Long-Term Debt:

Long-term debt as of September 24, 2017, December 31, 2016, and September 25, 2016 consisted of the following:



(In thousands)	September 24, 2017			December 31, 2016			September 25, 2016

Term debt ⁽¹⁾
April 2017 U.S. term loan averaging 3.38% (due 2017-2024)	$	735,000		$	—		$	—
March 2013 U.S. term loan averaging 3.25% (due 2013-2020)	—			602,850			602,850
Notes
April 2017 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375% (due 2027)	500,000			—			—
June 2014 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.375% (due 2024)	450,000			450,000			450,000
March 2013 U.S. fixed rate notes at 5.25% (due 2021)	—			500,000			500,000
	1,685,000			1,552,850			1,552,850
Less current portion	—			(2,775		)	(1,200		)
	1,685,000			1,550,075			1,551,650
Less debt issuance costs	(25,374		)	(15,864		)	(16,979		)
	$	1,659,626		$	1,534,211		$	1,534,671


(1)	The average interest rate is calculated over the life of the instrument and does not reflect the effect of interest rate swap agreements (see Note 6).

In April 2017, the Partnership issued $500 million of 5.375% senior unsecured notes ("April 2017 notes"), maturing in 2027. The net proceeds from the offering of the April 2017 notes, together with borrowings under the 2017 Credit Agreement (defined below), were used to redeem all of the Partnership's 5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2021 ("March 2013 notes"), and pay accrued interest and transaction fees and expenses, to repay in full all amounts outstanding under its existing credit facilities and for general corporate purposes. The redemption of the March 2013 notes and repayments of the amounts outstanding under the existing credit facilities resulted in the write-off of debt issuance costs of $7.6 million and debt premium payments of $15.5 million. Accordingly, the Partnership recorded a loss on debt extinguishment of $23.1 million during the second quarter of 2017.

Concurrently with the April 2017 notes issuance, the Partnership amended and restated its existing $885 million credit agreement (the "2013 Credit Agreement"), which included a $630 million senior secured term loan facility and a $255 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The $1,025 million amended and restated credit agreement (the "2017 Credit Agreement") includes a $750 million senior secured term loan facility and a $275 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The terms of the senior secured term loan facility include a maturity date of April 15, 2024 and an interest rate of London InterBank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 225 basis points (bps). The term loan amortizes at $7.5 million annually. The facilities provided under the 2017 Credit Agreement are collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Partnership.

Terms of the 2017 Credit Agreement include a revolving credit facility of a combined $275 million with a Canadian sub-limit of $15 million. Borrowings under the senior secured revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR or Canadian Dollar Offered Rate ("CDOR") plus 200 bps. The revolving credit facility is scheduled to mature in April 2022 and also provides for the issuance of documentary and standby letters of credit. The 2017 Credit Agreement requires the payment of a 37.5 bps commitment fee per annum on the unused portion of the credit facilities.

The April 2017 notes pay interest semi-annually in April and October, with the principal due in full on April 15, 2027. Prior to April 15, 2020, up to 35% of the notes may be redeemed with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at a price equal to 105.375% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any. The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to April 15, 2022 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a "make-whole" premium together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date. Thereafter, the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at various prices depending on the date redeemed.

In June 2014, the Partnership issued $450 million of 5.375% senior unsecured notes ("June 2014 notes"), maturing in 2024. The Partnership's June 2014 notes pay interest semi-annually in June and December, with the principal due in full on June 1, 2024. The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to June 1, 2019 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed together plus a "make-whole" premium together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Thereafter, the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at various prices depending on the date redeemed.

The 2017 Credit Agreement includes a Consolidated Leverage Ratio, which if breached for any reason and not cured could result in an event of default. The ratio is set at a maximum of 5.50x consolidated total debt-to-consolidated EBITDA. As of September 24, 2017, the Partnership was in compliance with this financial condition covenant and all other covenants under the 2017 Credit Agreement.

The Partnership's long-term debt agreements include Restricted Payment provisions. Pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the Partnership's June 2014 notes, which includes the most restrictive of these Restricted Payments provisions, the Partnership can make Restricted Payments of $60 million annually so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing; and the Partnership's ability to make additional Restricted Payments is permitted should the Partnership's pro forma Total-Indebtedness-to-Consolidated-Cash-Flow Ratio be less than or equal to 5.00x.

As market conditions warrant, the Partnership may from time to time repurchase debt securities issued by the Partnership, in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer, exchange offer or otherwise.