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LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS .    LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
Summary
 
March 31, 2020

 
December 31, 2019

Long-term debt
$
576,436

 
$
590,777

Other credit facilities and finance leases
14,792

 
16,332

Total long-term debt and other financing arrangements
591,228

 
607,109

Less: current maturities
(6,655
)
 
(6,836
)
Total non-current long-term debt and other financing arrangements
$
584,573

 
$
600,273


Overview
Total long-term debt and credit facilities comprised the following at March 31, 2020:
 
Principal Amount of Liability Component

 
Debt Issuance
Costs (1)

 
Net Carrying Amount

2021 Euro Loan
$
66,103

 
$
(82
)
 
$
66,021

2023 Euro Loan
513,617

 
(3,202
)
 
510,415

2023 Revolving Credit Facility

 

 

Total long-term debt and credit facilities
$
579,720

 
$
(3,284
)
 
$
576,436


(1) 
Debt issuance costs related to the 2021 Euro Loan, the 2023 Euro Loan and the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility (each as defined below) are being amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method, over the life of the respective instruments. Debt issuance costs related to the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility are classified as non-current assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheet.
At March 31, 2020, the maturity of our long-term debt and credit facilities was as follows:
2020
$

2021
66,103

2022

2023
513,617

2024

2025 and thereafter

Total long-term debt and credit facilities
579,720

Debt issuance costs
(3,284
)
Carrying amount of long-term debt and credit facilities
$
576,436


Long-term Debt
Our long-term debt comprised the following at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
March 31, 2020

 
December 31, 2019

 
March 31, 2020

 
December 31, 2019

2021 Euro Loan
$
66,021

 
$
67,683

 
$
61,824

 
$
68,120

2023 Euro Loan
510,415

 
523,094

 
455,765

 
529,303

 
$
576,436

 
$
590,777

 
$
517,589

 
$
597,423


The estimated fair values of the Euro Loans (as defined below) as at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were determined using the average yield curve of comparable bonds with equivalent credit ratings which is a Level 2 input as described in Note 11, "Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements". Certain derivative instruments, including contingent event of default and change of control put options, have been identified as being embedded in each of the Euro Loans. The embedded derivatives are considered clearly and closely related to their respective Euro Loan, and as such are not required to be accounted for separately.
2021 Euro Loan
As at March 31, 2020, the principal amount of our floating rate senior unsecured term credit facility (the "2021 Euro Loan") outstanding was EUR 60.3 million (approximately US$ 66.1 million). The 2021 Euro Loan bears interest at three-month EURIBOR (fixed pursuant to customary hedging arrangements (see Note 11, "Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements")) plus a margin of between 1.1% and 1.9% depending on the credit rating of Warner Media. As at March 31, 2020, the all-in borrowing rate on amounts outstanding under the 2021 Euro Loan was 3.25%, the components of which are shown in the table below under the heading "Interest Rate Summary".
