Debt

Our debt balances (net of related unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs) as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:



	March 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In millions)
1 3⁄4% Senior Convertible Notes due 2017	$	283.5		$	279.3
7 1⁄2% Senior Notes due 2022	770.2			770.0
Revolving credit facility	457.0			—
4.20% Building Loan	11.6			11.7
Total debt	1,522.3			1,061.0
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(459.2		)	—
Long-term debt	$	1,063.1		$	1,061.0

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt. As of March 31, 2016, the current portion of long-term debt of $459.2 million consisted of $283.5 million of 2017 Convertible Notes, $175.3 million of outstanding borrowings under the bank credit facility (our borrowing base deficiency) and $0.4 million of principal payments due within one year on the Building Loan.

Revolving Credit Facility. On June 24, 2014, we entered into an amended and restated revolving credit facility with commitments totaling $900 million (subject to borrowing base limitations) through a syndicated bank group, replacing our previous facility. The bank credit facility matures on July 1, 2019. On March 31, 2016, we had a $500 million borrowing base under the credit facility, with $457 million of outstanding borrowings and $19.2 million of outstanding letters of credit, leaving $23.8 million of availability under the bank credit facility. The weighted average interest rate under the bank credit facility was approximately 3.5% at March 31, 2016. Subject to certain exceptions, the bank credit facility is required to be guaranteed by all of our material domestic direct and indirect subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2016, the bank credit facility was guaranteed by Stone Energy Offshore, L.L.C. (“Stone Offshore”), SEO A LLC and SEO B LLC (collectively, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”).

The borrowing base under the bank credit facility is redetermined semi-annually, typically by May and November, by the lenders, taking into consideration the estimated loan value of our oil and gas properties and those of our subsidiaries that guarantee the bank credit facility in accordance with the lenders’ customary practices for oil and gas loans. In addition, we and the lenders each have discretion at any time, but not more than two additional times in any calendar year, to have the borrowing base redetermined. On April 13, 2016, we received notice that our borrowing base under the bank credit facility was reduced from $500 million to $300 million. On that date, we had $457 million of outstanding borrowings and $18.3 million of outstanding letters of credit, or $175.3 million in excess of the redetermined borrowing base (referred to as a borrowing base deficiency). Our agreement with the banks provides that within 30 days after notification of a borrowing base deficiency, we must elect to cure the borrowing base deficiency through any combination of the following actions: (1) repay amounts outstanding sufficient to cure the deficiency within 10 days after our written election to do so; (2) add additional oil and gas properties acceptable to the banks to the borrowing base and take such actions necessary to grant the banks a mortgage in the properties within 30 days after our written election to do so; and/or (3) arrange to pay the deficiency in six equal monthly installments. We have not taken any action or made an election of actions to be taken to cure the borrowing base deficiency. The $175.3 million borrowing base deficiency is classified as a current liability at March 31, 2016.

The bank credit facility is collateralized by substantially all of our assets and the assets of our material subsidiaries. We are required to mortgage, and grant a security interest in, our oil and natural gas reserves representing at least 80% of the discounted present value of the future net cash flows from our proved oil and natural gas reserves reviewed in determining the borrowing base. Interest on loans under the bank credit facility is calculated using the London Interbank Offering (“LIBOR”) rate or the base rate, at our election. The margin for loans at the LIBOR rate is determined based on borrowing base utilization and ranges from 1.500% to 2.500%.

Under the financial covenants of the bank credit facility, we must (1) maintain a ratio of Consolidated Funded Debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the credit agreement, for the preceding four quarterly periods of not greater than 3.75 to 1 and (2) maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated Net Interest Expense, as defined in the credit agreement, for the preceding four quarterly periods of not less than 2.5 to 1. In addition, our bank credit facility includes certain customary restrictions or requirements with respect to disposition of properties, incurrence of additional debt, change of control and reporting responsibilities. These covenants may limit or prohibit us from paying cash dividends but do allow for limited stock repurchases. These covenants also restrict our ability to prepay other indebtedness under certain circumstances. We were in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2016.

2017 Convertible Notes. On March 6, 2012, we issued in a private offering $300 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Convertible Notes to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The 2017 Convertible Notes are convertible into cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, based on an initial conversion rate of 23.4449 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2017 Convertible Notes, which corresponds to an initial conversion price of approximately $42.65 per share of our common stock. On March 31, 2016, our closing share price was $0.79 per share. The conversion rate, and thus the conversion price, may be adjusted under certain circumstances as described in the indenture related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. Upon conversion, we will be obligated to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. Prior to December 1, 2016, the 2017 Convertible Notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of certain events and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.

The 2017 Convertible Notes will be due on March 1, 2017, unless earlier converted or repurchased by us at the option of the holder(s), and interest is payable on the 2017 Convertible Notes each March 1and September 1. On the maturity date, each holder will be entitled to receive $1,000 in cash for each $1,000 in principal amount of 2017 Convertible Notes, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the maturity date.

In connection with the offering, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with respect to our common stock (the “Purchased Call Options”) with Barclays Capital Inc., acting as agent for Barclays Bank PLC and Bank of America, N.A. (the “Dealers”). We paid an aggregate amount of approximately $70.8 million to the Dealers for the Purchased Call Options. The Purchased Call Options cover, subject to customary antidilution adjustments, approximately 7,033,470 shares of our common stock at a strike price that corresponds to the initial conversion price of the 2017 Convertible Notes, also subject to adjustment, and are exercisable upon conversion of the 2017 Convertible Notes.

We also entered into separate warrant transactions whereby, in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, we sold to the Dealers warrants to acquire, subject to customary antidilution adjustments, approximately 7,033,470 shares of our common stock (the “Sold Warrants”) at a strike price of $55.91 per share of our common stock. We received aggregate proceeds of approximately $40.1 million from the sale of the Sold Warrants to the Dealers. If, upon expiration of the Sold Warrants, the price per share of our common stock, as measured under the Sold Warrants, is greater than the strike price of the Sold Warrants, we will be required to issue, without further consideration, under each Sold Warrant a number of shares of our common stock with a value equal to the amount of such difference.

As of March 31, 2016, the carrying amount of the liability component of the 2017 Convertible Notes of $283.5 million was classified as a current liability. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we recognized $3.9 million of interest expense for the amortization of the discount and $0.4 million of interest expense for the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recognized $3.6 million of interest expense for the amortization of the discount and $0.3 million of interest expense for the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. During each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we recognized $1.3 million of interest expense related to the contractual interest coupon on the 2017 Convertible Notes.