Debt

Accounting standard update

As of March 31, 2016 we adopted the accounting update related to the presentation of debt issuance costs in the consolidated financial statements. The change in accounting guidance has been applied retrospectively to prior periods. As a result, a reclassification of approximately $11.2 million of debt issuance costs was made on our December 31, 2015 balance sheet, resulting in a reduction to other assets and a reduction to long-term debt; there was no impact on our consolidated statements of operations or retained earnings.

The impact of the reclassification of debt issuance costs on our outstanding debt obligations as of December 31, 2015 is as follows.



	December 31, 2015
(In millions)	As previously reported		Adjustment			As Adjusted
5% Notes	$	333.5	$	(2.0	)	$	331.5
2% Notes	500.0		(9.2		)	490.8
9% Debentures	389.5		—			389.5
Total long-term debt	$	1,223.0	$	(11.2	)	$	1,211.8

Long-term debt

Long-term debt as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following obligations.



	December 31,
(In millions)	2016		2015
FHLB Advance	$	155.0	$	—
5% Notes	145.0		333.5
2% Notes	207.6		500.0
5.75% Notes	425.0		—
9% Debentures	256.9		389.5
Long-term debt, par value	1,189.5		1,223.0
Less: debt issuance costs	10.8		11.2
Long-term debt, carrying value	$	1,178.7	$	1,211.8

Interest payments, on a consolidated basis, for our debt obligations existing during 2016 and 2015 appear below.



	Years Ended December 31,
(In millions)	2016		2015
5.375% Notes	$	—	$	3.3
FHLB Advance	2.4		—
5% Notes	10.6		17.3
2% Notes	9.1		10.0
5.75% Notes	—		—
9% Debentures	27.4		35.1
Total interest payments	$	49.5	$	65.7

5.75% Notes

In August 2016, we issued $425 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due in 2023 ("5.75% Notes") and received net proceeds, after the deduction of underwriting fees, of $418.1 million. Interest on the 5.75% Notes is payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2017. We have the option to redeem these notes, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)100% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the make-whole amount, which is the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest discounted at the treasury rate defined in the notes plus 50 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition to underwriting fees, we incurred approximately $1.2 million of other expenses associated with the issuance of these notes.

The 5.75% Notes have covenants customary for securities of this nature, including customary events of default and further provide that the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 5.75% Notes may declare them immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of certain events of default after the expiration of the applicable grace period. In addition, in the case of an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, the 5.75% Notes will become due and payable immediately. This description is not intended to be complete in all respects and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the 5.75% Notes, including their covenants and events of default.

The net proceeds from the 5.75% Notes issuance were primarily used as (i) cash consideration to repurchase a portion of our 2% Notes, and (ii) to repurchase the shares issued as partial consideration in the repurchases of our 2% Notes, as further described below. The remaining proceeds are being held for general corporate purposes.

FHLB Advance

In February 2016, MGIC borrowed $155.0 million in the form of a fixed rate advance from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago ("FHLB Advance"). Interest on the Advance is payable monthly at an annual rate, fixed for the term of the Advance, of 1.91%. The principal of the Advance matures on February 10, 2023. MGIC may prepay the Advance at any time. Such prepayment would be below par if interest rates have risen after the Advance was originated, or above par if interest rates have declined. The Advance is secured by eligible collateral whose market value must be maintained at 102% of the principal balance of the Advance. MGIC provided eligible collateral from its investment portfolio.

5.375% Notes

We repaid the outstanding 5.375% Notes with cash at the holding company on November 2, 2015. Interest on these notes was payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 each year. The repayment of our Senior Notes had no material impact on our financial position or liquidity.

5% Notes

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 we had outstanding $145.0 million and $333.5 million, respectively, principal amount of 5% Notes due in 2017 ("5% Notes"). In 2016, we repurchased $188.5 million in aggregate principal of our 5% Notes at a purchase price of $195.5 million, plus accrued interest using funds held at our holding company. In 2015, we purchased $11.5 million in aggregate principal of our 5% Notes at a purchase price of $12.0 million, plus accrued interest, using funds held at our holding company. In each of 2016 and 2015, the excess of the purchase price over carrying value, plus the write-off of unamortized issuance costs on the par value repurchased, is reflected as a loss on debt extinguishment on our consolidated statements of operations. Our 5% Notes repurchase in 2015 reduced our potentially dilutive shares by approximately 0.9 million shares, and our 2016 5% Notes repurchases reduced our potentially dilutive shares by approximately 14.0 million shares.

