Debt

Our debt balances (net of related unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs) as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:



	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In millions)
1 3⁄4% Senior Convertible Notes due 2017	$	292.4		$	279.3
7 1⁄2% Senior Notes due 2022	770.4			770.0
Revolving credit facility	341.5			—
4.20% Building Loan	11.4			11.7
Total debt	1,415.7			1,061.0
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(292.8		)	—
Long-term debt	$	1,122.9		$	1,061.0

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt. As of September 30, 2016, the current portion of long-term debt of $292.8 million consisted of $292.4 million of 2017 Convertible Notes 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 a revolving credit facility (the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 24, 2014) with commitments totaling $900 million (subject to borrowing base limitations) through a syndicated bank group, with an initial borrowing base of $500 million. The bank credit facility matures on July 1, 2019. On April 13, 2016, 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 elected to pay the deficiency in six equal monthly installments, making the first payment of $29.2 million on May 13, 2016 and the second payment of $29.2 million on June 13, 2016.

On June 14, 2016, we entered into Amendment No. 3 (the "Amendment") to the bank credit facility to (i) increase the borrowing base to $360 million from $300 million, (ii) provide for no redetermination of the borrowing base by the lenders until January 15, 2017, other than an automatic reduction upon the sale of certain of our properties, (iii) permit second lien indebtedness to refinance the existing 2017 Convertible Notes and 2022 Notes, (iv) revise the maximum Consolidated Funded Leverage financial covenant to be 5.25 to 1 for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, 6.50 to 1 for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, 9.50 to 1 for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2016 and 3.75 to 1 thereafter, (v) require minimum liquidity (as defined in the Amendment) of at least $125.0 million until January 15, 2017, (vi) impose limitations on capital expenditures of $60 million for the period of June 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, but allowing for an additional $25 million to be expended for Appalachian drilled but uncompleted wells, (vii) grant the lenders a perfected security interest in all deposit accounts and (viii) provide for anti-hoarding cash provisions for amounts in excess of $50.0 million to apply after December 10, 2016. Upon execution of the Amendment, we repaid $56.8 million in borrowings under the credit facility, which eliminated the borrowing base deficiency and brought the total borrowings and letters of credit outstanding under the bank credit facility in conformity with the borrowing base limitation.

On October 20, 2016, we entered into the RSA with the Noteholders to support a restructuring on the terms of the Plan. The RSA contemplates that we will file for voluntary relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on or before December 9, 2016 to implement the Plan (see Note 16 – Subsequent Events). We have been engaged in discussions and have exchanged proposals with the lenders under our bank credit facility with respect to the treatment of the bank credit facility in a chapter 11 proceeding and a related amendment to the bank credit facility; however, no agreement has been reached. While we expect to continue discussions and related negotiations with the lenders under our bank credit facility, there can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached.

On September 30 and November 7, 2016, we had $341.5 million of outstanding borrowings and $12.5 million of outstanding letters of credit, leaving $6.0 million of availability under the bank credit facility. The weighted average interest rate under the bank credit facility was approximately 3.1% at September 30, 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 September 30, 2016, the bank credit facility was guaranteed by our only material subsidiary, Stone Energy Offshore, L.L.C. (“Stone Offshore”). On August 29, 2016, our subsidiaries SEO A LLC and SEO B LLC were merged into Stone Offshore.

The borrowing base under the bank credit facility is redetermined semi-annually, typically in 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. However, the Amendment provides for no redetermination of the borrowing base by the lenders until January 15, 2017, other than an automatic reduction upon the sale of certain of our properties. 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 86% 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%.

In addition to the covenants discussed above, the bank credit facility provides that we must 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. The bank credit facility also 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 September 30, 2016.

Senior Notes. Our senior notes consist of $300 million of 2017 Convertible Notes and $775 million of 2022 Notes. On October 20, 2016, we entered into the RSA with the Noteholders to support a restructuring on the terms of the Plan. The RSA contemplates that we will file for voluntary relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on or before December 9, 2016 to implement the Plan (see Note 16 – Subsequent Events).

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 corresponded to an initial conversion price of approximately $42.65 per share of our common stock at the time of the issuance of the 2017 Convertible Notes. 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. On June 10, 2016, we completed a 1-for-10 reverse stock split with respect to our common stock (see Note 1 – Interim Financial Statements). Proportional adjustments were made to the conversion price and shares as they relate to the 2017 Convertible Notes, resulting in a conversion rate of 2.34449 shares of our common stock with a corresponding conversion price of $426.50 per share. On September 30, 2016, our closing share price was $11.88 per share.

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 703,347 shares of our common stock at a strike price that corresponds to the initial conversion price of the 2017 Convertible Notes (after the effectiveness of the reverse stock split of 1-for-10), 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 703,347 shares of our common stock (the “Sold Warrants”) at a strike price of $559.10 per share of our common stock (after the effectiveness of the reverse stock split of 1-for-10). 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 September 30, 2016, the carrying amount of the liability component of the 2017 Convertible Notes of $292.4 million was classified as a current liability. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recognized $4.1 million and $12.0 million, respectively, of interest expense for the amortization of the discount and $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of interest expense for the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized $3.8 million and $11.1 million, respectively, of interest expense for the amortization of the discount and $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of interest expense for the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the 2017 Convertible Notes. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016, we recognized $1.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively, of interest expense related to the contractual interest coupon on the 2017 Convertible Notes. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015, we recognized $1.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively, of interest expense related to the contractual interest coupon on the 2017 Convertible Notes.

2022 Notes. On November 8, 2012 and November 27, 2013, respectively, we completed the public offering of $300 million and $475 million aggregate principal amount of our 2022 Notes. The 2022 Notes mature on November 15, 2022. We have an interest payment obligation under our 2022 Notes of approximately $29.2 million, due on November 15, 2016. The indenture governing the 2022 Notes provides a 30-day grace period that extends the latest date for making this cash interest payment to December 15, 2016 before an Event of Default occurs under the indenture, which would give the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 2022 Notes the option to accelerate payment of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest on the 2022 Notes.