XML 54 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Short Term Debt (Disclosure)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2014
Short Term Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Short Term Debt Text Block

5. Short-Term Debt Instruments

 

We have an $850 million five-year revolving syndicated credit facility that expires on October 1, 2017. We pay an annual fee of $35,000 plus 8.5 basis points for any unused amount. The facility provides a line of credit for letters of credit of $10 million, of which $1.8 million and $2.1 million were issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2014 and October 31, 2013, respectively. These letters of credit are used to guarantee claims from self-insurance under our general and automobile liability policies. The credit facility bears interest based on the 30-day London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus from 75 to 125 basis points, based on our credit ratings. Amounts borrowed are continuously renewable until the expiration of the facility in 2017 provided that we are in compliance with all terms of the agreement.

 

We have an $850 million unsecured commercial paper (CP) program that is backstopped by the revolving syndicated credit facility. The amounts outstanding under the revolving syndicated credit facility and the CP program, either individually or in the aggregate, cannot exceed $850 million. The notes issued under the CP program may have maturities not to exceed 397 days from the date of issuance and bear interest based on, among other things, the size and maturity date of the note, the frequency of the issuance and our credit ratings, plus a spread of 5 basis points. Any borrowings under the CP program rank equally with our other unsubordinated and unsecured debt. The notes under the CP program are not registered and are offered and issued pursuant to an exemption from registration. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, amounts borrowed can vary significantly during the period.

 

As of April 30, 2014, we had $370 million of notes outstanding under the CP program, as included in “Short-term debt” in “Current Liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with original maturities ranging from 7 to 14 days from their dates of issuance at a weighted average interest rate of .14%. As of October 31, 2013, our outstanding notes under the CP program, included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as stated above, were $400 million.

 

We did not have any borrowings under the revolving syndicated credit facility for the three or six months ended April 30, 2014. A summary of the short-term debt activity under our CP program for the three months and six months ended April 30, 2014 is as follows.

 ThreeSix
In millions Months Months
       
Minimum amount outstanding during period$ 325 $ 325 
Maximum amount outstanding during period$ 580 $ 625 
Minimum interest rate during period .10% .10%
Maximum interest rate during period .25% .43%
Weighted average interest rate during period .17% .22%

Our five-year revolving syndicated credit facility's financial covenants require us to maintain a ratio of total debt to total capitalization of no greater than 70%. At April 30, 2014, our actual ratio was 53%.