LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt was comprised of the following at February 28 (29), 2015 and 2016:



	As of February 28, 2015			As of February 29, 2016
Revolver	8,000			3,000
Term Loan	185,000			181,762
Total 2014 Credit Agreement debt	193,000			184,762

Digonex nonrecourse debt ⁽¹⁾	3,971			4,714
98.7FM nonrecourse debt	70,401			65,411
Current maturities	(6,840		)	(17,573		)
Unamortized original issue discount	(9,820		)	(9,287		)
Total long-term debt	$	250,712		$	228,027

⁽¹⁾ The face value of Digonex nonrecourse debt is $6.2 million

2014 Credit Agreement

On June 10, 2014, Emmis entered into the 2014 Credit Agreement, by and among the Company, EOC, as borrower (the “Borrower”), certain other subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and Fifth Third Bank, as syndication agent. Capitalized terms in this section not defined elsewhere in this Form 10-K are defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement and related amendments.

The 2014 Credit Agreement includes a senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) of $185.0 million and a senior secured revolving credit facility of $20.0 million, and contains provisions for an uncommitted increase of up to $20.0 million principal amount (plus additional amounts so long as a pro forma total net senior secured leverage ratio condition is met) of the revolving credit facility and/or the Term Loan subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The revolving credit facility includes a sub-facility for the issuance of up to $5.0 million of letters of credit. Pursuant to the 2014 Credit Agreement, the Borrower borrowed $185.0 million of the Term Loan on June 10, 2014; $109.0 million was disbursed to the Borrower (the “Initial Proceeds”) and the remaining $76.0 million was funded into escrow (the “Subsequent Acquisition Proceeds”).

The Initial Proceeds, coupled with $13.0 million of revolving credit facility borrowings, were used by the Borrower on June 10, 2014 to repay all amounts outstanding under its previous credit agreement, to make a $55.0 million initial payment associated with our acquisition of WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM, and to pay fees and expenses. The Subsequent Acquisition Proceeds were used to make the final $76.0 million payment related to the acquisition of WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM on February 13, 2015. See Note 7 for more discussion of our acquisition of WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM.

The Term Loan is due not later than June 10, 2021 and, prior to the Second Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement discussed below, amortized in an amount equal to 1% per annum of the total principal amount outstanding, payable in quarterly installments commencing April 1, 2015, with the balance payable on the maturity date. The revolving credit facility expires not later than June 10, 2019. An unused commitment fee of 50 basis points per annum is payable quarterly on the average unused amount of the revolving credit facility. Prior to the First Amendment and Second Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement discussed below, the Term Loan and amounts borrowed under the revolving credit facility bore interest, at the Borrower’s option, at either (i) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement) (but not less than 2.00%) plus 3.75% or (ii) the Adjusted LIBO Rate (as defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement) (but not less than 1.00%) plus 4.75%.

Approximately $1.0 million of transaction fees related to the 2014 Credit Agreement were originally capitalized and included in other assets, net. The Company adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 during the year ended February 29, 2016. As such, the unamortized balance of existing deferred debt fees was reclassified and is now shown as a direct reduction of the carrying amount of long-term debt. These fees, along with an original issue discount of $8.2 million ($6.1 million incurred in connection with the original issuance of the 2014 Credit Agreement debt on June10, 2014, $1.0 million million incurred in connection with the November 7, 2014 amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement and $1.1 million incurred in connection with the April 30, 2015 amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement) are being amortized as additional interest expense over the life of the 2014 Credit Agreement.

The obligations under the 2014 Credit Agreement are secured by a perfected first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

On November 7, 2014, Emmis entered into the First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the 2014 Credit Agreement. The First Amendment (i) increased the maximum Total Leverage Ratio to 6.00:1.00 for the period February 28, 2015 through February 29, 2016, (ii) adjusted the definition of Consolidated EBITDA to exclude during the term of the 2014 Credit Agreement up to $5 million in severance and/or contract termination expenses and up to $2.5 million in losses attributable to the reformatting of the Company’s radio stations, (iii) extended the requirement for the Borrower to pay a 1.00% fee on certain prepayments of the Term Loan to November 7, 2015, (iv) increased the Applicable Margin by 0.25% for at least six months from the date of the First Amendment and until the Total Leverage Ratio is less than 5.00:1.00, and (v) made certain technical adjustments to the definition of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow and to address the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Emmis paid a total of approximately $1.0 million of transaction fees to the Lenders that consented to the First Amendment, which were recorded as original issue discount and are being amortized over the remaining life of the 2014 Credit Agreement.

