Long-Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Long-term debt at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:



(in thousands)	December 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Current portion of long-term debt:
Current portion of 5-year term loan facility expires 2019	$	20,000		$	55,000
4.500% senior notes, Series E, quarterly interest payments, balloon due 2018	100,000			—
Short-term promissory note	—			500
Total current portion of long-term debt	120,000			55,500
Long-term debt:
Note agreements:
4.500% senior notes, Series E, quarterly interest payments, balloon due 2018	—			100,000
4.200% senior notes, semi-annual interest payments, balloon due 2024	498,943			498,785
Total notes	498,943			598,785
Credit agreements:
5-year term loan facility, periodic interest and principal payments, LIBOR plus up to 1.750%, expires June 28, 2022	365,000			426,250
5-year revolving loan facility, periodic interest payments, currently LIBOR plus up to 1.500%, plus commitment fees up to 0.250%, expires June 28, 2022	—			—
Total credit agreements	365,000			426,250
Debt issuance costs (contra)	(7,802		)	(6,663		)
Total long-term debt less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	856,141			1,018,372
Current portion of long-term debt	120,000			55,500
Total debt	$	976,141		$	1,073,872

On December 22, 2006, the Company entered into a Master Shelf and Note Purchase Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) with a national insurance company (the “Purchaser”). The initial issuance of notes under the Master Agreement occurred on December 22, 2006, through the issuance of $25.0 million in Series C Senior Notes due December 22, 2016, with a fixed interest rate of 5.660% per year. On February 1, 2008, $25.0 million in Series D Senior Notes due January 15, 2015, with a fixed interest rate of 5.370% per year, were issued. On September 15, 2011, and pursuant to a Confirmation of Acceptance (the “Confirmation”), dated January 21, 2011, in connection with the Master Agreement, $100.0 million in Series E Senior Notes were issued and are due September 15, 2018, with a fixed interest rate of 4.500% per year. The Series E Senior Notes were issued for the sole purpose of retiring existing senior notes. On January 15, 2015, the Series D Notes were redeemed at maturity using cash proceeds to pay off the principal of $25.0 million plus any remaining accrued interest. On December 22, 2016, the Series C Notes were redeemed at maturity using cash proceeds to pay off the principal of $25.0 million plus any remaining accrued interest. As of December 31, 2017, there was an outstanding debt balance issued under the provisions of the Master Agreement of $100.0 million.

On April 17, 2014, the Company entered into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and certain other banks as co-syndication agents and co-documentation agents (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement in the amount of $1,350.0 million provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) in the initial amount of $800.0 million and unsecured term loans in the initial amount of $550.0 million, either or both of which may, subject to lenders’ discretion, potentially be increased by up to $500.0 million. The Credit Facility was funded on May 20, 2014 in conjunction with the closing of the Wright acquisition, with the $550.0 million term loan being funded as well as a drawdown of $375.0 million on the revolving loan facility. Use of these proceeds was to retire existing term loan debt and to facilitate the closing of the Wright acquisition as well as other acquisitions. The Credit Facility terminates on May 20, 2019, but either or both of the revolving credit facility and the term loans may be extended for two additional one year periods at the Company’s request and at the discretion of the respective lenders. Interest and facility fees in respect to the Credit Facility are based upon the better of the Company’s net debt leverage ratio or a non-credit enhanced senior unsecured long-term debt rating. Based upon the Company’s net debt leverage ratio, the rates of interest charged on the term loan are 1.000% to 1.750%, and the revolving loan is 0.850% to 1.500% above the adjusted LIBOR rate for outstanding amounts drawn. There are fees included in the facility which include a facility fee based upon the revolving credit commitments of the lenders (whether used or unused) at a rate of 0.150% to 0.250% and letter of credit fees based upon the amounts of outstanding secured or unsecured letters of credit. The Credit Facility includes various covenants, limitations and events of default customary for similar facilities for similarly rated borrowers.

On June 28, 2017, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) with the lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and certain other banks as co-syndication agents and co-documentation agents. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement amended and restated the credit agreement dated April 17, 2014, among such parties (the “Original Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement extends the applicable maturity date of the existing revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) of $800.0 million to June 28, 2022 and re-evidences unsecured term loans at $400.0 million, while also extending the applicable maturity date to June 28, 2022. The quarterly term loan principal amortization schedule was reset. At the time of the execution of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, $67.5 million of principal from the original unsecured term loans was repaid using operating cash balances, and the Company added an additional $2.8 million in debt issuance costs related to the Facility to the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company also expensed to the Consolidated Statements of Income $0.2 million of debt issuance costs related to the Original Credit Agreement due to certain lenders exiting prior to execution of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Company also carried forward $1.6 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheet the remaining unamortized portion of the Original Credit Agreement debt issuance costs, which will be amortized over the term of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. On December 31, 2017, the Company made a scheduled principal payment of $5.0 million per the terms of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2017, there was an outstanding debt balance issued under the term loan of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $385.0 million with no borrowings outstanding against the Facility. Per the terms of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, a scheduled principal payment of $5.0 million is due March 31, 2018.

On September 18, 2014, the Company issued $500.0 million of 4.200% unsecured senior notes due in 2024. The senior notes were given investment grade ratings of BBB-/Baa3 with a stable outlook. The notes are subject to certain covenant restrictions and regulations which are customary for credit rated obligations. At the time of funding, the proceeds were offered at a discount of the original note amount which also excluded an underwriting fee discount. The net proceeds received from the issuance were used to repay the outstanding balance of $475.0 million on the revolving Credit Facility and for other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there was an outstanding debt balance of $500.0 million exclusive of the associated discount balance.

In conjunction with the acquisition of Social Security Advocates for the Disabled LLC (“SSAD”) effective February 1, 2016, the company agreed to a $0.5 million promissory note incurred as a payment to the sellers and payable after the one-year anniversary of the acquisition. The note had a nominal rate of interest 0.81%. On March 10, 2017, the promissory note was settled, plus any outstanding accrued interest, using cash.

The Master Agreement and the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios and comply with certain other covenants. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The 30-day Adjusted LIBOR Rate as of December 31, 2017 was 1.625%.

Interest paid in 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $36.2 million, $37.7 million, and $37.5 million, respectively.

At December 31, 2017, maturities of long-term debt were $120.0 million in 2018, $30.0 million in 2019, $40.0 million in 2020, $40.0 million in 2021, $255.0 million in 2022 and $500.0 million in 2024.