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Debt and Other Financing Arrangements (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
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)
2016
 
2015
Current portion of long-term debt:
 
 
 
Corporate Credit Agreement - Tranche B Term Loan
$

 
$
5.4

Capital lease obligations and other debt
7.5

 
8.4

Current portion of long-term debt
7.5

 
13.8

Long-term debt, less current portion:
 
 
 
Receivables Facility
89.5

 
17.6

Corporate Credit Agreement - Tranche B Term Loan
315.8

 
522.5

8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020

 
478.5

7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2023
22.3

 
26.3

7%  Senior Notes due 2024
625.0

 

Various Cincinnati Bell Telephone notes
87.9

 
128.7

Capital lease obligations and other debt
62.0

 
59.9

 
1,202.5

 
1,233.5

Net unamortized premium (discount)
8.5

 
(1.7
)
Unamortized note issuance costs
(11.9
)
 
(8.0
)
         Long-term debt, less current portion
1,199.1

 
1,223.8

Total debt
$
1,206.6

 
$
1,237.6


Corporate Credit Agreement
Revolving Credit Facility
In the fourth quarter of 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 16.0 million partnership units of CyrusOne, LP in the second quarter of 2014, the amount available under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility was reduced to $150.0 million. However, the Company entered into an Incremental Assumption Agreement to the Company's existing Corporate Credit Agreement in the second quarter of 2015, and effective with the sale of 14.3 million CyrusOne LP operating partnership units in the second quarter of 2015, the aggregate available borrowings on the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility was adjusted to $175.0 million. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company amended the Corporate Credit Agreement to reduce the aggregate revolving commitments available under the revolving credit facility to $150.0 million, modify certain financial covenants and related definitions governing leverage ratios and capital expenditures, and extend the maturity date of the revolving credit facility to January 2020. As a result of the amendment, the Company recorded a $1.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of 2016. 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. Availability under the Corporate Credit Agreement's 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 3.00% and 3.50% for LIBOR rate advances and 2.00% and 2.50% for base rate advances. As of December 31, 2016, the applicable margin was 3.50% for LIBOR rate advances and 2.50% 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, 2016, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility.
Amendment for Tranche B Term Loan Facility
In the third quarter of 2013, the Company amended and restated its Corporate Credit Agreement to include a $540.0 million Tranche B Term Loan facility ("Tranche B Term Loan") that matures in the third quarter of 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") in the fourth quarter of 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. 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, 2016, the interest rate on the outstanding Tranche B Term Loan was 4.00%.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company repaid $208.0 million of its outstanding Tranche B Term Loan which resulted in a loss on debt extinguishment of $2.2 million.

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, 2016.  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 subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein.

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 or CyrusOne LP 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.

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, 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, 2016, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility, leaving $150.0 million available. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Corporate Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility, leaving $175.0 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 0.250% and 0.500% 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 $0.8 million in 2016 and $0.9 million in 2015 and 2014.

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, 2016. CBT, CBET, CBAD, Cincinnati Bell Any Distance of Virginia LLC, CBTS, and eVolve all participate in this facility. Cincinnati Bell Wireless ("CBW") also participated in the facility until it was withdrawn from the agreement during the second quarter of 2015. 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, 2016, the available borrowing capacity was $120.0 million.
The transferors sell their respective trade receivables on a continuous basis to Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC ("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. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company executed an amendment of its Receivables Facility, which replaced, amended and added certain provisions and definitions to increase the credit availability, renew the facility, which is subject to renewal every 364 days, until May 2017, and extend the facility's termination date to May 2019. During the second quarter of 2015, the Company amended the Receivables Facility to allow CBW to withdraw as a party from the agreement and to be relieved of all of its rights and obligations thereunder. CBW was required to purchase certain receivables that it previously sold to Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC, amounting to $1.7 million.
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 $120.0 million at December 31, 2016, $89.5 million consisted of outstanding borrowings and $6.3 million consisted of outstanding letters of credit. Interest on the Receivables Facility is based on the LIBOR rate plus 1.1%. The average interest rate on the Receivables Facility was 1.3% in 2016. The Company pays letter of credit fees on the securitization facility and also pays commitment fees on the unused portion of the total facility. These fees were $0.8 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014.
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 7% senior notes due 2024 and senior to 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 one or more defaults of any other existing debt instruments that exceeds $20.0 million, in the aggregate.
During 2015, the Company redeemed $13.7 million of its outstanding 7 1/4% Notes at an average redemption price of 99.853% which resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million. The Company also repaid $4.0 million of its 7 1/4% Notes at a redemption price of 100.750% which resulted in a $0.1 million loss on extinguishment of debt during 2016.