On April 30, 2015, Emmis entered into a Second Amendment to our 2014 Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment (i) increased the maximum Total Leverage Ratio to (A) 6.75:1.00 during the period from May 31, 2015 through February 29, 2016, (B) 6.50:1.00 for the quarter ended May 31, 2016, (C) 6.25:1.00 for the quarter ended August 31, 2016, (D) 6.00:1.00 for the quarter ended November 30, 2016, and (E) 5.75:1.00 for the quarter ended February 28, 2017, after which it reverts to the original ratio of 4.00:1.00 for the quarters ended May 31, 2017 and thereafter, (ii) required Emmis to pay a 2.00% fee on certain prepayments of the Term Loan prior to the first anniversary of the Second Amendment and requires Emmis to pay a 1.00% fee on certain prepayments of the Term Loan from the first anniversary of the Second Amendment until the second anniversary of the Second Amendment, (iii) increased the Applicable Margin throughout the remainder of the term of the Credit Agreement to 5.00% for ABR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and 6.00% for Eurodollar Loans (as defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement), and (iv) increased the amortization to 0.50% per calendar quarter through January 1, 2016 and to 1.25% per calendar quarter thereafter commencing April 1, 2016. The Second Amendment also required Emmis to pay a fee of 0.50% of the Term Loan and Revolving Commitment of each Lender that consented to the Second Amendment. This fee totaled $1.1 million and was recorded as additional original issue discount and is being amortized as interest expense over the remaining life of the 2014 Credit Agreement.

Borrowing under the 2014 Credit Agreement depends upon our continued compliance with certain operating covenants and financial ratios, including leverage and interest coverage as specifically defined. The operating covenants and other restrictions with which we must comply include, among others, restrictions on additional indebtedness, incurrence of liens, engaging in businesses other than our primary business, paying certain dividends, redeeming or repurchasing capital stock of Emmis, acquisitions and asset sales. No default or event of default has occurred or is continuing. The 2014 Credit Agreement provides that an event of default will occur if there is a “change in control” of Emmis, as defined. The payment of principal, premium and interest under the 2014 Credit Agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by ECC and most of its existing wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. Substantially all of Emmis’ assets, including the stock of most of Emmis’ wholly-owned, domestic subsidiaries are pledged to secure the 2014 Credit Agreement.

2012 Credit Agreement

On December 28, 2012, Emmis entered into a credit facility (the “2012 Credit Agreement”) to provide for total borrowings of up to $100 million, including (i) an $80 million term loan and (ii) a $20 million revolver, of which $5 million could be used for letters of credit. On June 10, 2014, Emmis entered into the 2014 Credit Agreement. In connection with the execution of the 2014 Credit Agreement, the 2012 Credit Agreement was terminated effective June 10, 2014, and all amounts outstanding under that agreement were paid in full. During the three months ended August 31, 2014, the Company recorded a loss on debt extinguishment of $1.5 million related to the termination of the 2012 Credit Agreement.

2014 Credit Agreement Covenants

We were in compliance with all financial and non-financial covenants as of February 29, 2016. Our Total Leverage Ratio and Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio (each as defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement) requirements and actual amounts as of February 29, 2016 were as follows:



	As of February 29, 2016
	Covenant Requirement	Actual Results
Maximum Total Leverage Ratio	6.75 : 1.00	5.40 : 1.00
Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio	2.00 : 1.00	2.49 : 1.00

98.7FM Nonrecourse Debt

On May 30, 2012, the Company, through wholly-owned, newly-created subsidiaries, issued $82.2 million of nonrecourse notes. Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, through a participation agreement with Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, is entitled to receive payments made on the notes. The notes are obligations only of the newly-created subsidiaries, are non-recourse to the rest of the Company’s subsidiaries and are secured by the assets of the newly-created subsidiaries, including the payments made to the newly-created subsidiary related to the 98.7FM LMA, which are guaranteed by Disney Enterprises, Inc. The notes bear interest at 4.1%.

Digonex Nonrecourse Debt

Digonex issued $6.2 million of notes payable prior to Emmis’ acquisition of a controlling interest of Digonex on June 16, 2014. Emmis recorded these notes at fair value in its purchase price allocation as of June 16, 2014. The difference between the fair value recorded on June 16, 2014 and the face value of the notes is being accreted as additional interest expense through the maturity date of the notes. The notes are obligations of Digonex only and are non-recourse to the rest of Emmis' subsidiaries. Approximately $1.5 million of the Digonex notes are secured by the assets of Digonex and the remaining $4.7 million are unsecured. The notes bear simple interest at 5% with interest due at maturity of the notes on December 31, 2017. See Note 7 for more discussion of the acquisition of Digonex.

Based on amounts outstanding at February 29, 2016, mandatory principal payments of long-term debt for the next five years and thereafter are summarized below:



Year Ended	2014 Credit Agreement
February 28 (29),	Revolver		Term Loan		98.7FM Debt		Digonex Debt		Total
2017	$	—	$	12,120	$	5,453	$	—	$	17,573
2018	—		9,250		6,039		6,199		21,488
2019	—		9,250		6,587		—		15,837
2020	3,000		9,250		7,150		—		19,400
2021	—		9,250		7,755		—		17,005
Thereafter	—		132,642		32,427		—		165,069
Total	$	3,000	$	181,762	$	65,411	$	6,199	$	256,372