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Debt and Other Financing Arrangements (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instruments [Abstract]  
Debt and Other Financing Arrangements [Text Block]
Debt and Other Financing Arrangements
The Company’s debt consists of the following:
 
December 31,
(dollars in millions)
2014
 
2013
Current portion of long-term debt:
 
 
 
Corporate Credit Agreement - Tranche B Term Loan
$
5.4

 
$
5.4

Capital lease obligations and other debt
7.8

 
7.2

Current portion of long-term debt
13.2

 
12.6

Long-term debt, less current portion:
 
 
 
Corporate Credit Agreement

 
40.0

Receivables facility
19.2

 
106.2

3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018
300.0

 
625.0

Corporate Credit Agreement - Tranche B Term Loan
527.8

 
533.2

3/8% Senior Notes due 2020
661.2

 
683.9

1/4% Notes due 2023
40.0

 
40.0

Various Cincinnati Bell Telephone notes
134.5

 
134.5

Capital lease obligations and other debt
91.5

 
96.1

 
1,774.2

 
2,258.9

Net unamortized discount
(3.2
)
 
(6.3
)
         Long-term debt, less current portion
1,771.0

 
2,252.6

Total debt
$
1,784.2

 
$
2,265.2


Corporate Credit Agreement
Revolving Credit Facility
On November 20, 2012, the Company entered into a new credit agreement ("Corporate Credit Agreement") which provided for a $200.0 million revolving credit facility, with a sublimit of $30.0 million for letters of credit and a $25.0 million sublimit for swingline loans. Effective with the sale of our 16.0 million partnership units to CyrusOne, Inc. on June 25, 2014 for $355.9 million, the amount available under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility was reduced to $150.0 million. In addition, the original revolving commitments will be further reduced to $125.0 million on December 31, 2015. The Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility has a maturity date of July 15, 2017. Borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility will be used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Company. Upon issuance of the Corporate Credit Agreement, the Company's former revolving credit facility was terminated. Availability under the Corporate Credit Agreement revolving credit facility is subject to customary borrowing conditions.
Borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility bear interest, at the Company's election, at a rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR plus the applicable margin or (ii) the base rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for advances under the revolving facility is based on certain financial ratios and ranges between 3.50% and 4.25% for LIBOR rate advances and 2.50% and 3.25% for base rate advances. As of December 31, 2014, the applicable margin was 4.00% for LIBOR rate advances and 3.00% for base rate advances. Base rate is the higher of (i) the bank prime rate, (ii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00% and (iii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%. At December 31, 2014, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility.
Amendment for Tranche B Term Loan Facility
On September 10, 2013, the Company amended and restated its Corporate Credit Agreement, originally dated as of November 20, 2012, to include a $540.0 million Tranche B Term Loan facility ("Tranche B Term Loan") that matures on September 10, 2020.

The Company received $529.8 million in net proceeds from the Tranche B Term Loan after deducting the original issue discount, fees and expenses. These proceeds were used to redeem all of the Company's $500.0 million 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2017 ("8 1/4% Senior Notes") on October 15, 2013 at a redemption price of 104.125%, including payment of accrued interest thereon totaling $20.6 million.

The Tranche B Term Loan was issued with 0.75% of original issue discount and requires quarterly principal payments of 0.25% of the original principal amount. Loans under the Tranche B Term Loan bear interest, at the Company's election, at a rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR (subject to a 1.00% floor) plus 3.00% or (ii) the base rate plus 2.00%. Base rate is the greatest of (a) the bank prime rate, (b) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00% and (c) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%. At December 31, 2014, the interest rate on the outstanding Tranche B Term Loan was 4.00%.

In accordance with the terms of the amended Corporate Credit Agreement, the Company's ability to make restricted payments, which include share repurchases and common stock dividends, is limited to a total of $15.0 million, with certain permitted exceptions, given that its Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, as defined by the Corporate Credit Agreement, exceeds 3.50 to 1.00 as of December 31, 2014.  The Company may make restricted payments of $45.0 million annually when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00.  There are no dollar limits on restricted payments when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00. These restricted payment limitations do not impact the Company's ability to make regularly scheduled dividend payments on its 6 3/4% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. Furthermore, the Company may make restricted payments in the form of share repurchases or dividends up to 15% of CyrusOne sale proceeds, subject to a $35.0 million annual cap with carryovers.

