Note 10 – Debt

Our total debt as of September 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 was as follows:


(in millions of U.S. dollars)	September 28, 2013			December 29, 2012
8.375% senior notes due in 2017¹	$	215.0		$	215.0
8.125% senior notes due in 2018		375.0			375.0
GE obligation		10.7			9.9
Other capital leases		5.6			4.6
Other debt		1.8			1.3

*Total debt*		608.1			605.8
Less: Current debt
GE obligation – current maturities		1.9			0.9
Other capital leases – current maturities		1.4			0.8
Other debt – current maturities		0.6			0.2

*Total current debt*		3.9			1.9
Long-term debt before discount		604.2			603.9
Less discount on 8.375% notes		(1.8	)		(2.1	)

*Total long-term debt*	$	602.4		$	601.8

¹	Our 8.375% senior notes were issued at a discount of 1.425% on November 13, 2009.

Asset-Based Lending Credit Facility

On March 31, 2008, we entered into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as Agent that created an asset-based lending credit facility (the “ABL facility”) to provide financing for our North America, U.K. and Mexico reporting segments. In connection with the Cliffstar Acquisition, we refinanced the ABL facility on August 17, 2010 to, among other things, provide for the Cliffstar Acquisition, the issuance of $375.0 million of 8.125% senior notes that are due on September 1, 2018 (the “2018 Notes”) and the application of net proceeds therefrom, the underwritten public offering of 13,340,000 common shares at a price of $5.67 per share and the application of net proceeds therefrom and to increase the amount available for borrowings to $275.0 million. We drew down a portion of the indebtedness under the ABL facility in order to fund the Cliffstar Acquisition. We incurred $5.4 million of financing fees in connection with the refinancing of the ABL facility.

On July 19, 2012, we amended the ABL facility to, among other things, extend the maturity date to either July 19, 2017 or, if we have not redeemed, repurchased or refinanced our 8.375% senior notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes”) by May 1, 2017, May 15, 2017. We incurred $1.2 million of financing fees in connection with the amendment of the ABL facility.

On October 22, 2013, we amended the ABL facility to, among other things, (1) provide for an increase in the lenders’ commitments under the ABL facility to $300 million, as well an increase to the accordion feature, which permits us to increase the lenders’ commitments under the ABL facility to $350 million, subject to certain conditions, (2) extend the maturity date to the earliest of (i) October 22, 2018, (ii) May 15, 2017, if we have not redeemed, repurchased or refinanced the 2017 Notes by May 1, 2017, or (iii) March 1, 2018, if we have not redeemed, repurchased or refinanced the 2018 Notes by February 15, 2018, and (3) provide for greater flexibility under certain covenants. We incurred approximately $0.6 million of financing fees in connection with the amendment of the ABL facility.

The financing fees incurred in connection with the refinancing of the ABL facility on August 17, 2010, along with the financing fees incurred in connection with the amendment of the ABL facility on July 19, 2012 and on October 22, 2013, are being amortized using the straight line method over the duration of the amended ABL facility.

As of September 28, 2013, we had no outstanding borrowings under the ABL facility. The commitment fee was 0.375% per annum of the unused commitment, which, taking into account $7.5 million of letters of credit, was $239.0 million as of September 28, 2013.

8.375% Senior Notes due in 2017

On November 13, 2009, we issued the 2017 Notes. The 2017 Notes were issued at a $3.1 million discount. The issuer of the 2017 Notes is our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Cott Beverages Inc., and we and most of our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries guarantee the 2017 Notes. The interest on the 2017 Notes is payable semi-annually on May 15^th and November 15^th of each year.

We incurred $5.1 million of financing fees in connection with the 2017 Notes. The financing fees are being amortized using the effective interest method over an eight-year period, which represents the duration of the 2017 Notes.

On September 30, 2013, Cott Beverages Inc. notified Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor trustee to HSBC Bank USA, N.A. under the indenture dated as of November 13, 2009 governing the 2017 Notes (the “Indenture”), that Cott Beverages Inc. will, pursuant to the optional redemption provisions contained in the Indenture, redeem U.S. $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Notes on November 15, 2013 at 104.118% of par. The redemption will include approximately $8 million in premium payments as well as approximately $4 million in deferred financing fee and discount charges.

8.125% Senior Notes due in 2018

On August 17, 2010, we issued the 2018 Notes. The issuer of the 2018 Notes is our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Cott Beverages Inc., and we and most of our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries guarantee the 2018 Notes. The interest on the 2018 Notes is payable semi-annually on March 1^st and September 1^st of each year.

We incurred $8.6 million of financing fees in connection with the issuance of the 2018 Notes. The financing fees are being amortized using the effective interest method over an eight-year period, which represents the duration of the 2018 Notes.

GE Term Loan

In January 2008, we entered into a capital lease finance arrangement with General Electric Capital Corporation (“GE Capital”) for the lease of equipment. In September 2013, we purchased the equipment subject to the lease for an aggregate purchase price of $10.7 million, with the financing for such purchase provided by General Electric at 5.23% interest.