Interest on the 2021 Euro Loan is payable quarterly in arrears on each February 13, May 13, August 13 and November 13. The 2021 Euro Loan matures on November 1, 2021 and may be prepaid at our option, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty from cash generated from our operations. From April 26, 2020, the 2021 Euro Loan may be refinanced at our option. The 2021 Euro Loan is a senior unsecured obligation of CME Ltd. and is unconditionally guaranteed by CME Media Enterprises B.V. ("CME BV") and by Warner Media, LLC ("Warner Media") and certain of its subsidiaries.
2023 Euro Loan
As at March 31, 2020, the principal amount of our floating rate senior unsecured term credit facility (the "2023 Euro Loan") outstanding was EUR 468.8 million (approximately US$ 513.6 million). The 2023 Euro Loan bears interest at three-month EURIBOR (fixed pursuant to customary hedging arrangements (see Note 11, "Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements")) plus a margin of between 1.1% and 1.9% depending on the credit rating of Warner Media. As at March 31, 2020, the all-in borrowing rate on amounts outstanding under the 2023 Euro Loan was 3.50%, the components of which are shown in the table below under the heading "Interest Rate Summary".
Interest on the 2023 Euro Loan is payable quarterly in arrears on each January 7, April 7, July 7 and October 7. The 2023 Euro Loan matures on April 26, 2023 and may be prepaid at our option, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty from cash generated from our operations. From April 26, 2020, the 2023 Euro Loan may be refinanced at our option. The 2023 Euro Loan is a senior unsecured obligation of CME BV and is unconditionally guaranteed by CME Ltd. and by Warner Media and certain of its subsidiaries.
Reimbursement Agreement and Guarantee Fees
In connection with Warner Media’s guarantees of the 2021 Euro Loan and 2023 Euro Loan (collectively, the "Euro Loans"), we entered into a reimbursement agreement (as amended, the “Reimbursement Agreement") with Warner Media. The Reimbursement Agreement provides for the payment of guarantee fees (collectively, the "Guarantee Fees") to Warner Media as consideration for those guarantees, and the reimbursement to Warner Media of any amounts paid by them under any guarantee or through any loan purchase right exercised by it. The loan purchase right allows Warner Media to purchase any amount outstanding under the Euro Loans from the lenders following an event of default under the Euro Loans or the Reimbursement Agreement. The Reimbursement Agreement is guaranteed by our 100% owned subsidiary CME BV and is secured by a pledge over 100% of the outstanding shares of CME BV. The covenants and events of default under the Reimbursement Agreement are substantially the same as under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility (described below).
We pay Guarantee Fees to Warner Media based on the amounts outstanding on the Euro Loans calculated on a per annum basis based on our consolidated net leverage as defined in the Reimbursement Agreement, which among other adjustments, takes into consideration cash balances up to US$ 75.0 million for the purposes of the net leverage calculation. The Guarantee Fee rates applicable to our Euro Loans are shown in the tables below:
All-in Rate
Consolidated Net Leverage
2021 Euro Loan