The Corporate Credit Agreement was also modified to provide that the Tranche B Term Loan participates in mandatory prepayments, subject to the terms and conditions (including with respect to payment priority) set forth in the restated Corporate Credit Agreement. In addition, the Corporate Credit Agreement was modified to provide that 85%, rather than 100%, of proceeds from monetizing any portion of our CyrusOne common stock partnership units, are applied to mandatory prepayments under the restated Corporate Credit Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. Other revisions were also effected pursuant to the amended agreement, including with respect to financial covenant compliance levels.

Effective November 5, 2014, the Company amended its Corporate Credit Agreement to, among other things, modify certain financial covenants governing leverage ratios and capital expenditures.

Guarantors and Security Interests, Corporate Credit Agreement (Including Tranche B Term Loan)
All existing and future subsidiaries of the Company (other than Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC, Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC (and any other similar special purpose receivables financing subsidiary), Cincinnati Bell Shared Services LLC, Cincinnati Bell Extended Territories LLC, CBMSM Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, and the Company's joint ventures, subsidiaries prohibited by applicable law from becoming guarantors and foreign subsidiaries) are required to guarantee borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement. Debt outstanding under the Corporate Credit Agreement is secured by perfected first priority pledges of and security interests in (i) substantially all of the equity interests of the Company's U.S. subsidiaries (other than subsidiaries of non-guarantors of the Corporate Credit Agreement) and 66% of the equity interests in the first-tier foreign subsidiaries held by the Company and the guarantors under the Corporate Credit Agreement, (ii) certain personal property and intellectual property of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than that of non-guarantors of the Corporate Credit Agreement and certain other excluded property) and (iii) the Company's equity interests in CyrusOne and CyrusOne LP, both of which, together with their respective subsidiaries, are treated as non-subsidiaries of the Company and are not guarantors for purposes of the Corporate Credit Agreement.
Borrowings and Commitment Fees, Corporate Credit Agreement
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility, leaving $150.0 million available. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had $40.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility, leaving $160.0 million available.
The Company pays commitment fees for the unused amount of borrowings on the Corporate Credit Agreement and letter of credit fees on outstanding letters of credit. The commitment fees are calculated based on the total leverage ratio and range between 0.500% and 0.625% of the actual daily amount by which the aggregate revolving commitments exceed the sum of outstanding revolving loans and letter of credit obligations. These fees were $0.9 million in 2014, $1.0 million in 2013, and $1.6 million in 2012.
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
Cincinnati Bell Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries have an accounts receivable securitization facility ("Receivables Facility"), which permits maximum borrowings of up to $120.0 million as of December 31, 2014. On June 3, 2013, the Company executed an amendment of its Receivables Facility which, in addition to modifying some of the defined terms and purchaser parties under the prior agreement, provided for an increase in the maximum credit availability under the Receivables Facility from $105.0 million to $120.0 million and extended the facility's expiration through June 2016. CBT, CBET, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, LLC ("CBW"), Cincinnati Bell Any Distance Inc. ("CBAD"), Cincinnati Bell Any Distance of Virginia LLC, CBTS, and eVolve Business Solutions LLC ("eVolve") all participate in this facility. On October 1, 2012, the Company and CBF amended the Receivables Facility to remove CyrusOne as an originator and to remove the CyrusOne receivables from the financing provided under the Receivables Facility. The available borrowing capacity is calculated monthly based on the quantity and quality of outstanding accounts receivable and thus may be lower than the maximum borrowing limit. At December 31, 2014, the available borrowing capacity was $116.8 million.
The transferors sell their respective trade receivables on a continuous basis to CBF, a wholly-owned limited liability company. In turn, CBF grants, without recourse, a senior undivided interest in the pooled receivables to various purchasers, including commercial paper conduits, in exchange for cash while maintaining a subordinated undivided interest in the form of over-collateralization in the pooled receivables. The transferors have agreed to continue servicing the receivables for CBF at market rates; accordingly, no servicing asset or liability has been recorded. The Receivables Facility is subject to bank renewal every 364 days, and in any event expires in June 2016. On June 2, 2014, the Company executed an amendment of its Receivables Facility, which replaced, amended and added certain provisions and definitions to increase the credit availability and also extend the term to June 1, 2015.
Although CBF is a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of the Company, CBF is legally separate from the Company and each of the Company’s other subsidiaries. Upon and after the sale or contribution of the accounts receivable to CBF, such accounts receivable are legally assets of CBF, and, as such, are not available to creditors of other subsidiaries or the parent company.
For the purposes of consolidated financial reporting, the Receivables Facility is accounted for as secured financing. Because CBF has the ability to prepay the Receivables Facility at any time by making a cash payment and effectively repurchasing the receivables transferred pursuant to the facility, the transfers do not qualify for "sale" treatment on a consolidated basis under ASC 860, "Transfers and Servicing."
Of the total borrowing capacity of $116.8 million at December 31, 2014, $19.2 million consisted of outstanding borrowings and $6.9 million consisted of outstanding letters of credit. Interest on the Receivables Facility is based on the LIBOR rate plus 0.5%. The average interest rate on the Receivables Facility was 0.7% in 2014. The Company pays letter of credit fees on the securitization facility and also pays commitment fees on the total facility. These fees were $0.8 million in 2014 and $0.7 million in 2013 and 2012.
8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018
In March 2010, the Company issued $625.0 million of 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 (“8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes”), which are fixed rate bonds to maturity.