Interest on the 5% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The 5% Notes will mature on May 1, 2017. The 5% Notes are convertible, at the holder's option, at an initial conversion rate, which is subject to adjustment, of 74.4186 shares per $1,000 principal amount at any time prior to the maturity date. This represents an initial conversion price of approximately $13.44 per share. These 5% Notes will be equal in right of payment to our other senior debt and will be senior in right of payment to our 9% Debentures. Debt issuance costs are being amortized to interest expense over the contractual life of the 5% Notes. We have 10.8 million authorized shares reserved for conversion under our 5% Notes.

The provisions of the 5% Notes are complex. Covenants in the 5% Notes include a requirement to notify holders in advance of certain events and that we and the designated subsidiaries preserve our corporate existence, rights and franchises unless we or any such subsidiary determines that such preservation is no longer necessary in the conduct of its business and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous to the holders of the 5% Notes. A designated subsidiary is any of our consolidated subsidiaries which has shareholders' equity of at least 15% of our consolidated shareholders' equity. Further, the notes are subject to the indenture between us and the trustee that, among other terms, includes provisions that would constitute an event of default under the indenture. Upon such a default, the trustee could accelerate the maturity of the notes independent of any action by holders of the 5% Notes. This description is not intended to be complete in all respect and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the 5% Notes, including their covenants and events of default. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2016.

2% Notes

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had outstanding $207.6 million and $500.0 million, respectively, principal amount of our 2% Notes due in 2020 ("2% Notes"). In the third quarter of 2016, we entered into privately negotiated agreements to repurchase $292.4 million in aggregate principal of our outstanding 2% Notes at a purchase price of $362.1 million, plus accrued interest. We funded the purchases with $230.7 million in cash, using proceeds from the issuance of our 5.75% Notes, and by issuing to certain sellers approximately 18.3 million shares of our common stock. The excess of the purchase price over carrying value, plus the write-off of unamortized issuance costs on the par value repurchased, is reflected as a loss on debt extinguishment on our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016. The shares issued as consideration for the notes repurchases have been repurchased as of December 31, 2016 using cash from our 5.75% Notes issuance. The repurchases of the 2% Notes reduced potentially dilutive shares by approximately 42.1 million shares, without considering the shares issued as partial consideration in the purchases of the 2% Notes or the repurchase of shares to offset such shares issued.

Interest on the 2% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. Debt issuance costs are being amortized to interest expense over the contractual life of the 2% Notes. The 2% Notes will mature on April 1, 2020, unless earlier repurchased by us or converted.

Prior to January 1, 2020, the 2% Convertible Senior Notes are convertible only upon satisfaction of one or more conditions. One such condition is that during any calendar quarter commencing after March 31, 2014, the last reported sale price of our common stock for each of at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter be greater than or equal to 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day. This condition was met for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The 2% Notes are convertible at an initial conversion rate, which is subject to adjustment, of 143.8332 shares per $1,000 principal amount. This represents an initial conversion price of approximately $6.95 per share. 130% of such conversion price is approximately $9.04. On or after January 1, 2020, holders may convert their notes irrespective of satisfaction of the conditions.

Prior to April 10, 2017, the notes will not be redeemable. On any business day on or after April 10, 2017 we may redeem for cash all or part of the notes, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, if the closing sale price of our common stock exceeds 130% of the then prevailing conversion price of the notes for at least 20 of the 30 trading days preceding notice of the redemption. We have 29.9 million authorized shares reserved for conversion under our 2% Notes.

The provisions of the 2% Notes are complex. Covenants in the 2% Notes include a requirement to notify holders in advance of certain events and that we and the designated subsidiaries (defined above) preserve our corporate existence, rights and franchises unless we or any such subsidiary determines that such preservation is no longer necessary in the conduct of its business and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous to holders of the 2% Notes. Further, the notes are subject to the indenture between us and the trustee that, among other terms, includes provisions that would constitute an event of default under the indenture. Upon such a default, the trustee could accelerate the maturity of the notes independent of any action by holders of the 2% Notes. This description is not intended to be complete in all respect and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the 2% Notes, including their covenants and events of default. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2016. These 2% Notes will be equal in right of payment to our other senior debt and will be senior in right of payment to our 9% Debentures.