 
2023 Euro Loan

7.0x
 
 
 
6.00
%
 
6.50
%
<
7.0x
-
6.0x
 
5.00
%
 
5.50
%
<
6.0x
-
5.0x
 
4.25
%
 
4.75
%
<
5.0x
-
4.0x
 
3.75
%
 
4.25
%
<
4.0x
-
3.0x
 
3.25
%
 
3.75
%
<
3.0x
 
 
 
3.25
%
 
3.50
%
Our consolidated net leverage as at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was 2.2x and 2.4x, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized US$ 2.8 million and US$ 3.7 million, respectively, of Guarantee Fees as interest expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income / loss.
The Guarantee Fees relating to the 2021 Euro Loan are payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 1 and November 1. The Guarantee Fees relating to the 2023 Euro Loan are payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 1 and December 1.
The Guarantee Fees on the 2023 Euro Loan that were previously paid in kind are presented as a component of other non-current liabilities (see Note 9, "Other Liabilities") and bear interest per annum at the applicable Guarantee Fee rate (as set forth in the table below). Guarantee Fees are included in cash flows from operating activities in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
Interest Rate Summary
 
Base Rate

 
Rate Fixed Pursuant to Interest Rate Hedges

 
Guarantee Fee Rate

 
All-in Borrowing Rate

2021 Euro Loan
1.28
%
 
0.47
%
 
1.50
%
 
3.25
%
2023 Euro Loan
1.28
%
 
0.28
%
(1) 
1.94
%
 
3.50
%
2023 Revolving Credit Facility (if drawn)
4.70
%
(2) 
%
 
%
 
4.70
%

(1) 
Effective until February 19, 2021. From February 19, 2021 through maturity on April 26, 2023, the rate fixed pursuant to interest rate hedges will increase to 0.97%, with a corresponding decrease in the Guarantee Fee rate, such that the all-in borrowing rate remains 3.50% if our net leverage ratio remains unchanged.
(2) 
Based on the three-month LIBOR of 1.45% as at March 31, 2020.
2023 Revolving Credit Facility
We had no balance outstanding under the US$ 75.0 million revolving credit facility (the "2023 Revolving Credit Facility") as at March 31, 2020.
The 2023 Revolving Credit Facility bears interest at a rate per annum based on, at our option, an alternate base rate ("ABR Loans" as defined in the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility Agreement) plus the spread applicable to ABR Loans based on our consolidated net leverage or an amount equal to the greater of (i) an adjusted LIBO rate and (ii) 1.0%, plus the spread applicable to the Eurodollar Loans (as defined in the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility Agreement) based on our consolidated net leverage ratio (as defined in the Reimbursement Agreement), with all amounts payable in cash. The maturity date of the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility is April 26, 2023. When drawn, the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility permits prepayment at our option in whole or in part without penalty.
As at March 31, 2020, the following spreads were applicable:
Consolidated Net Leverage
Alternate Base Rate Loans

 
Eurodollar Loans

7.0x
 
 
 
5.25
%
 
6.25
%
<
7.0x
-
6.0x
 
4.25
%
 
5.25
%
<
6.0x
-
5.0x
 
3.50
%
 
4.50
%
<
5.0x
-
4.0x
 
3.00
%
 
4.00
%
<
4.0x
-
3.0x
 
2.50
%
 
3.50
%
<
3.0x
 
 
 
2.25
%
 
3.25
%

The 2023 Revolving Credit Facility is guaranteed by CME BV and is secured by a pledge over 100% of the outstanding shares of CME BV. The 2023 Revolving Credit Facility agreement contains limitations on CME’s ability to incur indebtedness, incur guarantees, grant liens, pay dividends or make other distributions, enter into certain affiliate transactions, consolidate, merge or effect a corporate reconstruction, make certain investments acquisitions and loans, and conduct certain asset sales. The agreement also contains maintenance covenants in respect of interest cover and total leverage ratios, and has covenants in respect of incurring indebtedness, the provision of guarantees, making investments and disposals, granting security and certain events of defaults.
Other Credit Facilities and Finance Lease Obligations
Cash Pooling
We have a cash pooling arrangement with Bank Mendes Gans (“BMG”), a subsidiary of ING Bank N.V., which enables us to receive credit throughout the group in respect of cash balances which our subsidiaries deposit with BMG. Cash deposited by our subsidiaries with BMG is pledged as security against the drawings of other subsidiaries up to the amount deposited. As at March 31, 2020, we had deposits of US$ 51.4 million in and no drawings on the BMG cash pool. Interest is earned on deposits at the relevant money market rate. As at December 31, 2019, we had deposits of US$ 11.6 million in and no drawings on the BMG cash pool.
Factoring Arrangements
Under a factoring framework agreement with Factoring Česka spořitelna a.s., up to CZK 475.0 million (approximately US$ 19.0 million) of receivables from certain customers in the Czech Republic may be factored on a recourse or non-recourse basis. The facility has a factoring fee of 0.19% of any factored receivable and bears interest at one-month PRIBOR plus 0.95% per annum for the period that receivables are factored and outstanding.
Under a factoring framework agreement with Factoring KB, a.s., certain receivables in the Czech Republic may be factored on a non-recourse basis. The facility has a factoring fee of 0.11% of any factored receivable and bears interest at one-month PRIBOR plus 0.95% per annum for the period that receivables are factored and outstanding up to a maximum of 60 days from the due date.
Under a factoring framework agreement with Global Funds IFN S.A., receivables from certain customers in Romania may be factored on a non-recourse basis. The facility has a factoring fee of 4.0% of any factored receivable and bears interest at 6.0% per annum from the date the receivables are factored to the due date of the factored receivable.
As at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had no outstanding liability balances on any of our factoring arrangements.
Finance Leases
For additional information on finance leases, see Note 10, "Leases".