Interest on the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2010. The 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations ranking junior to all existing and future senior debt, ranking equally to all existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness, and ranking senior to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness. Each of the Company’s current and future subsidiaries that is a guarantor under the Corporate Credit Agreement is also a guarantor of the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, with certain immaterial exceptions. The indenture governing the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes contains covenants including but not limited to the following: limitations on dividends to shareowners and other restricted payments; dividend and other payment restrictions affecting the Company’s subsidiaries such that the subsidiaries are generally not permitted to enter into an agreement that would limit their ability to make dividend payments to the parent; issuance of indebtedness; asset dispositions; transactions with affiliates; liens; investments; issuances and sales of capital stock of subsidiaries; and redemption of debt that is junior in right of payment. The indenture governing the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes provides for customary events of default, including for nonpayment at final maturity and for a default of any other existing debt instrument that exceeds $35.0 million.
In the third quarter of 2014, the Company redeemed $325.0 million of its 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes at a redemption price of 104.375%. As a result of the redemption, the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $19.4 million. The Company may redeem the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes for a redemption price of 102.188% and 100.000% on or after March 15, 2015 and 2016, respectively.
8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020
In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company issued $775.0 million of 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020 ("8 3/8% Senior Notes"), which are fixed rate bonds to maturity. Interest on the 8 3/8% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 2011. The 8 3/8% Senior Notes are unsecured senior obligations ranking equally with all existing and future senior debt and ranking senior to all existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness and subordinated indebtedness. Each of the Company’s current and future subsidiaries that is a guarantor under the Corporate Credit Agreement is also a guarantor of the 8 3/8% Senior Notes on an unsecured senior basis, with certain immaterial exceptions. The indenture governing the 8 3/8% Senior Notes contains covenants including but not limited to the following: limitations on dividends to shareowners and other restricted payments; dividend and other payment restrictions affecting the Company’s subsidiaries such that the subsidiaries are not permitted to enter into an agreement that would limit their ability to make dividend payments to the parent; issuance of indebtedness; asset dispositions; transactions with affiliates; liens; investments; issuances and sales of capital stock of subsidiaries; and redemption of debt that is junior in right of payment. The indenture governing the 8 3/8% Senior Notes provides for customary events of default, including for nonpayment at final maturity and for a default of any other existing debt instrument that exceeds $35.0 million.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company redeemed $22.7 million of its outstanding 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020 at par. As a result of the redemption, the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $0.2 million. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company conducted a tender offer and redeemed $91.1 million of the 8 3/8% Senior Notes. The Company may redeem the 8 3/8% Senior Notes for a redemption price of 104.188%, 102.792%, 101.396% and 100.000% on or after October 15, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. At any time prior to October 15, 2015, the Company may redeem all or part of the 8 3/8% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (1) 100% of the principal, plus (2) the greater of (a) 1% of the face value of the 8 3/8% Senior Notes or (b) the excess over the principal amount of the sum of the present values of (i) 104.188% of the face value of the 8 3/8% Senior Notes, and (ii) interest payments due from the date of redemption to October 15, 2015, in each case discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the applicable U.S. Treasury rates plus 0.5%, plus (3) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
7 1/4% Notes due 2023
In 1993, the Company issued $50.0 million of 7 1/4% Notes due 2023 ("7 1/4% Notes"). The 7 1/4% Notes rank ratably to the 8 3/8% Senior Notes and senior to the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes and the CBT Notes. The indenture related to the 7 1/4% Notes does not subject the Company to restrictive financial covenants, but it does contain a covenant providing that if the Company incurs certain liens on its property or assets, the Company must secure the outstanding 7 1/4% Notes equally and ratably with the indebtedness or obligations secured by such liens. The liens under the Corporate Credit Agreement have resulted in the debt outstanding under the 7 1/4% Notes being secured equally and ratably with the obligations secured under the Corporate Credit Agreement. Interest on the 7 1/4% Notes is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15. The Company may not call the 7 1/4% Notes prior to maturity. The indenture governing the 7 1/4% Notes provides for customary events of default, including for failure to make any payment when due and for a default of any other existing debt instrument that exceeds $20.0 million.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone Notes
CBT issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal of 6.30% unsecured senior notes due 2028, which is guaranteed on a subordinated basis by Cincinnati Bell Inc. but not its subsidiaries. The indenture related to these CBT Notes does not subject the Company to restrictive financial covenants, but it does contain a covenant providing that if the Company incurs certain liens on its property or assets, the Company must secure the outstanding CBT Notes equally and ratably with the indebtedness or obligations secured by such liens. The maturity date of these notes is in 2028 and they may not be called prior to maturity. The indentures governing these notes provide for customary events of default, including for failure to make any payment when due and for a default of any other existing debt instrument of Cincinnati Bell Inc. or CBT that exceeds $20.0 million. At both December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amount outstanding under these senior notes was $134.5 million.
Capital Lease Obligations
Capital lease obligations represent our obligation for certain leased assets, including wireless towers and various equipment. These leases generally contain renewal or buyout options. During the period of time in which we included the accounts of CyrusOne in our consolidated financial statements, capital lease obligations also included liabilities for leased data center facilities, which also generally included renewal options.
Debt Maturity Schedule
The following table summarizes our annual principal maturities of debt and capital leases for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2014, and thereafter:
 