7% Senior Notes due 2024
In the third quarter of 2016, the Company issued in a private offering $425.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7% senior notes due 2024 ("7% Senior Notes") at par. The Company issued an additional $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7% Senior Notes at a price of 105.000% in the fourth quarter of 2016. The 7% Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company, which rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured senior debt of the Company. The 7% Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The 7% Senior Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain of the Company’s existing and future domestic subsidiaries. Each such guarantee is a senior unsecured obligation of the applicable guarantor, ranking equally with all existing and future unsecured senior debt of such guarantor and effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured indebtedness of such guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness. The 7% Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all liabilities (including trade payables) of each subsidiary of the Company that does not guarantee the 7% Senior Notes.
The 7% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 7% per annum, payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2017, to persons who are registered holders of the 7% Senior Notes on the immediately preceding January 1 and July 1, respectively.
The 7% Senior Notes will mature on July 15, 2024. However, prior to September 15, 2019, the Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of the 7% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 7% Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, plus a “make-whole” premium. On or after September 15, 2019, the Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of the 7% Senior Notes at any time at declining redemption prices equal to (i) 105.250% beginning on September 15, 2019, (ii) 103.500% beginning on September 15, 2020, (iii) 101.750% beginning on September 15, 2021 and (iv) 100.000% beginning on September 15, 2022 and thereafter, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date. In addition, before September 15, 2019, and subject to certain conditions, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of 7% Senior Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at 107.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption; provided that (i) at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of 7% Senior Notes remains outstanding and (ii) the redemption occurs within 180 days of the closing of any such equity offering.
The indenture governing the 7% 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 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 7% Senior Notes provides for customary events of default, including a cross-default provision for both nonpayment at final maturity or acceleration due to a default of any other existing debt instrument that equals or exceeds $35 million.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone Notes
In 1998, CBT's predecessor issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal of 6.30% unsecured senior notes due 2028 (the "CBT Notes"), which are guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Company but not its subsidiaries. The indenture related to the CBT Notes does not subject the Company or CBT to restrictive financial covenants, but it does contain a covenant providing that if CBT incurs certain liens on its property or assets, CBT must secure the outstanding CBT Notes equally and ratably with the indebtedness or obligations secured by such liens. The maturity date of the CBT notes is in 2028, and the CBT Notes may be redeemed at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the CBT Notes to be redeemed or the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest to maturity, plus accrued interest to the redemption date. The indenture governing the CBT Notes provides for customary events of default, including for failure to make any payment when due and for one or more defaults of any other existing debt instruments of the Company or CBT that exceeds $20.0 million, in the aggregate.
During 2015, the Company redeemed $5.8 million of its outstanding CBT Notes at an average redemption price of 90.840% which resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $0.5 million. During 2016, the Company redeemed $40.8 million of its CBT Notes at an average redemption price of 92.232% which resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $2.8 million.
Capital Lease Obligations
Capital lease obligations represent our obligation for certain leased assets, including vehicles and various equipment. These leases generally contain renewal or buyout 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, 2016, and thereafter:
 
 
 
Capital
 
Total
(dollars in millions)
Debt
 
Leases
 
Debt
Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2017
$
0.2

 
$
7.3

 
$
7.5

2018

 
6.4

 
6.4

2019
89.5

 
6.3

 
95.8

2020
315.8

 
4.4

 
320.2

2021

 
3.5

 
3.5

Thereafter
735.2

 
41.4

 
776.6

 
1,140.7

 
69.3

 
1,210.0

Net unamortized premium
8.5

 

 
8.5

Unamortized note issuance costs
(11.9
)
 

 
(11.9
)
      Total debt
$
1,137.3

 
$
69.3

 
$
1,206.6


Total capital lease payments including interest are expected to be $11.8 million for 2017, $10.5 million for 2018, $10.0 million for 2019, $7.9 million for 2020, $6.7 million for 2021 and $55.7 million thereafter.
As of March 31, 2015, $54.5 million of capital lease obligations were retained by the Company in conjunction with discontinuing wireless operations.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs are costs incurred in connection with obtaining long-term financing and renewing revolving credit agreements. Deferred financing costs are amortized on the effective interest method. The Company incurred deferred financing costs of $9.7 million in 2016 related to the issuance of the 7% Senior Notes. In 2016 and 2015, deferred financing costs incurred for amending and renewing revolving credit agreements were $2.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The Company wrote-off deferred financing costs associated with the extinguishment of debt of $5.9 million, $3.7 million and $3.4 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The Company retrospectively adopted ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, effective January 1, 2016. At the time of adoption the Company made a one-time policy election to record costs incurred in connection with obtaining revolving credit agreements as an asset. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, deferred financing costs recorded to "Other non-current assets" totaled $2.1 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Amortization of deferred financing costs, included in "Interest expense" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, totaled $3.0 million in 2016, $4.1 million in 2015, and $5.1 million in 2014.
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, 2016, these ratios and limitations include a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio of 5.50, a maximum consolidated senior secured leverage ratio of 3.50, a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 1.50 and a 2016 maximum capital expenditure limitation of $301.4 million. Capital expenditures are permitted subject to predetermined annual thresholds which are not to exceed $498.6 million in the aggregate over the next three years. In 2016, capital expenditures for the Company totaled $286.4 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.
Indentures
The Company’s debt 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 5:00 to 1:00 Consolidated Adjusted Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio (as defined by the individual indenture). Once this ratio exceeds 5:00 to 1:00, the Company is not in default; however, additional indebtedness may only be incurred in specified permitted baskets, including a basket which allows $750.0 million of total Corporate Credit Agreement debt. Also, the Company’s ability to make Restricted Payments (as defined by the individual indenture) would be limited, including common stock dividend payments or repurchasing outstanding Company shares. If the Company is under the 5:00 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.
Extinguished Notes
During 2014, the Company redeemed $22.7 million of its outstanding 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2020 ("8 3/8% Senior Notes") at par which resulted in a $0.2 million loss on extinguishment of debt associated with discontinued operations. During 2015, the Company purchased $182.7 million of its outstanding 8 3/8% Senior Notes at an average redemption price of 105.543% which resulted in recording a loss on extinguishment of debt of $10.9 million. During 2016, the Company repaid the remaining $478.5 million outstanding on the 8 3/8% Senior Notes at an average price of 103.328%, resulting in a $17.8 million loss on extinguishment of debt.
In 2014, the Company redeemed $325.0 million of its 8 ¾% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 at a redemption price of 104.375%. As a result of the redemption, the Company recorded a debt extinguishment loss of $19.4 million. Additionally, in 2015, the Company redeemed the remaining $300.0 million of outstanding 8 ¾% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 at a redemption rate of 102.188%. As a result, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $10.4 million.