,000