9% Debentures

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 we had outstanding $256.9 million and $389.5 million, respectively, principal amount of our 9% Debentures due in 2063 ("9% Debentures"). In February 2016, MGIC purchased $132.7 million in aggregate principal of our outstanding 9% Debentures at a purchase price of $150.7 million, plus accrued interest. The 9% Debentures include a conversion feature that allows us, at our option, to make a cash payment to converting holders in lieu of issuing shares of common stock upon conversion of the 9% Debentures. The accounting standards applicable to extinguishment of debt with a cash conversion feature require the consideration paid to be allocated between the extinguishment of the liability component and reacquisition of the equity component. The purchase of the 9% Debentures resulted in an $8.3 million loss on debt extinguishment on the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016, which represents the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the liability component on the purchase date. In addition, our shareholders’ equity was separately reduced by $6.3 million related to the reacquisition of the equity component. For GAAP accounting purposes, the 9% Debentures owned by MGIC are considered retired and are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements and the underlying common stock equivalents, approximately 9.8 million shares, are not included in the computation of diluted shares.

The 9% Debentures are currently convertible, at the holder's option, at an initial conversion rate, which is subject to adjustment, of 74.0741 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of the 9% Debentures at any time prior to the maturity date. This represents an initial conversion price of approximately $13.50 per share. If a holder elects to convert their 9% Debentures, deferred interest owed on the 9% Debentures being converted is also converted into shares of our common stock. The conversion rate for any deferred interest is based on the average price that our shares traded at during a 5-day period immediately prior to the election to convert. In lieu of issuing shares of common stock upon conversion of the 9% Debentures, we may, at our option, make a cash payment to converting holders for all or some of the shares of our common stock otherwise issuable upon conversion. We have 19.0 million authorized shares reserved for conversion under our 9% debentures.

We may redeem the 9% Debentures in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 9% Debentures being redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, if the closing sale price of our common stock exceeds 130% of the then prevailing conversion price of the 9% Debentures for at least 20 of the 30 trading days preceding notice of the redemption. 130% of such conversion price is $17.55.

Interest on the 9% Debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. As long as no event of default with respect to the debentures has occurred and is continuing, we may defer interest, under an optional deferral provision, for one or more consecutive interest periods up to 10 years without giving rise to an event of default. Deferred interest will accrue additional interest at the rate then applicable to the debentures. During an optional deferral period we may not pay or declare dividends on our common stock.

When interest on the 9% Debentures is deferred, we are required, not later than a specified time, to use reasonable commercial efforts to begin selling qualifying securities to persons who are not our affiliates. The specified time is one business day after we pay interest on the 9% Debentures that was not deferred, or if earlier, the fifth anniversary of the scheduled interest payment date on which the deferral started. Qualifying securities are common stock, certain warrants and certain non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock. The requirement to use such efforts to sell such securities is called the Alternative Payment Mechanism.

The net proceeds of Alternative Payment Mechanism sales are to be applied to the payment of deferred interest, including the compound portion. We cannot pay deferred interest other than from the net proceeds of Alternative Payment Mechanism sales, except at the final maturity of the debentures or at the tenth anniversary of the start of the interest deferral. The Alternative Payment Mechanism does not require us to sell common stock or warrants before the fifth anniversary of the interest payment date on which that deferral started if the net proceeds (counting any net proceeds of those securities previously sold under the Alternative Payment Mechanism) would exceed the 2% cap. The 2% cap is 2% of the average closing price of our common stock times the number of our outstanding shares of common stock. The average price is determined over a specified period ending before the issuance of the common stock or warrants being sold, and the number of outstanding shares is determined as of the date of our most recent publicly released financial statements.

We are not required to issue under the Alternative Payment Mechanism a total of more than 10 million shares of common stock, including shares underlying qualifying warrants. In addition, we may not issue under the Alternative Payment Mechanism qualifying preferred stock if the total net proceeds of all issuances would exceed 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the debentures.

The Alternative Payment Mechanism does not apply during any period between scheduled interest payment dates if there is a “market disruption event” that occurs over a specified portion of such period. Market disruption events include any material adverse change in domestic or international economic or financial conditions.

The provisions of the 9% Debentures are complex. The description above is not intended to be complete in all respects. Moreover, that description is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the 9% Debentures, including their covenants and events of default. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2016. The 9% Debentures rank junior to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness.