(10)   Long-Term Debt

Debt is summarized as follows:

 

QVC Bank Credit Facilities

 

On June 23, 2016, QVC amended and restated its senior secured credit facility (the “Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) with zulily as co-borrower. The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is a multi-currency facility that provides for a $2.65 billion revolving credit facility, with a $300 million total sub-limit for standby letters of credit and $1.5 billion of uncommitted incremental revolving loan commitments or incremental term loans. The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement includes a $400 million tranche that may be borrowed by QVC and zulily, as co-borrowers with an additional $50 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit.  The remaining $2.25 billion and any incremental loans may be borrowed only by QVC. The borrowers may elect that the loans extended under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the annual base rate or LIBOR, as each is defined in the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.  Borrowings that are alternate base rate loans will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the base rate plus a margin that varies between 0.25% to 0.75% depending on QVC and zulily’s combined ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarter period (the “Combined Consolidated Leverage Ratio”). Borrowings that are LIBOR loans will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR rate plus a margin that varies between 1.25% and 1.75% depending on QVC and zulily’s Combined Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  Because the calculation of the Combined Consolidated Leverage Ratio was revised to include zulily, the effective interest rate margins, on the date that the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was entered into, decreased from the interest rate margins under the previous bank credit facility. Each loan may be prepaid at any time and from time to time without penalty other than customary breakage costs. No mandatory prepayments are required other than when borrowings and letter of credit usage exceed availability; provided that, if zulily ceases to be controlled by Liberty, all of its loans must be repaid and its letters of credit cash collateralized. Any amounts prepaid on the revolving facility may be reborrowed. The facility matures on June 23, 2021, except that $140 million of the $2.25 billion commitment available to QVC matures on March 9, 2020. Payment of loans may be accelerated following certain customary events of default.

 

The purpose of the amendment was to, among other things, extend the maturity of QVC's senior secured credit facility, provide zulily the opportunity to borrow on the senior secured credit facility, and lower the interest rate on borrowings. The payment and performance of the borrowers’ obligations (including zulily’s obligations) under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each of QVC’s Material Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). Further, the borrowings under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured, pari passu with QVC’s existing notes, by a pledge of all of the capital stock of QVC.  The payment and performance of the borrowers’ obligations with respect to the $400 million tranche available to both QVC and zulily are also guaranteed by each of zulily’s Material Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement), if any, and are secured by a pledge of all of zulily’s equity interests.

 

The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including certain restrictions on QVC and zulily and each of their restricted subsidiaries (subject to certain exceptions) with respect to, among other things: incurring additional indebtedness; creating liens on property or assets; making certain loans or investments; selling or disposing of assets; paying certain dividends and other restricted payments; dissolving, consolidating or merging; entering into certain transactions with affiliates; entering into sale or leaseback transactions; restricting subsidiary distributions; limiting QVC’s consolidated leverage ratio, which is defined in the Third Amended Restated Credit Agreement as QVC’s consolidated total debt to Adjusted OIBDA ratio for the most recent four fiscal quarter period; and limiting the Combined Consolidated Leverage Ratio.

 

The interest rate on borrowings outstanding under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was 2.7% at September 30, 2017. Availability under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement at September 30, 2017 was $950 million, including the remaining portion of the $400 million tranche that zulily may also borrow on. 

 

Exchangeable Senior Debentures

 

Liberty has elected to account for its exchangeable senior debentures using the fair value option. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized as unrealized gains (losses) in the statements of operations.  As of September 30, 2017 the balance of the 4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2029, the 3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2030 and the 3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2031 have been classified as current because Liberty does not own shares to redeem the debentures.  For the remaining exchangeables, Liberty reviews the terms of the debentures on a quarterly basis to determine whether a triggering event has occurred to require current classification of the exchangeables upon a call event. The 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 are classified as current as of September 30, 2017.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, holders exchanged, under the terms of the debentures, approximately $523 million principal of Liberty’s 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 and Liberty made cash payments of approximately $1,181 million to settle the obligations. In addition, in conjunction with the investment in Liberty Broadband (see note 1), an extraordinary distribution of approximately $325 million was paid to holders of the 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043.

 

In August 2016, Liberty issued $750 million principal amount of new 1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046. The 1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures are senior exchangeable debentures due September 2046, which bear interest at an annual rate of 1.75%. Each $1,000 debenture is exchangeable at the holder’s option for the value of 2.9317 shares of Charter Class A common stock. Liberty may, at its election, pay the exchange value in cash, Charter Class A common stock or a combination thereof. The number of shares of Charter Class A common stock attributable to a debenture represents an initial exchange price of approximately $341.10 per share. Liberty, at its option, may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, for cash generally equal to the face amount of the debentures plus accrued interest.

 

Debt Covenants

Liberty, QVC and zulily are in compliance with all debt covenants at September 30, 2017.

Other Subsidiary Debt

Other subsidiary debt at September 30, 2017 is comprised primarily of capitalized satellite transponder lease obligations.

Fair Value of Debt

Liberty estimates the fair value of its debt based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rate offered to Liberty for debt of the same remaining maturities (Level 2). The fair value of Liberty's publicly traded debt securities that are not reported at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2017 are as follows (amounts in millions):

 

Due to the variable rate nature, Liberty believes that the carrying amount of its other debt, not discussed above, approximated fair value at September 30, 2017.