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UNSECURED BANK CREDIT FACILITIES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]  
UNSECURED BANK CREDIT FACILITIES UNSECURED BANK CREDIT FACILITIES
The Company’s borrowings on unsecured bank credit facilities are detailed below:
December 31,
 20232022
 (In thousands)
Unsecured bank credit facilities — variable rate, carrying amount$— 170,000 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(1,520)(1,546)
Unsecured bank credit facilities, net of debt issuance costs$(1,520)168,454 
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 Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“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 December 31, 2023, was SOFR plus 76.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no variable rate borrowings on this unsecured bank credit facility and an interest rate of 6.130%. 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 December 31, 2023, was SOFR plus 77.5 basis points with an annual facility fee of 15 basis points. As of December 31, 2023, the interest rate was 6.255% 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 rate 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 years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, which allowed for the interest rate reduction in each of the years subsequent to achieving the metric. The margin was effectively reduced on this unsecured bank credit facility by one basis point, from 77.5 to 76.5 basis points.

Average unsecured bank credit facilities borrowings were $49,384,000 in 2023, $182,478,000 in 2022 and $95,629,000 in 2021, with weighted average interest rates (excluding amortization of facility fees and debt issuance costs) of 5.68% in 2023, 2.32% in 2022 and 1.01% in 2021.  Amortization of facility fees was $1,005,000, $713,000 and $751,000 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  Amortization of debt issuance costs for the Company’s unsecured bank credit facilities was $1,003,000, $650,000 and $606,000 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company’s unsecured bank credit facilities have certain restrictive covenants, such as maintaining minimum debt service coverage and leverage ratios and maintaining insurance coverage, and the Company was in compliance with all of its financial debt covenants at December 31, 2023.