 
 
Capital
 
Total
(dollars in millions)
Debt
 
Leases
 
Debt
Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2015
$
6.0

 
$
7.2

 
$
13.2

2016
25.1

 
6.8

 
31.9

2017
5.5

 
4.2

 
9.7

2018
305.4

 
3.3

 
308.7

2019
5.4

 
3.7

 
9.1

Thereafter
1,341.9

 
72.9

 
1,414.8

 
1,689.3

 
98.1

 
1,787.4

Net unamortized discount
(3.2
)
 

 
(3.2
)
      Total debt
$
1,686.1

 
$
98.1

 
$
1,784.2


Total capital lease payments including interest are expected to be $14.0 million for 2015, $13.2 million for 2016, $10.2 million for 2017, $9.1 million for 2018, $9.2 million for 2019, and $108.2 million thereafter. Once we no longer provide wireless service, capital leases with a carrying value of approximately $25 million as of December 31, 2014 will be transferred to the company that acquired our wireless spectrum licenses. We plan to provide wireless service until no later than April 6, 2015.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs are costs incurred in connection with obtaining long-term financing. In 2014, deferred financing costs of $0.9 million were incurred related to amending the Corporate Credit Agreement and renewing the Receivables Facility. In 2013, deferred financing costs of $6.7 million were incurred related to amending the Corporate Credit Agreement for the issuance of the $540.0 million Tranche B Term Loan facility and amending the Receivables Facility. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, deferred financing costs totaled $18.5 million and $26.1 million, respectively. The deconsolidation of CyrusOne in January 2013 resulted in the divestiture of $16.9 million of deferred financing costs. Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the related indebtedness or credit agreement. Amortization of deferred financing costs, included in "Interest expense" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, totaled $5.1 million in 2014, $5.9 million in 2013, and $7.2 million in 2012.
Debt Covenants
Corporate Credit Agreement
The Corporate Credit Agreement has financial covenants that require the Company to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios and comply with annual limitations on capital expenditures. As of December 31, 2014, these ratios and limitations include a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio of 7.00, a maximum consolidated senior secured leverage ratio of 3.50, a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 1.50 and a 2014 maximum capital expenditure limitation of $210.0 million. Capital expenditures are permitted subject to predetermined annual thresholds which are not to exceed $937.7 million in the aggregate over the next four years. In 2014, capital expenditures for the Company totaled $182.3 million. In addition, the Corporate Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens, pay dividends, make certain investments, prepay other indebtedness, sell, transfer, lease, or dispose of assets and enter into, or undertake, certain liquidations, mergers, consolidations or acquisitions.
The Corporate Credit Agreement contains customary events of default (which are in some cases subject to certain exceptions, thresholds and grace periods), including, but not limited to, nonpayment of principal or interest, failure to perform or observe covenants, breaches of representations and warranties, cross-defaults with certain other indebtedness, certain bankruptcy-related events or proceedings, final monetary judgments or orders, ERISA defaults, invalidity of loan documents or guarantees, and certain change of control events. If the Company were to violate any of its covenants and were unable to obtain a waiver, it would be considered a default. If the Company were in default under the Corporate Credit Agreement, no additional borrowings under this facility would be available until the default was waived or cured.
The Tranche B Term Loan is subject to the same affirmative and negative covenants and events of default as the Corporate Credit Agreement, except that a breach of the financial covenants will not result in an event of default under the Tranche B Term Loan unless and until the agent or a majority in interest of the lenders under the Corporate Credit Agreement have terminated the commitments under the Corporate Credit Agreement or accelerated the loans then outstanding under the Corporate Credit Agreement in response to such breach.
Public Indentures
The Company’s public debt, which includes the 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 and 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020, is governed by indentures which contain covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability to incur additional debt or liens, pay dividends or make other restricted payments, sell, transfer, lease, or dispose of assets and make investments or merge with another company.
One of the financial covenants permits the issuance of additional Indebtedness up to a 4:00 to 1:00 Consolidated Adjusted Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio (as defined by the individual indentures). Once this ratio exceeds 4:00 to 1:00, the Company is not in default; however, additional indebtedness may only be incurred in specified permitted baskets, including a credit agreement basket providing full access to the $150.0 million revolving credit facility of the Corporate Credit Agreement plus an additional $216.8 million of secured debt. Also, the Company’s ability to make Restricted Payments (as defined by the individual indentures) would be limited, including common stock dividend payments or repurchasing outstanding Company shares. If the Company is under the 4:00 to 1:00 ratio on a pro forma basis, the Company may access its restricted payments basket, which provides the ability to repurchase shares or pay dividends. In addition, the Company may designate one or more of its subsidiaries as Unrestricted (as defined in the various indentures) such that any Unrestricted Subsidiary (as defined in the various indentures) would generally not be subject to the restrictions of these various indentures. However, certain provisions which govern the Company's relationship with Unrestricted Subsidiaries would begin to apply.
CyrusOne Credit Agreement, 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2022, Capital Lease Obligations, and Other Financing Arrangements
On November 20, 2012, CyrusOne entered into a credit agreement (the “CyrusOne Credit Agreement”) which provided for a $225.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, with a sublimit of $50.0 million for letters of credit and a $30.0 million sublimit for swingline loans. Also on November 20, 2012, CyrusOne LP and CyrusOne Finance Corp. (the “Issuers”) issued $525.0 million of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2022.
In 2013, upon completion of the IPO of CyrusOne, we removed CyrusOne's debt from our consolidated financial statements. The Company no longer has any obligations related to CyrusOne's indebtedness which includes CyrusOne's $525.0 million of 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2022 (“CyrusOne 6 3/8% Senior Notes”), capital lease obligations and other financing arrangements. In addition, the Company no longer has access to the $225.0 million CyrusOne Credit Agreement.
Extinguished Notes
In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company redeemed all of the $500.0 million of 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2017 ("8 1/4% Senior Notes") at a redemption price of 104.125% using proceeds from the Corporate Credit Agreement Tranche B Term Loan facility that was issued on September 10, 2013. As a result, the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $29.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company redeemed its 7% Senior Notes due 2015 ("7% Senior Notes") with a principal balance of $247.5 million. The Company also repaid certain CBT unsecured notes, which had various final maturity dates occurring in 2023 and fixed rates ranging from 7.18% to 7.27%, with a remaining principal balance of $73.0 million. The Company had previously terminated an interest rate swap related to the 7% Senior Notes. For the year ended December 31, 2012, a loss on debt extinguishment of $13.6 million was recognized on these redemptions and the $91.1 million redemption of the 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020.